Minutes of meeting of Dunpender Community Council
held on Thursday 7th May 2026 at 7.30pm in The Stables
Present: Mrs J Priest Mr D Wight Mr H Thomas Mr R Russel Mrs F Constable Ms A Pearson Mrs L Shaw-Stewart
In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), John Kinnaird, Peter Beckman
1. Apologies: Cllr L Jardine, Mrs A Cosgrove, Mr M Askey
2. The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd April were agreed.
3. Matters Arising & New Matters
3.1 Vacancies
There are now four vacancies as Mr Askey has resigned.
3.2 Playpark Upgrade – Multi-use area
Mrs Priest reported that the playpark consultation is complete. She has costed a new multi-use area at £100,000 to £200,000. It was acknowledged this development would require a significant investment of time starting with funding applications. The decision was taken to pause this until the new playpark is in place.
3.3 Community Resilience Plan
Mrs Constable has been in discussion with Jo Gibb with the following outcomes:
• Formulate an emergency plan first using the summary actions table created at the CAEL East Linton Adapts Events. A resilience plan could follow.
• Consultants are being sought to contribute to differing sections of the plan. Mr Wight volunteered to assist on food security.
• Identification of a community hub is essential and a meeting will be held with Tricia Moscati (Community Hall Chair).
• Scott Kennedy (ELC - Emergency Planning and Resilience Manager) is collating SPOCs and Deputy SPOCs of various resilience groups. Mrs Constable will be SPOC and Mr Thomas Deputy SPOC for Dunpender.
• Mrs Constable will attend, if available places allow, a training day at Garvald on Sept 5th – which is aimed at testing issues related to bad weather in rural communities with attendance from Fire and Rescue services.
3.4 Defibrillator grants
Ms Pearson has submitted a funding application to DELAP. The defibrillator at the Community Hall has been returned after being taken but not used in an emergency on 1st May. The report in The Courier about a previous theft was acknowledged.
4. Report back from meetings attended -
4.1. JMCP
Ms Pearson reported that the 50th anniversary of the park falls in October this year. Zoe Thompson has been appointed as a seasonal ranger. The Restoration Forth project was discussed. Re-introduction of oysters has been successful but restoration of sea grass was less successful.
4.2. AELCC
Mrs Constable attended and reported as follows.
• Malcolm Duck chaired the meeting which was well attended by ELC officers including Graeme Marsden (Planning Service), Keith Dingwall (Head of Development), Scott Kennedy(Emergency Planning and Resilience) and
Eamon John( Head of Communities)
• EL Educational Trust – Mrs Cosgrove is the rep on the AELCC and provided a detailed report on the work of the Trust. A question was raised about the length of tenure of this position. Until this is clarified Ms Cosgrove will remain in post.
• G Marsden reported that the LDP2 has been accepted by the Reporter.
• Re housing, the target will be about 2600 new homes in the next plan, developers have been asked to submit suggested housing sites subject to a site assessment. These provisional sites will be published before the summer.
• NPF4 has strengthened agricultural land grade 1 or 2 in terms of objections. Brownfield sites will be prioritised and local place plans considered.
• Local builders will be much more in the running.
• A landscape sensitivity assessment is ongoing to inform the local plan.
• East Lothian Community Benefits – It was reported that the Highland Unified Statement calling for a moratorium on renewable development in the Scottish Borders had not received universal acceptance. Graeme Marsden was in favour of ELC deciding on projects up to 150MW increased from the current 50MW limit. This decision is with the Scottish Government.
Mrs Priest reminded the meeting that Norman Hampshire has previously communicated the ELC position that East Linton should see no additional housing until a new school is in place. Mr Thomas suggested that planned increases to nursery provision at Longniddry and Aberlady primary schools may influence development in these areas.
4.3. South-East Scotland Local Power Plan
Mr Wight attended an ELCAN webinar addressing the allocation of GB Energy funds for community energy schemes. Approximately £2.5million will be received by each local authority. It is unclear if funds will be distributed as grants, loans or equity held by GB Energy. It is also unclear how this relates to the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).
5. Police Report / CAPP meeting
Between the 1st of April 2026 and the 5th of May 2026 there were 44 calls to the area. This resulted in police recording 22 crimes:
• Protecting the most vulnerable (Missing Persons, Elderly, Hate Incidents, Domestic Abuse.)
1 x Communications
1 x Fail to comply – bail conditions
• Reducing Violence and Antisocial Behaviour
1 x Threatening and abusive behaviour (retail worker)
3 x Vandalism
1 x Carrying an offensive weapon
• Reducing Acquisitive Crime (Crimes of Dishonesty)
1 x Fraud
2 x Theft by shoplifting
1 x Theft of pedal cycle
1 x Theft motor vehicle
• Improving Road Safety
1 x Fail to stop after a road accident
1 x Fail to report after an accident
1 x No MOT
1 x Drive with no L plates
2 x Drive with no insurance
1 x Drive without a licence
1 x Fail to identify driver
• Tackling Serious and Organised Crime (Drugs & Crime Prevention)
2 x Possession of a controlled drug
At the CAPP meeting on the 9th of April 2026 the priority set was tackling youth anti-social behaviour. Mrs Constable reported that the meeting covered Linn Rocks which were perceived as having been quieter of late.
Mr Beckman commented that this perception is weather related. Recently there have been two incidents of groups of 30 people being loud and intimidating and leaving substantial amounts of litter. These were both reported to ELC as anti-social behaviour. A response from ELC encouraged reporting this to the police. Mr Beckman had been reluctant to call 999 unless there was a physical threat and when he has called previously there has been a lack of response. Police advice is not to engage but the engagement comes from the visitors when Mr Beckman and family are in their garden. He reiterated that he welcomes those visitors who respect the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and act responsibly. He is frustrated that the suggestion of designating the area under the Dispersal of Groups section of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 has not been accepted by police. This would allow the police to disperse groups of two or more people or individuals within groups where their presence or behaviour is causing, or is likely to cause, alarm or distress to any member of the public. Another meeting is planned for 6th June with Paul McLennan, ELC and the police.
Mr Beckman had a direct number for the community officer Laura Jackson who was effective at addressing the issue and will, if possible, be provided with a direct number for her replacement Diane Bath. The importance of identifying troublemakers was discussed. Mr Kinnaird confirmed that under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 there is no right to roam only a right to responsible access.
Mrs Constable and Mrs Shaw-Stewart will attend the CAPP meeting 11th June.
6. Area Partnerships
Mrs Constable reported that the NBCAP meeting was dedicated to 5 applications for funding. All of the applications were accepted or deferred except the Gullane Church rewiring where the vote went against distributing funds to churches.
7. Finance
7.1. Reduced budget
Mr Shaw-Stewart has confirmed the accounts as correct. This year sees a cut of 5% to ELC funding resulting in approximately £250 reduction. As the forecast had £350 unspent there is no immediate need to cut planned spending. If the trend continues the core spend may have to be assessed in future years.
7.2. Bench grant applications
Ms Pearson has submitted an application to Parks4Life Community Fund for £700 to repair and paint benches in the park and local green spaces.
8. Planning / Licensing / Consultations
Nothing to report.
9. East Linton/Preston
9.1. Stewart Milne Wall
The meeting has been deferred to 21st May.
9.2. Underpass Mural
No response from Network Rail.
9.3. Benches
Mr Russel has renewed the armrest and painted benches at Preston Road
9.4. Information boards on Dunbar Road
The boards have now been reinstated and Mr Russel will paint the stands.
9.5. East Linton Gala
Mr Thomas confirmed that the programme will be finalised by Monday and a digital version will be available. Sunday 7th will see FeastLinton in the hall where a free meal will be provided with the support of local businesses. He highlighted that the first Scotland game in the World Cup is the morning after gala with a Bank Holiday Monday.
He will contact Sean Govan about switching on the fountain prior to the Gala.
10. Tyninghame /Whitekirk
10.1. Tyninghame
The extension of the speed limit of 40mph on the A198 is not operational as yet.
10.2. Whitekirk
Mrs Constable reported that hedge planting at Newlands Farm is doing well and the overhead wire that was tied to the tree has been fixed by BT Open Reach.
11. Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame
11.1. Markle signage and planting.
Balfour Beatty have confirmed their landscaping contractor will replace all missing sections of native woodland planting and plant the gaps in the hedges on the approach to Markle. Losses in previously planted hedges will be catalogued and replaced in due course. Plants in the SUDS ponds have had variable success. The West pond remains flooded most of the time which affects the species which can grow here. Advice will be taken from the landscaping designer on what can be done in this area.
11.2. Whittingehame – flooding at Papple /road signs and tractors
Flooding at the Papple corner is historic and is exacerbated by road repairs which have increased the road level. The drains cannot cope with the resulting additional water. It was accepted this is unlikely to be addressed due to cost. Papple Steading tourism signage off the A199 has been adjusted to assist with visibility for tractor drivers.
11.3 Traprain
Ms Pearson reported that the picnic tables have arrived but are not yet in place.
12. Projects
Mr Thomas reported on a discussion with a Crauchie resident who was interested in contributing to the ELC landscape assessment with respect to renewable energy relating not only to a speculative proposal for solar on Gilmerton Estate but also for the wider landscape of East Lothian. He was been advised by ELC to communicate to DCC and will be contacted once the consultation starts. Mrs Shaw-Stewart confirmed there is a Landscape Capacity Study for individual turbines and suggested there should also be one for Solar.
A discussion on DCC communication methods resulted in an agreement to close down the Facebook page and continue with the website.
13. Any Other Business – Communications
Mrs Constable reported a badger death at Whittingehame to ELC and was advised to report this to Scottish Badgers at https://www.scottishbadgers.org.uk
Ms Pearson reported that a jet patcher has been filling potholes at Kippielaw.
14. Date of next meeting and AGM: Thursday 4th June 2026 at 7.30pm