BONNYRIGG & LASSWADE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Meeting to be held on Thursday 19 October 2017
In Sports Pavilion, King George V Park at 7 pm
A G E N D A
1. Introduction and Welcome
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Meeting of 21 September 2017
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
5. Police Report
6. Report from Midlothian Councillors
7. Issues Raised by Members of the Public
8. Roads and Pavements Group and Other Transportation
Issues
9. Planning
10. Financial Report
11. Correspondence
12. Admin Matters
13. A.O.C.B.
14. Date of Next Meeting
Meeting to be held on Thursday 19 October 2017
In Sports Pavilion, King George V Park at 7 pm
A G E N D A
1. Introduction and Welcome
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Meeting of 21 September 2017
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
5. Police Report
6. Report from Midlothian Councillors
7. Issues Raised by Members of the Public
8. Roads and Pavements Group and Other Transportation
Issues
9. Planning
10. Financial Report
11. Correspondence
12. Admin Matters
13. A.O.C.B.
14. Date of Next Meeting
Bonnyrigg & Lasswade Community Council
Minutes of a Meeting held on 19 October 2017
1.Present: Marnie Crawford (in the Chair), Ian Sprott (Treasurer), Community Councillors Diane Easton, Darius Namdaran, Bill MacDonald, Sheila Metcalfe, Ruth Scott, Associate Ed Angus, Members of the Public Jan Irvine, Owen Proudfoot, Gibby Scott
Ex-officio Councillor Derek Milligan
2.Apologies: Councillors Diane Alexander and Janet Lay-Douglas, Community Councillor Doogs Stewart and Associate Jen Gad
3.Welcome The Chair opened the Meeting by welcoming all present. She had just received a letter from Doogs Stewart indicated he did not feel able to continue on the Community Council at present. In addition Gail Maquire who joined at the AGM had not attended recently and had not responded to an email asking if she wished to continue. It appeared BLCC had two vacancies that it would be possible to fill by co—option.
4.Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minutes had no amendments. The adoption as an accurate record was proposed by Sheila Metcalfe. seconded by Ruth Scott and unanimously adopted by the Meeting.
5.Matters Arising from the Minutes
(a)The Chair had circulated a letter to BLCC from Dr Hamish Reid, Clinic Director of the local Health & Social Care Partnership, regarding problems with GP recruitment and funding. It was agreed he gave clear information on the problem so inviting him to a meeting would not be of additional help at present. MC had circulated the letter to three MSPs who were going to ask questions of the Health Minister on our behalf regarding the diminishing funding for Primary Care in Midlothian on a per capital basis as our population grows.
(b)The continuing delay in producing BLCC Accounts for 2016 was raised. This was causing concern. The Accounts seemed to have fallen into a ‘black hole’ between the previous Treasurer leaving the Community Council and Ian Sprott taking over at the 2017 AGM. Agreed Ian Sprott, Treasurer, needed help from Ian Baxter to get the missing end Dec 2016 bank account balance. Ian Sprott to follow up.
(c)Jan Irvine reported she had made some progress with the problem of smoking cigarettes and more dubious substances and rubbish dumping in the hallway of her block of flats (both private and council owned properties in the block). Environmental Health officer had been helpful and the rubbish situation had improved. The Police had agreed to keep an eye on the situation. Some improvement but not completely solved.
6.Police Report There was no Police Report as neither of our Community Officers had been free. The Chair had discussed and agreed that one of them would attend the next meeting with a two-month report. In summary there had been some trouble with youths during the October holiday but the CAT teams start again in December so it was hoped this would bring some improvement and reduce the level of anti-social behaviour. There had been quite a lot of trouble after the Scotland/Slovenia football game.
7.Council Report Derek Milligan gave a detailed brief on the Council budget problems. The considerable budget shortfall was a consequence of costs going up but less than Council Tax and the Scottish Government grant has gone down. With the savings already in the pipeline there is a need to save £8.55 million in 2018/19 and £23.258 million by 2012/22. The Reserves held by the Council would only be enough to deal with the effects of a bad winter. Consultations are being held with the public but time is short with the Government grant settlement known in December and the Council Budget needing to be set late January/February. Derek Milligan stressed if any of the cuts listed are to be reversed the same money saving will have to be found elsewhere. He also stressed that if no viable budget is set it could be take out of the Council’s hands and a complete bottom up review of the spending in Midlothian may need to take place. This would be starting with minimum statutory services and working up until all the funds allocated.
8.Issue Raised by Member of Public Derek Milligan responded to the complaints raised by a member of the public with the Chair regarding the new parking arrangements around Lasswade Primary School. A lot of concerns had been raised but it was early days for the new system of resident permits. Councillor Milligan informed the meeting that each household in the affected streets around Pendreich area were given two permits but they had registration numbers on them and so were not transferable. This would be monitored closely.
9.Roads and Pavements Group
Ed Angus, BLCC rep on this group, reported back that he had concluded this group would not be able to deliver for Bonnyrigg & Lasswade as it had no budget and it would therefore be better that the CC follows up issues itself. This was agreed. The Chair added her concerns that the Council did not seem to have up-to-date traffic information by which to judge planning applications (no comprehensive traffic survey appeared to have been taken since 2007). Concerns also that the three major planning situations around Bonnyrigg (HS10, HS11 and HS12) use the developers own surveys but no overview with all the proposals factored in was available for the Planning Committee.
10.Planning There had been a lot of planning activity since the last meeting and MC had produced a list (attached). There had been PAC meetings for the Council Transport Depot and a workshop for the HS12 site. Midlothian Local Development Plan has been agreed by Council and should be formally adopted by November. HS10 appeal successful. This includes the bridge over the burn but ingress/egress may still be possible through Gladstone’s Gait at a later point. Site behind Laird and Dog for 9 houses had been refused and taken to appeal. The Fencing at Rockville Terrace was due to be renewed by Balfour Beatty as contractor for Heritage Estate Railways. Residents had asked CC to consider objecting as they would like different fencing. CC considered but some Community Councillors did not consider the fencing proposed was an issue. Agreed to leave it to Planners to ensure fencing was Conservation Area compliant. It was reported by Ed Angus that he had heard restaurant in Lasswade had been refused permission.
11.Admin Matters Diane Easton had volunteered to help with the website and she would get together with Darius Namdaran to learn how it was updated. MC to help with Facebook.
12.A.O.C.B
MC had bought two poppy wreaths for Remembrance Sunday. Gibby Scott to lay the one in Bonnyrigg Park and MC in Lasswade.
Darius Namdaran informed the meeting his Hub Group were to have a bonfire on the Knoll on Sunday 5 November. He asked for volunteers to help with the stewarding.
A number of BLCC had attended the Community Council Training Day. It had been considered interesting and useful. A Facebook forum for Midlothian CCs had been set up.
13.Date of Next Meeting 16 November 2017
Minutes of a Meeting held on 19 October 2017
1.Present: Marnie Crawford (in the Chair), Ian Sprott (Treasurer), Community Councillors Diane Easton, Darius Namdaran, Bill MacDonald, Sheila Metcalfe, Ruth Scott, Associate Ed Angus, Members of the Public Jan Irvine, Owen Proudfoot, Gibby Scott
Ex-officio Councillor Derek Milligan
2.Apologies: Councillors Diane Alexander and Janet Lay-Douglas, Community Councillor Doogs Stewart and Associate Jen Gad
3.Welcome The Chair opened the Meeting by welcoming all present. She had just received a letter from Doogs Stewart indicated he did not feel able to continue on the Community Council at present. In addition Gail Maquire who joined at the AGM had not attended recently and had not responded to an email asking if she wished to continue. It appeared BLCC had two vacancies that it would be possible to fill by co—option.
4.Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minutes had no amendments. The adoption as an accurate record was proposed by Sheila Metcalfe. seconded by Ruth Scott and unanimously adopted by the Meeting.
5.Matters Arising from the Minutes
(a)The Chair had circulated a letter to BLCC from Dr Hamish Reid, Clinic Director of the local Health & Social Care Partnership, regarding problems with GP recruitment and funding. It was agreed he gave clear information on the problem so inviting him to a meeting would not be of additional help at present. MC had circulated the letter to three MSPs who were going to ask questions of the Health Minister on our behalf regarding the diminishing funding for Primary Care in Midlothian on a per capital basis as our population grows.
(b)The continuing delay in producing BLCC Accounts for 2016 was raised. This was causing concern. The Accounts seemed to have fallen into a ‘black hole’ between the previous Treasurer leaving the Community Council and Ian Sprott taking over at the 2017 AGM. Agreed Ian Sprott, Treasurer, needed help from Ian Baxter to get the missing end Dec 2016 bank account balance. Ian Sprott to follow up.
(c)Jan Irvine reported she had made some progress with the problem of smoking cigarettes and more dubious substances and rubbish dumping in the hallway of her block of flats (both private and council owned properties in the block). Environmental Health officer had been helpful and the rubbish situation had improved. The Police had agreed to keep an eye on the situation. Some improvement but not completely solved.
6.Police Report There was no Police Report as neither of our Community Officers had been free. The Chair had discussed and agreed that one of them would attend the next meeting with a two-month report. In summary there had been some trouble with youths during the October holiday but the CAT teams start again in December so it was hoped this would bring some improvement and reduce the level of anti-social behaviour. There had been quite a lot of trouble after the Scotland/Slovenia football game.
7.Council Report Derek Milligan gave a detailed brief on the Council budget problems. The considerable budget shortfall was a consequence of costs going up but less than Council Tax and the Scottish Government grant has gone down. With the savings already in the pipeline there is a need to save £8.55 million in 2018/19 and £23.258 million by 2012/22. The Reserves held by the Council would only be enough to deal with the effects of a bad winter. Consultations are being held with the public but time is short with the Government grant settlement known in December and the Council Budget needing to be set late January/February. Derek Milligan stressed if any of the cuts listed are to be reversed the same money saving will have to be found elsewhere. He also stressed that if no viable budget is set it could be take out of the Council’s hands and a complete bottom up review of the spending in Midlothian may need to take place. This would be starting with minimum statutory services and working up until all the funds allocated.
8.Issue Raised by Member of Public Derek Milligan responded to the complaints raised by a member of the public with the Chair regarding the new parking arrangements around Lasswade Primary School. A lot of concerns had been raised but it was early days for the new system of resident permits. Councillor Milligan informed the meeting that each household in the affected streets around Pendreich area were given two permits but they had registration numbers on them and so were not transferable. This would be monitored closely.
9.Roads and Pavements Group
Ed Angus, BLCC rep on this group, reported back that he had concluded this group would not be able to deliver for Bonnyrigg & Lasswade as it had no budget and it would therefore be better that the CC follows up issues itself. This was agreed. The Chair added her concerns that the Council did not seem to have up-to-date traffic information by which to judge planning applications (no comprehensive traffic survey appeared to have been taken since 2007). Concerns also that the three major planning situations around Bonnyrigg (HS10, HS11 and HS12) use the developers own surveys but no overview with all the proposals factored in was available for the Planning Committee.
10.Planning There had been a lot of planning activity since the last meeting and MC had produced a list (attached). There had been PAC meetings for the Council Transport Depot and a workshop for the HS12 site. Midlothian Local Development Plan has been agreed by Council and should be formally adopted by November. HS10 appeal successful. This includes the bridge over the burn but ingress/egress may still be possible through Gladstone’s Gait at a later point. Site behind Laird and Dog for 9 houses had been refused and taken to appeal. The Fencing at Rockville Terrace was due to be renewed by Balfour Beatty as contractor for Heritage Estate Railways. Residents had asked CC to consider objecting as they would like different fencing. CC considered but some Community Councillors did not consider the fencing proposed was an issue. Agreed to leave it to Planners to ensure fencing was Conservation Area compliant. It was reported by Ed Angus that he had heard restaurant in Lasswade had been refused permission.
11.Admin Matters Diane Easton had volunteered to help with the website and she would get together with Darius Namdaran to learn how it was updated. MC to help with Facebook.
12.A.O.C.B
MC had bought two poppy wreaths for Remembrance Sunday. Gibby Scott to lay the one in Bonnyrigg Park and MC in Lasswade.
Darius Namdaran informed the meeting his Hub Group were to have a bonfire on the Knoll on Sunday 5 November. He asked for volunteers to help with the stewarding.
A number of BLCC had attended the Community Council Training Day. It had been considered interesting and useful. A Facebook forum for Midlothian CCs had been set up.
13.Date of Next Meeting 16 November 2017