Date: Wednesday, 7th January
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: North Berwick Community Centre
Attendance
Present:
Kevin Gibson, Kathy Duncan, Lisa McLure, Brett Walker, Lauren Cowie, Kirsty Towler, Nick McCashin, Kenny Miller, Steve Jones, Jamie Govan.
Apologies:
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1. Approval of Minutes – 3rd December 2025
Proposed – Kathy, seconded Kevin
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2. Welcoming visiting members
Jamie Govan and Steve Jones both interested in the Company. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. Matters Arising
Progress with bank – Kevin
Action – focusing on this over the next months.
WC Project Updates – Brett
Action – Fire Service – chase them re the ownership. Kenny & Breet to draft a response re the unsuccessful funding bid (Changing Places). Could be regular but accessible WC’s (not changing places) if funding streams are difficult. This would reduce land size required and the cost.
NB Coastal Path Update – Brett – now have agreements with Golf Club and Stuart McNicoll of Castleton farms to complete the planned path, which will run through part of their land. Phase 1 complete – clearing etc. The path will run along the coast from North Berwick to Tantallon castle. McNicoll stated he would be happy for the path to continue up to Auldhame. Hilary Smith will be sought to support with identifying funding streams.
Action – Sewage works plans – need to engage with their consultation. Push to have the paths in before Scottish Water start work.
Contact Scottish Water to request information on their plans
Action – Meet with Hilary & Kevin re funding applications and streams.
Accessing Placemaking Project contacts – Kevin
Action – Tom Reid – Kevin is doing this now we are in the New Year
Courier Article – Nick
Action – Website launch then contact the ELC
Draft email to send to members – Lisa
Action – By next meeting
Signed declarations – all – DONE
Mission statement & Vision – Kevin
Kevin sent a draft which the board shared comments on and approved.
Action – To revisit the statement and vision and agree ahead of the website launch.
Stripe payments account – Kevin and Nick – DONE
4. North Berwick Community Centre Committee
The Board agreed that a working group would be set up, and encouraged members of the Community Centre Committee (CCC) to join. The CCC were invited to give their feedback after we discussed this idea at the November CDC meeting they attended.
Lisa discussed the idea that one entity take over part of the building and they manage rentals of those spaces.
This could also be a model that could work well for a cafe.
Could the project be looked at in a phase eg. NBYP move in first. NBYP need to work with the ELC staff to look at the feasibility of a move. This could influence how soon NBYP could make a move.
Kenny informed the CDC that the CCC have had architect drawings done and discussed the opportunity to generate income. The CDC would be interested to see these.
Steve suggested an open door event – inviting the community in.
Brewery Clubs, Cheesemaking Clubs and other hobby classes that require space could utilise spaces.
Jamie stressed the importance of diversity of space.
Action
Lauren – Draft email to the CCC with clear and transparent information and invitation to join a working group – would they like to be representatives.
Are CCC happy for us to have a – Save the Community Centre initial public meeting/event to encourage wider community engagement.
Lauren – Agenda for the Working Group (WG) meeting
Kenny – Can CCC share the plans etc they have done.
Working group meetings to be scheduled in
Working group members – cap at 7 people
- Lauren
- Nick
- Lisa
- Kathy
- Steve (interested in being part of planning an event)
Wednesday 21st or Thur 22nd Jan – first working group meeting. Give CCC 2 options.
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5. Placemaking Project
Action
Kevin – Ask for updates on when the new ELC staff are ready to start engaging with groups – Get a meeting arranged with them ASAP.
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6. AOCB
ELC Local Development Plan consultations end on 4th Feb. Can be found online.
Kevin – working group leads were agreed on. All working groups to be recurring agenda items.
Funding and finance – Kevin (lead)
Portfolio acquisition –
Governance – Kathy & Lauren (lead)
Skills & resources – Lisa (lead)
Project Delivery – Kathy & Nick (lead)
How would the visiting members like to participate?
Steve – Project delivery – It delivery manager. Large IT programmes across Scotland.
Skills Bank – Lisa (lead)
Jamie and Lisa getting together to think about people they know who have skills that would be useful, to approach them and ask if they would be willing to share their skills / join working groups/be added to a skills bank.
Skills audit – matrix to be formed – Jamie can help with this
NBCDC could take over ‘This is North Berwick’ Instagram. Has a good following. Could be purchased for circa £2,000. – For discussion.
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DONM
Wednesday 4th Feb, 7pm, NBCC GP Room
Wednesday 4th March, 7pm, NBCC GP Room
Action Points
Kevin – Progress bank arrangements over the coming months.
Kenny & Brett – Chase Fire Service regarding WC ownership.
Kenny & Brett – Draft response following unsuccessful Changing Places funding bid and explore alternative accessible WC options.
Brett / all – Engage with Scottish Water consultation on sewage works.
Brett – Contact Scottish Water to request details of their plans.
all – Push to have coastal paths completed before Scottish Water works begin.
Brett – Meet with Hilary Smith to discuss funding applications and funding streams.
Kevin – Contact Tom Reid regarding Placemaking Project contacts.
Nick – Progress Courier article after website launch and liaise with ELC.
Lisa – Draft email to members by next meeting.
Kevin & Board – Revisit and finalise mission statement and vision ahead of website launch.
Lauren – Draft email to Community Centre Committee (CCC) inviting representatives to join a working group DONE
CC working group – Ask CCC whether they support a “Save the Community Centre” public meeting/event.
Lauren – Draft agenda for the Community Centre Working Group meeting.
Kenny / cc working group – Request CCC share architectural plans and related documents with the CDC.
Lauren – Schedule first Community Centre Working Group meeting (21 or 22 January) and offer options to CCC.
Lisa – Lead development of a Skills Bank.
Jamie & Lisa – Identify individuals with useful skills and approach them about joining working groups or the Skills Bank.
Jamie – Assist with creating a skills audit / skills matrix.
Board – Further discuss potential acquisition of “This is North Berwick” Instagram account.
Nick – Launch the website
Kirsty & Brett – complete and return conflicts of Interest forms