Board Meeting Minutes
Date: Wednesday, 6th May 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: North Berwick Community Centre
Attendance
Present:
Kathy Duncan, Brett Walker, Lauren Cowie, Nick McCashin, Kevin Gibson
Apologies: Kirsty Towler, Lisa McLure, Jamie Govan
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- Approval of Minutes – 1st April 2026
Proposed Brett – , seconded – Kathy
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2. Matters Arising
Train station WC Quotes – Brett & Kevin
- Brett got estimates from Healthmatic. They done the WC’s at the Meadows – modular unit £90,000 and groundworks £20,000. Similar estimation of that from Portacabin that past director, Kenny had previously received. Finding it difficult to find Scottish firms that deliver whats required. Brett going to source some other estimates – total of 3, or more.
- Borders and Lothian / Scottish Fire and Rescue currently own the land that would be required for the WC’s. Breet to contact them to find out if they are open to use of their land.
WC – Ridge – Kevin
- Can the Ridge help with installing the WC’s? We would be keen to use a local provider. Would they like to tender for the work?
Update Skills Profile
- Lisa, Brett, Kevin and Kirsty to do this asap please.
Can Jamie update the template which would make it more specific to skills required to take over assets – as set out in the asset transfer guidance 2022 – 25 paper. Nick to share the paper.
Information Sharing agreement – Lauren this is to be reduced in size at request of the JWG
Terms of engagement – for JWG – Kevin
- Kevin going to work on this. CDC to agree in time for presenting at JWG meeting on 10th June.
Receiving shared information
- agreement needs to be in place
- Kevin speaking to Doug re receiving information that ELC holds about the building
Large Scale plans of CC – Nick & Kirsty
- Current plans are not up to date. No stairs on the plans. No outdoor space on the plans / boundaries etc.
- Title Deeds for all of the space indoors, and outdoors.
- We want to secure the car park with any take over of the building
Hope Rooms – Idea sharing
- Nick shared some basic business plans which could be useful as starting points when thinking about this asset.
On the basis of the two business plans shared – are the board happy to continue to explore options for an asset transfer of the Hope Rooms.
This could mean that the immediate efforts may be directed at the Hope Rooms as well as the Community Centre.
Together as a collective, we require a majority vote to continue on this trajectory. Subject to this we will put an expression of interest in for the Hope Rooms.
Consultations to begin on our social platforms.
Brown Forbes Application – CP Phase 2
- Application is in. Still awaiting the award decision.
- Brett is exploring other major funders to fund phase 4 of the Coastal Path.
NB Trust Application – Lauren & Kathy
- Lauren spoke to grant officer Catherine and discussed some potential questions that the trustees may have regarding the spend of the grant. There were no specifics on the application as the fund was for a start up grant – which will allow us to have funds to pay potential professionals and services as well as community engagement. This was discussed.
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3. Strategic streams
One page updates for each stream for the next meeting
Funding and finance – Kevin (lead)
– Kevin meeting with Gullane Village Association
Portfolio acquisition – Kirsty?
Governance – Lauren & Kathy (lead)
Skills & resources – Lisa (lead)
Project Delivery – Kathy & Nick (lead)
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4. Joint Working Group
Terms of engagement and information sharing agreements need to be agreed.
Chase up open day information, Asbestos report, Architect information from CCMC.
Need to create a business plan asap.
CDC acknowledged minutes from previous 2 JWG meetings. ____________________________________________________________________________
5. Placemaking Project / Community Centre / Hope Rooms
See previous agenda items
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6. AOCB
Action – arrange a day time meeting to meet with Doug.
Lauren ask Doug’s availability – 4 or 5 dates, lunchtime meeting.
Community Engagement
Board to login and add more engagement by talking to active members on skool and socials.
Income from the NB Together Card – need to get a launch date.
The board approved to launch the NB Together card and marketing campaign – Skool subscription at £85 per month and to trial this for 6 months. Nick needs help to get at least 4 to 5 high street businesses to support the card and add more value.
Push skool more – could we drive more people to the site – Picnic in the park could be a good place to promote the site and the NB Together Card.
Nick to share marketing strategies.
Other community groups reaching out
Site up by the Cala estate – Zoned for educational use.
Interest from North Berwick Football club members regarding creating 3G pitch / stadium space
Nick has spoken with some of the community members exploring these ideas.
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ACTION FROM MEETING
Brett – more WC estimates
Brett – contact Scottish Fire & Rescue – use of their land for WC’s
Kevin – The Ridge, are they interested in the work for the WC’s?
Nick – share asset transfer guidance + flyer again + marketing + occupancy report
Jamie – update the skills profile to align with asset transfer guidance
Kevin – Doug re information from ELC
Kevin – Terms of engagement
Lauren – Information sharing agreement
Placemaking team – let them know that the plans are not up to date – stairs missing, no car park or outdoor land / boundaries included.
STRATEGIC LEADS – all to create a 1 page update for next meeting for each stream
Lauren – Invite Doug to meeting – Lauren ask Doug’s availability – 4 or 5 dates, lunchtime meeting.
Nick – Marketing strategies
Kevin & Nick – Start payments for the NB Together card subs and launch the card.
DONM
Wed 3rd June – Art room – booked
Wed 1st July – GP Room – booked
Wed 5th Aug – No access to NBCC – CanDo Playscheme