Date: Wednesday, 2nd September 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Community Centre, GP Room
Attendance
Present:
Brett Walker, Nick McCashin, Kevin Gibson, Kirsty Towler, Lauren Cowie
Apologies: Lisa McLure, Jamie Govan
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- Approval of Minutes – 5th August 2026.
Proposed Kirsty, seconded Kevin
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2. Matters Arising
- Kirsty to make introductions with Kevin MacKenzie & Brett – not pursuing, not correct contact.
- Brett / Kirsty to consider speaking to ELC to ask if they would be willing to take on the WC professional fees.
- Brett to continue to contact Fire & Rescue regarding land – keep pushing to get the information asap.
- Kirsty to consult a lawyer regarding adverse possession -ant take advantage of adverse possession.
- Board to discuss funding options for the WC project and potential sources of funding.
- Nick – EOI in for the Hope Rooms – gone in
- Kevin getting info about Porty and Balerno Police station CAT’s – chasing this up.
- Nick – updates for the NB Together Card businesses – on hold at the moment.
- Kevin – visit PennyPitt, PortSeton, Prestonpans and East Linton – Kevin visited the Pennypitt and Prestonpans, East Linton couldn’t manage dates.
- Social Media comms strategy – Nick?
- Jamie – filling skills gaps
4. CDC, CCMC and NBYP Working Group
Reported a recent meeting to the other directors. The CCMC were not pleased that the CDC had submitted EOI’s to ELC regarding the Hope Rooms and Community Centre.
5. Community Consultation
ELC are going to be holding community consultations in October/November and the CDC will make no further decisions regarding the buildings until the consultations and ELC’s observations of the consultations can inform their decision making.
6. Next Steps
Conversations around next steps regarding the community centre and whether the directors think the CDC should continue pursuing.
Concerns over the state of the building and its longevity
7. AGM Planning
Nick present CC information and where the CDC are at the moment.
Brett will stand down and be re-elected
Lauren will stand down and be re-elected
Chairperson’s report – Brett on behalf of Lisa
Email to Lisa which states that the CDC presume she will be stepping down as chair, unless we hear otherwise, we will action this at the AGM but will remain as a director.
Kevin or Nick to stand as chair dependant on the constitution – to be checked.
8. AOCB
Nick updated on skool, after leaflet drop there have been 30 new sign up’s. The page is now public – people can view without signing up.
Kirsty spoke to the directors about Almshouses – affordable housing which has been getting rolled out in places in England – modern, high standard, intergenerational communities with residents who have local connections. Proposal could go into the NB Trust to promote the scheme.
Monday 7th – Tourism event at the Pennypitt 2.30pm – 4pm. Brett is attending and will feed back to the CDC.
ACTION FROM MEETING
- Brett / Kirsty to consider speaking to ELC to ask if they would be willing to take on the WC professional fees.
- Nick to explore if he knows an architect who might be happy to draw up WC drawings / give advice.
- Brett chase the Scottish Fire and Rescue regarding the land.
- Social Media comms strategy – Nick
- Jamie – filling skills gaps
- Chairperson’s report – Brett
- Kirsty to look into Almshouses and collate more information which could be shared with NB Trust.
8. DONM
Wednesday 7th October 2026 –
AGM – Thursday 22nd October 2026, Hope Rooms. Hall booked 6.30 – 9pm
Wednesday 4th November 2026 –
Wednesday 3rd December 2026 –