Present: Mrs E Gill Ms A Pearson Mrs A Cosgrove (chaired meeting) Mr D Wight Mr H Thomas Mr R Russel Mr M Askey Mrs L Shaw-Stewart
In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), Cllr L Jardine, John Kinnaird, Mrs F Constable, Kate Courtney, Verity Sinclair
1• Apologies: Mrs J Priest
2• The minutes of the meeting held on 4th September were agreed.
3• Police Report/CAPP
Linn Rocks has quietened down now the summer is over and will be removed from the priority list at the next CAPP meeting.
Between 1st of September 2025 and 29th September 2025 there were 45 calls to the area. This resulted in police recording 7 crimes including:
• Protecting the most vulnerable (Missing Persons, Elderly, Hate Incidents, Domestic Abuse.)
1 x Wildlife offence
1 x Dog out of control
• Reducing Violence and Antisocial Behaviour
1 x Threatening behaviour
• Reducing Acquisitive Crime (Crimes of Dishonesty)
1 x Theft of MV
1 x Shoplifting
• Improving Road Safety
1 x Careless Driving
1 x Driving with no licence
The next CAPP meeting is 6pm on the 9th October 2025 at Dunbar Grammar School.
PC Laura Jackson will be at Dukes Café, West Barns on Friday the 24th of October between 11:30 and 13:30 to address queries on community issues.
Mrs Gill reported that residents of Linn Rocks met with Paul McLennan who agreed to take the issue forward with police and ELC and suggested a multi-agency approach with a possible stakeholder meeting. Meeting with a police sergeant revealed that it had been a bad summer for trouble everywhere. A further meeting in spring 2026 was suggested to plan how to get ready for next summer including the possibility of CCTV at the bus stop again. Residents feel that regular patrols by uniformed officers would help. Cllr Jardine will raise the setting of priorities at the next CAPP meeting reminding police that this is not a police decision but a joint community and police decision.
Mrs Gill volunteered to be the point of contact for the new CAP (Community Alcohol Partnership).
Mr Thomas reminded the meeting of recent announcements on bus passes where regular offenders could lose their bus pass.
4• Matters Arising
4.1 Community Council Elections
Mrs Gill explained there had been no need for election to DCC. Eight existing members will continue, Mr Askey will continue as a casual member and Mrs Constable will join as a new member. This is the last meeting of the existing CC and the first meeting of the new CC will be November. A potential new member from The Orchard will attend the November meeting. This leaves one vacancy nominally for the Whitekirk area. Office bearers will be agreed in November. Although there will be no AGM Mrs Priest had prepared an annual report which was taken at the September meeting.
4.2 East Lothian Integration Joint Strategic Objectives 25-30
Mrs Gill reminded the meeting of the closing date for comments as 31st October. Members were encouraged to respond.
4.3 Woodland Creation Whittingehame Estate
Ms Pearson commented that trees will be planted in corners of fields that are not easily used for crop growth. Mrs Shaw Stewart will respond positively on behalf of DCC.
4.4 Meetings attended
Ms Pearson attended the Joint Laws Advisory Group meeting. The focus was on North Berwick Law where there is a consultation about improving the footpath to the top and discussion on how to address overgrown water features. A grant application has been submitted for new picnic tables at Traprain Law.
Mrs Cosgrove recommended the Paxton room in The Ridge in Dunbar as a meeting venue used recently by the Community Rail Partnership. Recent funding has focused on Dunbar. Cllr Jardine will highlight the funding source to councillors in other areas with a rail connection.
5• Area Partnerships
Mrs Cosgrove reported that DELAP had £19,000 remaining with 9 funding applications submitted which will be discussed next week at a scrutiny meeting before being decided at the next full meeting on 24th Nov. Local applications are for picnic tables, the new garden at the Prestonkirk and Tyninghame Community Farm. Housing officers have been invited to a meeting on 14th Oct at 3pm to discuss housing priorities and current issues.
6• Finance
The 2024/25 accounts are finalised and have been notified to ELC. Mr Thomas has amended and will distribute the year-to-date accounts and budget forecast. Outstanding payments are print costs for the walks leaflet(£1530) and defibrillator batteries (£180). Once these are paid the available balance will be around £2000. There may be a cost associated with the box housing the defibrillator at the Surgery. Mr Askey will attempt to fix the current box which is beeping at random intervals. A replacement may be necessary.
7• Planning / Licensing / Consultations
Consultation: Crystal Rig 1 Repower – ECU00005089
Mrs Shaw Stewart expressed a belief that more needs to be paid in community benefit. Mr Thomas will raise that with the EL Community Benefits Group who are in direct discussion with Fred Olson. Concern was expressed over the state of the roads in rural communities due to windfarm development. Cllr Jardine explained that although ELC are responsible for enforcing repair it is not easy to organise with consecutive developers using the same routes. Mr Wight suggested that with elections coming up pressure should be applied to political parties to take a more robust view on infrastructure and possibly make community benefits compulsory.
Cllr Jardine will distribute a report from the recent Energy Conference hosted by Paul McLennan.
Mr Thomas informed the meeting that the existing turbines at Crystal Rig may be available for community use which raised the question over why there were being replaced. East Lammermuir CC have considered this but have concerns over the cost of maintenance. Mr Thomas talked about Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) funding for a feasibility study.
Update: EL Community Benefits have confirmed that regardless of the outcome of the CARES study they would not take on used turbines without a service agreement from Fred Olsen Renewables
Planning Updates:
Newlands Hill Wind Energy Hub,
Mrs Shaw Steward responded as per the last discussion.
Prestonkirk,
Planning permission has been granted for the new community garden.
Preston Road.
Solar panels were approved for 2 properties despite the properties being in the conservation area and the panels being visible from the road. ELC are now able to use their own discretion on panels in conservation areas.
8• East Linton/Preston
8.1 East Linton Flooding
Paul McLennan has been in touch with Mr Muirhead about the recent flooding in the High Street and has put him in touch with Scottish Water.
8.2 Notice Boards
Mr Russel is storing the notice boards that were removed during the construction of the active cycleway. The contractor has agreed to reinstate them near their original site..
8.3 Defibrillator at Surgery
See Finance.
9• Tyninghame/Whitekirk
Mr Wight reported on a successful apple pressing day. A survey is underway to consult on installing a wood burner in the hall. The harvest meal has been cancelled due to a lack of interest and volunteers. ELC have been reminded about reducing traffic speed. Although the traffic caused by the popularity of the café is effective in slowing traffic it is a source of tension in village.
10• Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame
Ms Pearson has submitted a grant application to DELAP for picnic tables at Traprain Law and Pencraig.
Mrs Shaw Stewart highlighted that boards in Whittingehame are in need of repair. This will be discussed with residents. Suggestion for funding included Paths for All or Walk Scotland.
Mrs Gill had nothing to report from Markle.
Cllr Jardine informed the meeting that the archers at Pencraig have agreed to meet with ELC to discuss safety. It was noted that individuals also use the targets in the wood.
11• Projects
The walks leaflet has been printed and will be distributed to local outlets. Mr Russel will store the remainder.
Mr Cosgrove invited ideas for projects to be funded this year.
Mr Wight reported that Tyninghame are seeking funding for a feasibility study on community energy. This would need Estate engagement to potentially site solar panels.
Ms Pearson suggested tidying up the Pencraig picnic site. It was suggested this could be done via DELAP under the amenities budget or by the community service team.
The bus timetable project was discussed. Given the online information available and the frequence of change of the information the usefulness of a printed document was questioned. £331 remains of the original DELAP funding. This been removed from the budget forecast and discussions are underway as to whether it will have to be returned.
Mr Wight suggested improvements to the path network around Tyninghame including
extending the pavement round the corner onto A198. It was agreed this would be expensive.
It was agreed to publish another Dunpender News in spring 2026. Ms Pearson will contact societies for input. This would cost approx. £1100 and will fall into the 2026/2027 budget.
Mr Thomas suggested funding energy efficiency projects at the hall. Previous scoping work would need revisited to establish costs.
Mr Thomas is in discussion with ELC regarding rent for The Stables which has not been claimed for previous years.
12• Correspondence
12.01 ELC: Notice of Election for Community Councils
12.02 ELC: Countryside Rangers – Mud In Your Eye
12.03 ELC: East Lothian Integration Joint Strategic Objectives 25-30
12.04 A. Hines: Woodland Creation Whittingehame Estate
12.05 Climate Hub: Climate Week 29 September – 5 October
12.06 G. Macintosh: Copy of complaint to ELC
12.07 RSE: Scotland-wide Community-led Research Funding
12.08 ELC: response to DCC re grids clearance etc
12.09 K. Haig: AED Box at Surgery
12.10 SPEN: Transforming Transmission Network – latest documents
12.11 SPEN: Upskilling Event – Community Buildings
12.12 Scot Govt: Seagreen Alpha and Bravo Offshore Windfarms
12.13 G. Macintosh – copy of stage 2 complaint to ELC
12.14 C. Muirhead – Copy of email to Scottish Water re East Linton Flooding
12.15 ELC: Licencing Board Papers – 25 September
12.16 Fred Olsen: Crystal Rig 1 Repower – Application Submission
12.17 Scot Govt: Consultation on Section 36 Application Crystal Rig 1 Repower
12.18 ELC: Agenda and Papers for Special EWLC meeting – 30 September
12.19 P. McLennan, MSP: Linn Rocks – Anti-Social Behaviour
12.20 R. Averbuch: ELC Creating Local Place Plans event
12.21 Electrical Safety: Safety Grants
13• Any Other Business
Mrs Shaw Stewart had received complaints about the lack of clarity on location of station. It was agreed the sign is small and there is no indication on the A199. Mr Shaw Stewart will email Cllr Jardine who will raise it with ELC.
Mr Thomas raised the issue that 7/17 council nurseries are dropping to term time hours only. Parents received no warning and little information on how decision was taken any why and feel the need for more transparency. Of the 10 offering full time hours 6 are in Musselburgh. Haddington and Dunbar are already oversubscribed. Members expressed a number of concerns about the communication to parents including the lack of consultation, no appropriate explanation of rationale or evidence used to make the decision, the timing of the change and the impact for parents and children. Cllr Jardine explained there is no requirement for locality placement for nursery place and that a new engagement strategy is in the pipeline which should improve communication. She suggested parents engage with ELC officers directly.
Mr Thomas will contact Neil Morland of the East Linton Parent Council to find if they or the East Lothian Association of Parent Councils are taking any action.
Cllr Jardine reported that an assessment was carried out and a potential location for a stop at Overhailes was identified. She will follow up on timescales.
Mr Russel will remind Keith Scott (ELC) that white lines are required on High Street and Preston Road.
14• Date of next meeting: Thursday 6th November 2025 at 7.30pm