BONNYRIGG AND LASSWADE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on 12th March 2020, Community/Flexible Learning

Room, Lasswade Library, Lasswade Centre, Bonnyrigg

Present: Jan Irvine, Chair

Diane Easton, Communications Secretary
Jackie Thompson, Interim Minute Taker
Marnie Crawford
Ruth Scott
Sheila Metcalf
Bill MacDonald
Flora Kennedy
Rhona Matthews
PC Jonny Cassidy
Colin Beattie, MSP
Cllr Derek Milligan
Apologies: Cllr Janet Lay-Douglas
Cllr Dianne Alexander
Alison Thomson
Darius Namdaran
Owen Proudfoot

ITEM 1/2 Welcome and Apologies

Noted (i) Apologies noted as above.

ITEM 3 Minutes of last meeting 13 February 2020

Agreed (i) The minutes were proposed (RS) and seconded (BM) as
an accurate reflection of the meeting.

ITEM 4 Matters Arising and Actions

Noted (i) That the issue relating to Bright Sparks padlocking the
tennis facilities is still ongoing and will be progressed
with Midlothian Council and Fields in Trust with findings
reported back to the Community Council.
Noted (ii) That there is currently no Asset Transfer in relation to
Waverley Park Pavilion, however this still remains a

1
 possibility. DM noted there was a keyholder
arrangement in place but there was a need to look at
alternative ways to utilise the use of the Pavilion while
remaining respectful to the needs of local residents in
term of traffic management and parking.
Noted (iii) DM updated the Community Council on the current
budget position. In terms of monies available
Midlothian Council are in the same position as last year
but have increased expenditure particularly in relation
to education. Midlothian is experiencing continued
growth. Recent COSLA meeting indicated that there may
be additional funding for local authorities but this has
not been announced officially as yet.
Noted (iv) Chair had contacted Midlothian Council regarding the
obstruction to emergency services caused due to the
main arterial routes into Bonnyrigg having temporary
traffic lights, but no response has been received. DM
noted that developers are reliant on their contractors
being available to carry out utility and other works, and
this has the potential to cause delay in progression of
works.
Noted (v) That the flooding issues in the park was due to
inefficient drainage and DM had been in contact with
Scottish Water but the cost to repair and replace the
pipes would be too costly.
Noted (vi) That the donation in support of the Friday Night Youth
Drop-in Project had been duly handed to Cockpen and
Carrington Trust on 22nd February 2020 by BM.
Noted (vii) That the Twinning Association donation would be
officially handed over to Lasswade Rugby Club towards
the end of March2020/beginning of April 2020.
Action (i) Chair to progress handover of donation to Lasswade Chair
Rugby Club.
(ii) DE to add “Community Hub” as an agenda item for the DE
next meeting.

ITEM 5 Police Report

2
Received (i) Police Report for February 2020.
Noted (i) That the Chair had met with the Manager of the Co-op
store, they have taken measures to deter shoplifting by
staff having a more visible presence in the shop.
Noted (ii) That the Police are still to have a meeting with the Co-
op regional management to discuss further preventative
measures.
Noted (iii) That parking at Lasswade Primary School is still an
ongoing issue and parents were using messaging apps to
alert each other of police presence. Noted that double
yellow lines are to be painted in Eskbank Road during
the Easter Holidays.
Noted (iv) That youth disorder incidents have reduced over the
past month.
Action (i) Chair to approach Lasswade Rugby Club organisers to Chair
discuss their Youth Project and their approach to
disorder.

ITEM 6 Visitor Issues

Noted (i) None were raised.

ITEM 7 Reports from Midlothian Councillors

Received (i) Verbal report for DM detailing an overview of the
current budget position and it was noted that cuts to
services where inevitable, with funding being allocated
to education and adult social care. Roads, in particular
potholes, are an ongoing issue and repairs require staff
to be deployed from other areas to assist with repairs.
CB noted that in the recent Westminster Budget the
Chancellor had promised a “pothole fund” so a portion
of this will be allocated to the Scottish Government for
repairs.

ITEM 8 Financial Report

Received (i) Verbal report from BM which noted there is currently

3
 £2924.20 in the bank.
Noted (i) That the petty cash has been found and a bank card to
withdraw cash will be applied for.
Noted (ii) That SM is still receiving financial information from the
Bank despite a formal complaint having been raised to
them.
Action (i) BM to provide year-end financial statement at the BM
AGM.

ITEM 9 Secretary’s Report

Received (i) Items of Interest report had been circulated which is a
summary of relevant information collated from the
numerous emails received.
Noted (i) Thanks were extended to JT for minute taking today.
Noted (ii) Noted that Midlothian Council are consulting currently
about issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for parking in
electric car charging bays while not actively using the
charging point.
Noted (iii) That Melville Housing have indicated they are starting
an electric car club in Midlothian. Also CB commented
that the Scottish Government are investing in electric
car/charging point technology.
Action (i) Chair to circulate leaflets regarding the electric car club Chair
to AGM in April 2020.
Action (ii) DE to review and refresh the Community Council DE
webpage.
Action (iii) Community Councillors to send any ideas for updating Communit
the webpage to DE. y
Councillor
s
Action (iv) DE to carry out statutory preparatory work for the DE
AGM in April 2020 and advertise the meeting.
Acknowledged that the AGM and subsequent meetings
may be postponed/cancelled due to the Covid-19
shutdowns and subsequent Community Council
meetings may also be cancelled.

4
Action (v) RS to make enquiries regarding accessing the RS
community noticeboard in the town centre for
advertising the AGM.

ITEM 10 Road, Pavements and Traffic

Received (i) Verbal update from the MTRAP meeting in February
2020 and noted that a summary of the meeting would
be posted on Midlothian Council website.
Action (i) DE to publish the MTRAP meeting report on the DE
Community Council website when it is in the public
domain.
Noted (i) That potholes can be reported to Midlothian Council on
their website and that Midlothian Council are liable to
cover the cost of any private vehicles repairs. DM noted
that the caveat to this is that Midlothian Council are not
liable if it is shown they have “taken reasonable steps to
repair the potholes”.
Link to report potholes:
https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/200287/roads/173
/report_a_road_fault

ITEM 11 Items of Interest from Midlothian Council/MFCC

Noted (i) Mentioned in Secretary’s Report.

12 AOCB
Discussio (i) BM noted that Borders Buses did not have a bus stop on
n the A7 to Cockpen Link Road.
Action (i) Chair to contact Borders Buses for comment on the Chair
lack of bus stop.
Noted (i) CB gave an overview on the statement released today
by Scottish Government in relation to COVID-19. Current
advice is to self-isolate for 7 days if you have a new and
continuous cough and/or raised temperature, the
stopping of international travel for schools and the
banning of social gatherings of 500 persons or more.
DM added that contingency planning scenarios are
based around 25% staff absence rates and 80% of
5
 people being affected with the virus, however the
situation is fluid and these data sets may change. Noted
that Midlothian Council service deliverables will focus
on education and adult social care as a priority.
Agreed (i) That the COVID-19 is an unprecedented and challenging
situation with the potential for advice to change quickly
and we as a Community Council need to be adaptable to
this in terms of delaying future meetings or using video
conferencing technology in the short to medium term to
facilitate meetings.
Noted (ii) CB advised that Brexit will have an impact in Scotland
especially within the hospitality and care services sector.
Discussio (ii) CB and DM discussed the improvement plans for
n Sheriffhall.
Action (ii) CB to meet with the Finance Minister and DM to meet CB and
with Transport Scotland, Transport Minister and DM
Minister for the Economy and report back to the
Community Council.
Noted (iii) FK advised that she was pleased with the courtesy, good
manners and professionalism of the contractors working
on the new school. This was acknowledged and agreed
by meeting attendees.
Action (iii) DM to arrange a visit to the school if desired. DM
Action (iv) Chair to arrange a visit to Millerhill Waste Plant if Chair
desired.
Noted (iv) Chair thanked CB and DM for their attendance at the
meeting.

ITEM 13 Planning Report

Noted (i) Link to Midlothian Council planning portal:
https://planning-
applications.midlothian.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/
Noted (ii) That the signage at Kings Park was good and that the
house at Green Lane, Lasswade has been refused at
review stage.
Discussio (i) Around Premier Inn at Melville building expansion and
n the loss of disabled and general parking spaces.
6
Agreed (i) To have no objections to the planning application in
principle with the caveat that any loss of disabled
parking spaces will be addressed by developers.
Noted (iii) That the Hardengreen development which was
originally planned solely for business use but has now
been changed to have housing provision has been
refused at appeal stage as it is contrary to the LDP.
Noted (iv) That Hopefield 2 is now at planning stage which includes
areas for a new school and community use, multi-use/
bridle path realignment and infrastructure planning.
Acknowledged that the development would be
approved in principle as it is in the LDP.
Action (i) CM to make Midlothian Council planning officers CM
aware of any local roads issues in particular pertaining
to the Hopefield 2 development.
Action (ii) Any additional planning views to the sent to MC. Communit
y
Councillor
s