Meeting of the Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council

Thursday 15 January 2015 at 7:30pm

Sports Pavilion, King George V Park, Bonnyrigg
Draft Minutes
Attending
1. Community Councillors: Darius Namdaran (Chair), Elaine Ferguson (Treasurer), Bill McDonald, Mike Moore,
Brian Scott, Cam Scott, Gibby Scott; Ruth Scott, Dougi Stewart (part meeting), Moira Wilson.
2. Visitors- a number of visitors attended the following provided their names: Louise Gough, Shirley Boyle, David
Ferguson, Craig Finlay, Thomas Allan, John Barton, George Barnes, Jacqueline Charter, Alison Thomson, Ross
McBean, Billy Innes
Welcome and Introductions
3. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised visitors that the purpose and chief role of the
Community Council is representative; to consult the local community and to make known to the local authority
and other public bodies the views of local people on all matters affecting them. An important part of that role was
informing people of what is happening in their area, and finding ways of gauging local views so that these views
could be reported.

Apologies
4. Apologies were received from Jo Lee, Councillor Ian Baxter and Councillor Bob Constable.
Bright Sparks
5. Representatives from the Bright Sparks Managerial Committee attended the meeting to provide the Community
Council with an update of its plans for using the old Leisured Centre in George V Park, Bonnyrigg.
6. They provided a short history of Bright Sparks activity in Bonnyrigg over the years leading up to the decision to
move from its current position in the Cockpen Centre.
7. Bright Sparks provides playgroup, holiday activities and after-school support for children with complex
additional needs, and their families. Midlothian Council currently funds Bright Sparks to provide playgroup
support for children aged 0-5. The group also raises money for a range of activities after school and during
holiday periods for children aged 0-11. It plans to extend its service to provide for children aged 0 -18
developing a real centre for excellence for play provision for children with a variety of disabilities.
8. Their understanding of the situation regarding the use of the old leisure Centre was that all 3 of the community
based bids for the Centre had been rejected and, once it became known that bids had been dismissed, after much
consideration the Bright Sparks Management Committee decided to put forward a proposal following Council
Guidelines which was accepted. The strength of their application had been that the organisation had
demonstrated sustainability, reliability and had a track record of growing a service in times when others were
failing.
9. Their consideration had been could this be their new home versus demolition of the building. Not could this
been their new home versus other groups. It had not been their intention to become caught between
organisations. The Cockpen Centre had now been sold and the plan was for Bright Sparks to move into the Old
Leisure Centre later in the year.
10. They confirmed that they required exclusive use of the premises for security reasons but that they had longer
term plans for some community involvement, e.g. limited opening of a soft play centre and caf when it was not
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needed by Bright Sparks. But that would be for Phase 2 or 3 of their project, their first phase focus would be on
developing and settling into their new premises.
Death
11. Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council and many members of the public who attended the meeting
expressed their sympathy and condolences at the death of Robert Stewart, Dougi Stewarts father. Robert had
been a well-known, well respected and active member of the Bonnyrigg community and would be sadly missed.
12. At this stage the meeting was suspended for 10 minutes and Dougi Stewart and many of the visitors, including
the representatives from Bright Sparks left the meeting.
Police Report
13. There was no police presence at the meeting and a police report had not been provided.
14. It was reported that Midlothian Council had announced a 50% cut to its police community budget resulting in
the council funded community action group being reduced from 2 teams to 1.
15. There was some discussion about an apparent wave of break-ins and car thefts reported through the Bonnyrigg
and Lasswade Residents Forum. Concern was also expressed about some of the recent licencing decision being
made by Midlothian Council often against police advice on individual applications that had been approved.
16. The Community Council expressed dissatisfaction that on the one hand the council had decided to approve
licences against police advice while at the same time cutting the council funded community action teams from
two to one.
Minutes
17. An amendment was suggested at paragraph 22 to correct the figure for the Twinning Account to read 11,713.89.
Subject to that amendment the minutes were proposed by Gibby Scott, seconded by Elaine Ferguson and
approved.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
18. It was noted that 20mph limits would be piloted in Lasswade and other areas of Midlothian. Some areas would
be around nursery schools and it was hoped this would involve Bonnyrigg.
19. The Green Belt Action Group had been trying without success to make contact with the Midlothian Advertiser
and arranged to discuss with Craig Finlay outwith the meeting.
20. The Federation of Community Council meeting scheduled for 21 November reported in the minutes had not
taken place. The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 21 January 2015.
Community Council Notice Board
21. Community Councils have a legal right to put up Community Notice Boards in their area, no planning
permission was required. Ruth Scott and Elaine Ferguson agreed to take this matter forward on behalf of the
Community Council and report back to the next meeting.
Old Leisure Centre (response from Midlothian Council)
22. The letter from the Community Council to Midlothian Council dated 20 November 2014 which asked to be
involved in the latter stages of the decision making process about future use of the building and for a meeting
with the Council to discuss the situation and the response from Midlothian Council dated 11 December which
describes the decision making process were read out.
Copies of this corresponded can be found on the
R e s i d e n t s Vo i c e : B o n n y r i g g a n d L a s s w a d e C o m m u n i t y C o u n c i l w e b s i t e a t h t t p : / /
bonnyriggandlasswade.weebly.com.

23. There was a great deal of disappointment expressed both at the Midlothian Council decision about the use of the
old Leisure Centre as well as the detail of the response received. Various forms of potential action were
discussed including a wait and see approach, seeking an opinion from experts in the field about the need for a
disability charity to have exclusive use of the building, seeking an Advocates view of the merits of asking for a
Judicial review of the original decision.
24. It was unanimously decided that the Chair of the Community Council would write to Midlothian Council asking
for a public meeting so that residents can be part of the final design process. The Midlothian Council response
would be reported back to the next meeting of the Community Council.
Street Lights and Traffic Lights
25. Jacqueline Charter advised that street lights around school areas were being turned off too early resulting in
school children travelling to school in the dark. She also mentioned a problem with the traffic light filters.
Jacqueline agreed to raise the question of street lights with Midlothian Council citing support from the
Community Council in her letter. The issue regarding the traffic light filters was left to a later meeting.
Residents Forum Update
26. To date, the Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Residents Forum had proved a great success with around 900 members
having signed up in the 2 months the Forum had existed. Many and varied issues were being raised and
discussed in the Forum including the suggestion that some kind of social event be set up to encourage
community cohesion.
Midlothian Council Gritting
27. There was a short discussion about the issues surrounding road and pavement gritting in the winter weather.
Greenbelt Action Group
28. It was reported that Midlothian Council Development Plan had been approved in private at a public meeting
from which all members of the public and press had been asked to leave.
29. The Greenbelt Action Group was scheduled to meet on 16 January to discuss and prepare a strategy and action
plan for discussion at the next Community Council meeting.
30. The Greenbelt Action Group would attend the Federation meeting on 21 January meeting with Gibby Scott to
present the issues to try to get all Community Councils together for concerted action.
Report from Federation of Community Councils
31. The meeting scheduled for 21 November had not taken place so no report was made.
Golf Cub: Listed Tree Felling
32. It was reported that the trees in question belonged to and were felled by Mayshade Garden Centre. There were
no issues of concern as they had not been protected trees.
33. The Golf Club was yet to cut the hedges.
Fitness Trail Update
34. This issue was held over for the next meeting.
Midlothian Councillors
35. Ian Baxter provided the following report:

Council Budget agreed. I negotiated to remove music tuition fees over 2 years in return for supporting the
SNP budget. Reasons for prioritising this were the principle that education should be free, plus the proven
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benefits of learning music from an early age, i.e. improved performance in other subjects and raises
individual's IQ.

Broadband - I've done an analysis of all the cabinets in Bonnyrigg ward, and now know where they all are and
the status of each. Please contact me for the details

20 MPH 12 month pilot agreed for Lasswade. Although I agreed in principle with a Labour amendment for a
further 5 areas to be included, Lasswade has been given prominence via Petitions Committee and a detailed
report on a scheme has already been prepared. Adding in 5 more would have slowed down the process
considerably. However, I will support moves at a later date to add more areas in.

Local Development Plan - I opposed adoption of this on the basis that plans for Straiton are unsustainable and
do not address poor transport links with areas of Midlothian other than Penicuik. I also objected to the
discussion and decision taking place in private.

Attended meeting with Lothian Buses along with Bob, Derek and community representatives. Notes should be
produced soon by Catherine Duns.

Financial Report
36. It was reported that the Financial position remained unchanged from the last meeting:
Current Account
Balance as at 15 January 2015

1,434.84

Twinning Account
Balance as at 15 January 2015

11,713.89

37. Midlothian Council had awarded Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council a grant for 2015/16 of 771.00
to be paid on or after 1 April 2015.
Correspondence
38. There was no correspondence reported.
AOB
39. A reminder about the Duck Race to be held on 25 January 2015.was given.
Date of Next Meeting
40. It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at 7:30pm, at the Sports Pavilion, King George V Park,
Bonnyrigg on Thursday 19 February 2015.