News
Work on John Muir House SPOC due to begin later this month
Work on the new ‘Single Point of Contact’ (SPOC) for John Muir House is due to begin later this month.
Before work starts the contractor will be setting up a compound on part of Peffers Place (the lane between John Muir House and the Corn Exchange – see below). This set-up work is expected to take place from 15 February. This will enable the contractor to access the main John Muir House reception area from the inner courtyard and gardens.
The main reception at John Muir House is expected to remain open throughout the project. There is the possibility of a one-day reception closure which, if required, will be notified well in advance. Every effort will be made to minimise noise and inconvenience during the works.
The whole area behind the main reception desk will be closed off during the project work. The tables in the Planning reception area (behind main reception) will be relocated. This will allow a new Planning area with secure doors and partitions to be created.
When work is complete the counter at the Court Street entrance - which handles customer payments and other enquiries - will close to the public. The main reception on Brewery Park will then become the SPOC for all customers and visitors to John Muir House. This work is due to be completed in May 2019.
As plans are also being made for the relocation of Haddington Police Station to the former Sheriff Court building, it is expected that the Peffers Place compound will remain in place until Summer 2020.
In due course, a separate compound will be established to the rear of the Corn Exchange to accommodate refurbishment works starting there in the Spring. As a result a small number of parking spaces will be out of action. Scaffolding will need to be erected outside the Corn Exchange along Peffers Place, which will stay open to pedestrians.
Look out for updates in the weeks and months ahead.
New Primary School contract awarded
A new primary school is to be built in Haddington fully funded through developers’ contributions.
The school is being developed at Letham Mains on the west side of the town. The site was zoned for housing in the council’s Local Development Plan and planning approval has been given for 800 new homes. The size and scale of the development meant that a new school was required. The council secured legally binding agreements with housebuilders to achieve the funding needed to build the new facility. 
Morrison Construction was awarded the £8.63m contract following a competitive tender process. The firm has previously worked on the Haddington Primary/ St Mary’s Primary joint campus and is in the finishing stages of the new Wallyford Primary School. It is currently developing the new East Lothian Community Hospital.
East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Shamin Akhtar said: “Work is well underway at Letham Mains to provide 800 new homes, including affordable houses, for our community. I’m pleased that the contract has been awarded for Letham Mains Primary School and this important part of the development can move forward. I look forward to following its progress.”
Letham Mains Primary School will have 14 classrooms suitable for pre-school and primary teaching, a dining hall, social space and a two court PE hall with retractable seating for performance and community use. The external areas will be designed for outdoor learning, PE and play. Work is due to start on site in February 2019 with estimated completion in Summer 2020.
Head of Education Fiona Robertson said: “We routinely secure developer contributions to fund the expansion of public facilities that will be impacted. This can include extensions to schools or the development of community and sports facilities. The scale of the development at Letham Mains requires the provision of a new school so we have worked to secure the necessary contributions from the developers to bring forward this key requirement without impacting on the council’s capital budget.
“We are pleased to be able to announce that Morrison Construction will be building the new school and look forward to them starting on site in February.”
School meals service receives quality award for 6th year in a row!
East Lothian parents are being encouraged to take advantage of fresh, healthy, and sustainable school meals which have once again been recognised with a national award. 
School catering staff are celebrating after the council achieved the Soil Association Scotland’s Bronze Food for Life Served Here award across its primary schools for the sixth year running.
The Food for Life Served Here award is a widely respected and independently assessed scheme, supported by the Scottish Government, which supports Local Authorities to put more local food on school dinner plates and serve freshly-prepared, sustainable meals. It recognises and rewards councils that are serving food made from fresh ingredients, using free-range eggs and high-welfare meat, and free from genetically modified ingredients and undesirable additives.
East Lothian Council serves 3,700 meals a day across 35 primary schools.
The Food for Life programme works with Local Authorities to get more Scottish food on plates, shortening supply chains and supporting thriving local economies. Pupils in East Lothian primary schools regularly enjoy:
- Locally sourced fruit and vegetables from George Andersons & Sons, including potatoes, cabbages and brussel sprouts from East Lothian, summer soft fruit from Fife, and prepared vegetables, soup mixes and turnips from Tayside;
- Scottish cheese from McLelland;
- 100% free range eggs, 77% of which are Scottish and the remainder of which are British.
The boost in local produce from the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award has also linked into educational activities with the pupils.
Lorraine Faulds, senior officer in facilities management services, said “George Anderson & Sons has been our distributor and supplier of fresh vegetables for several years. They organised a competition for schools to grow their own potatoes and the school with the highest yield then visited to see potatoes being graded and packaged. The school cooks also used the produce the children had grown as part of the lunch time experience’.”
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, said: “We want children to enjoy more of Scotland’s fantastic produce as part of their school meals. The Food for Life Scotland programme is helping us to achieve that, and I’m delighted to congratulate East Lothian Council on the renewal of their Food for Life Served Here award.
“The programme helps us to deliver on our shared ambition with the food and drink sector, to find new market opportunities, helping to sustain and grow their businesses, whilst bolstering the local economy and improving our children’s health. We look forward to seeing more local authorities across Scotland sign up to the scheme.”
Cllr. Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s Education and Children’s Services spokesperson congratulated staff on the achievement. She said, “Providing a range of healthy, nutritious meals to children and young people is a really important part of the school day.
“Our school catering teams have been very innovative in not only encouraging a greater uptake of schools meals through taster sessions but also preparing most meals from scratch and increasingly using locally sourced produce. Parents and carers are also asked for their feedback on the school menu. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their collective efforts in achieving this award and I’m sure that this work will encourage even more children and young people to opt for a school meal.”
Every day is a good time to talk
Just like physical health, we all have mental health, yet we can be uncomfortable talking about it. Sometimes we have good mental health and other times it is not so good. We may have a mental health condition and be managing this very well, have some bad days or are struggling. Life events can knock us and sometimes it is pile of things that build on top of each other which can make us feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. We are also all different in how we respond and what helps. Some people will share with others how they are feeling, others prefer not to or are unaware how they are feeling as they are unwell. 
Time to Talk day is 7 February which is a national campaign by the mental health charity See Me. However, every day is time to talk. Listening to a colleague when they’ve had a bad day, having a laugh, showing we care, catching up over a coffee help us all to have better mental health. Don’t underestimate the impact we can make to someone’s wellbeing by showing an interest. It is the small things that can make a big difference such as:
- Performing a random act of kindness for someone
- Checking in with someone over a text
- Arranging to meet up with someone you care about
- Having a chat over lunch
- Calling someone you have not spoken to for a while
- Telling someone that you appreciate what they have done for you
- Asking “how are you?” and meaning it
- Going for a walk with someone and finding out how they are getting on
Conversations have the power to change lives, wherever they take place.
Local Development Plan shortlisted for national award
East Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) has been nominated for a prestigious planning industry award
The LDP has been shortlisted as a finalist in the category for Excellence in Plan Making at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2019.
The RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. Running for over 40 years, they celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society.
The LDP is the key planning document guiding development across East Lothian to 2024 and beyond and has involved a huge amount of preparation and extensive public consultation. It was approved by Scottish Ministers in September 2018, after the Report of Examination made only minor recommendations for changes to the work of East Lothian Council’s planning team.
Norman Hampshire, Depute Council Leader and Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, said:
“The LDP is a hugely important piece of work as it provides East Lothian with a sustainable strategy for jobs and homes, making the best use of existing infrastructure whilst allowing for new infrastructure including new schools and improved transport networks. It supports our aim of securing an even more prosperous, safe and sustainable East Lothian, that enables all of our people and communities to flourish.
“I was personally very pleased that Scottish Ministers accepted our draft LDP with only very minor changes as it reflected the extremely high quality of work and careful consultation that was carried out by colleagues. The fact it has been shortlisted for this prestigious national award is just another huge endorsement for our planning team and all colleagues across the council who helped inform the LDP preparation process. It’s a great example of team working and a One Council approach.”
RTPI President Ian Tant MRTPI said: “Many congratulations to all this year’s finalists, who demonstrate outstanding contributions to planning, producing a positive effect on our communities, the economy and the environment. They have shown how planners can use their passion and skills to meet needs, deliver high quality design and tackle environmental challenges – they should all be proud of their role as a force for good in society.”
The winners will be announced during a ceremony held at Milton Court Concert Hall in central London on 24 April 2019.
Dunbar Grammar welcomed Doddie Weir
Scottish rugby legend and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) campaigner Doddie Weir recently visited Dunbar Grammar to receive a cheque from the school’s Charity Committee for £1102.52 for his foundation, My Name’5 Doddie. The school community raised funds through a dress down day, bake sales and donations from the Rugby Club. 
Doddie shared his experiences of living with MND at a special assembly, held in the school’s new social hub. He spoke of the work that his foundation is doing to raise funds for research into this incurable disease, including gene therapy, and also to support people living with MND.
Pupils also had the opportunity to put their own questions to Doddie in a Q&A session, covering his rugby career, Six Nations predictions and his positive attitude in the face of his devastating diagnosis. Doddie explained that it is the same determination that drove his rugby career that is fuelling his charity work and his desire to further research. He encouraged pupils to make the most of all opportunities and experiences offered to them and discussed the benefits of sport for health, wellbeing and being part of a supportive community.
Doddie was invited by S1 pupil Holly Berry-Shotton, a member of the school’s active Charities Committee. Holly’s Grandad lives with MND and she, along with her fellow committee members, were keen to raise awareness as well as money for this cause.
Following a discussion with her parents, Holly emailed My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Doddie explained it was this personal approach that led to his visit: “This is the first time I have gone to school after receiving an email from a pupil. Holly’s message spoke about her Grandad and the work Dunbar Grammar pupils were doing to raise awareness and funds. I’m really grateful to her and the school for inviting me and for all that they’ve done,” he said.
Doddie Weir was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2019 New Years Honours List for services to rugby, Motor Neurone Disease research and the Scottish Borders community.
EU Settlement Scheme
On 21 January 2019 the prime Minister announced that there will be no fee when the EU Settlement Scheme fully opens on the 30 March 2019. 
If you have already applied you will have your fee refunded. However, there are no details on the refund policy at this stage. Once the details are announced we will provide you with an update.
Who Should Apply?
If you’re an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, you’ll usually need to apply if you want to stay in the UK after 30 June 2021.
This includes if you either:
You do not need to apply if:
- you’re an Irish citizen - your family members from outside either the UK or Ireland will still need to apply
- you have indefinite leave to enter the UK
- you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
You can apply if you already have indefinite leave to remain in or enter the UK, but you do not need to.
Your family members from outside either the UK or Ireland will still need to apply even if you do not need to.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Please refer to the Home Office websites:
https://eucitizensrights.campaign.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
This site is kept up to date and provides vital information and guidance to those who need to apply.
New system for booking pool cars to be launched
A new, easy-to-use system for booking out pool cars is to be introduced at John Muir House. 
Anyone wishing to book a pool car will soon need to use Enterprise Car Club self-service.
The first step is to register for an account – you can sign-up now. When registering enter your work email address and the postal address for John Muir House.
You will be asked to insert a date of birth. You should use the generic date of 01/01/2000 instead of your own personal date of birth. You can enter your line manager’s details as ‘Emergency Contact’.
Those who are not existing users of pool cars will then be contacted by Transport Services to arrange a familiarisation drive in one of the pool cars.
You will be able to make bookings and access your account via the Enterprise Car Club website. After booking a car you will receive a confirmation email with instructions. The car allocated will be accessed using your staff ID card and you will be given a passcode to start the vehicle.
The advantages of our electric pool cars include:
- Reduced emissions
- An allocated parking space on your return to John Muir House
- Less wear and tear on your own vehicle
Enterprise Car Club self-service has already been introduced for colleagues working at Randall House.
We will also be taking delivery of some new vehicles which means our fleet of pool cars at John Muir House will soon consist of six electric vehicles. The Enterprise team will be visiting John Muir House staff to meet staff and answer any questions they may have – look out for more information in due course.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please email transportservices@eastlothian.gov.uk
Council Roll of Honour
Across the council individuals, teams and departments have achieved recognition and awards for their innovation and ideas. We would like to ensure that all are recorded and acknowledged. If you know of any recent award please send in details to Hazel Boak. 
In the past year East Lothian Council has achieved:
- A double award win at the 2018 APSE Scotland Striving for Excellence Awards. Gold award in the Parks, Grounds & Streets category and a silver award in the Fleet category at APSE Scotland’s Fleet, Waste and Grounds seminar
- Alan Smith, apprentice joiner, was awarded the 1st Year Apprentice Award in the APSE Scotland Building & Housing Apprentice of the Year Awards
- Roads Services shortlisted as finalist in the APSE UK awards - ‘most improved performer in roads, highways and winter maintenance
- Council – Recognised for Excellence from Quality Scotland – 4 Star Award
- Community Housing – Scrutiny Excellence Award from Tenants Information Service
- Dunbar Grammar and Knox Academy – finalists in the Scottish Resources Awards 2018 in the Best Partnership Initiative Award
- The East Lothian Library Service made the shortlist for The Bookseller’s Library of the Year Award
- Eight beaches won Scottish Beach Awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful
- Yester Primary were awarded three highly regarded eTwinning National Quality Labels
- Agnes Guyon won the inaugural Youth Libraries Group Public Librarian award
- East Lothian Rangers Service were presented with certificate acknowledging role as a long-standing provider and assessor of the Scottish Junior Ranger programme
- Longniddry Primary received a ‘Rights Respecting School’ award from UNICEF UK.
- Council received Bronze award for Armed Forces Covenant work
Government recognises innovation at Innerwick Early Years
Innerwick Early Years Setting has been recognised as a setting of innovation and impact for Early Years and Childcare by the Scottish Government. The nursery is one of only six settings across Scotland that has been chosen for a project that will see its work shared across the country so that others can learn from it.
The Scottish Government had committed to identifying excellence in Early Years settings as part of its expansion of early learning and childcare. The evidence can be developed and shared across the sector, raising awareness of pioneering practices that offer the best outcomes for children.
Following extensive self-evaluation, Innerwick’s early years team spent time developing its approach to play-based learning, introducing loose parts play and developing creative ways that make positive impacts for the children. Children in the nursery are fully involved in planning their day through ‘map-do-review’ to choose their activities. During its 2016 visit to the nursery, the Care Inspectorate reported that this process encouraged reflection, commenting that children were actively engaged in play and encouraged to be independent through a range of opportunities including outdoor play. Feedback from parents has been very positive with many noting that the stimulating experiences their children receive at nursery have changed how they play at home.
Innerwick’s Senior Early Years Practitioner Sarah Laing said: “We are extremely passionate about children’s right to play and the many benefits it brings. Our children play with a real intensity and can hold their attention on their ideas for a sustained period. They are imaginative, resourceful and work well together when playing inside or outside. Involving and including families has been vital and it’s great to hear that they are also seeing a positive impact at home from the stimulation children receive in nursery.”
A small team drawing together Scottish Government Improvement Team, Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland will work with Innerwick nursery staff to develop evidence of their innovation so this can be shared along with details from the other five settings.
Single primary school for Prestonpans to proceed
Plans to create a new, single primary school for Prestonpans are to go ahead after Scottish Ministers advised that they will not call in the proposal.
The proposal to close Prestonpans Infants and Prestonpans Primary schools and establish a new primary school covering Nursery to P7, operating from the existing school sites, followed a statutory public consultation. Councillors agreed to progress the plans at a council meeting on 11 December 2018.
This decision needed to be ratified by Scottish Ministers. Confirmation from Scottish Government that it will not call in the proposal means that our Education Service can proceed with its proposal to establish a new primary school for Prestonpans.
Fiona Robertson, Head of Education, said:
“Prestonpans is the only area in East Lothian where nursery to p3 and p4-p7 are taught across two schools. We believe that having one primary school, working under a single management structure, will benefit pupils at all levels of their learning as it does elsewhere in the county by ensuring a smoother progression through school and better coherence across the curriculum at all ages and stages. Education Scotland has recognised the potential educational benefits and opportunities for greater coherence in the curriculum.
“We have written to staff and parents to advise them of this decision. Our priority now is to work with the Headteachers and the Parent Council Chairs in both schools, and to support staff, parents and pupils during the move to a single primary school.
“We are grateful to everyone who responded to our consultation and are mindful of the range of views that were shared through this process. We are committed to working closely with all staff, parents and pupils to establish a new learning community in Prestonpans that will deliver the best educational outcomes.”
Out of Africa!
Well done to the team of amazing fundraisers led by Ray Montgomery who have just returned from successfully climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of Cancer Research UK. 
Over the past 6 years, following the death of valued colleague, Vera Cameron, colleagues, friends and family of Vera have embarked on a range of challenges to raise funds for a number of cancer charities.
After Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike, Ben Nevis Charity Challenge, West Highland Way and climbing the three highest peaks in the UK, 9 intrepid adventurers put their best feet forward and flew out to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
Ray said: “It was an incredible experience which challenged us all. Walking from the base up to the summit included a range of extreme temperatures from tropical heat to -10 at the mountain top. I would like to thank all of our supporters over the years who have helped with our training, event preparation and of course with their generosity for our fund raising.”
Since 2012, the fundraisers have raised more than £70,000 for cancer charities.
Give Blood
Stocks of some blood groups are currently low. 
Find out if you can become a donor with the ScotBlood quiz.
This month in East Lothian you can give blood at the Brunton on Sunday 24 February: 10.30-12.30 and 14.00-15.30 and Monday 25 February 14.30-16.00 and 17.30-19.30
Health and wellbeing at local libraries
East Lothian Libraries have a variety of resources and groups to encourage and contribute to health and wellbeing within our community. 
We have 12 libraries which have a variety of resources, fiction and non-fiction for a variety of age groups. We also have a healthy reading scheme which is a range of self-help books, fiction and non-fiction books for children, young people and parents to help understand and cope with a variety of health conditions and events. These resources are aimed at tackling issues that can arise in childhood and ADHD, anger, anxiety are just some of the topics covered. See the Special Community Services page for more information.
East Lothian libraries currently provide books to 36 book clubs within the East Lothian Area, some are based within our various libraries and some are private book clubs. East Linton and Haddington libraries also run ‘Walk and Talk’ book groups, where books are discussed whilst out walking. Aging Well and Changes groups also run walking groups that leave from Dunbar Library.
We also run and/or support a variety of community groups, some of which are to support those affected by specific health conditions, to encourage socialisation and to promote wellbeing.
There are two Cancer Support groups that currently run at North Berwick and Dunbar Libraries.
At Dunbar library, there is a Dementia Carers group which provides an opportunity for people with dementia and their carers a change to get together and meet others. There is also a Singalong group which provides uplifting music and afternoon tea for older people and their carers. Dunbar library also has dementia friendly resources.
Haddington library run a Sporting Memories group for men over 65. This was set up to promote and improve wellbeing and the lives of older men through conversation and reminiscence using sporting memories.
Other groups within our libraries include a smoking cessation group, Pans Pals for people over 60, ‘Yin’ O Oo’, a chat and social group. At Prestonpans library, midwives run an antenatal class with attendees at classes arranged though midwives and currently at Musselburgh library there is an NHS Speech and Language Therapy drop in being run for parents with concerns about their children’s listening and talking.
We also have number of craft groups and ‘Knit and Natter’ groups that run in various libraries.
Other services include the Hospitals and Homes service that provides material to sheltering housing complexes, residential homes and hospitals and we provide a Home Library Service to those that are housebound and unable to attend the library. Bags of books are made up according to their interests and delivered to recipients by volunteer drivers.
Hearing aid batteries are also available at all our branches. Online applications for blue badges can be made in all our branches by appointment. Applications for disabled bus passes and Concessionary bus passes can also be made.
Please contact your local library to see which groups are being run or alternatively contact the Digital and Adult services at Library and Museum Headquarters. Please also get in touch if you have any Health and Wellbeing ideas.
Win guide books
As the days slowly get brighter and longer with Spring just around the corner get ready to explore the East Lothian section of the John Muir Way and the John Muir Link with two wee books produced by Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace. 
There are 2 sets available to win. To enter simply send your name and contact details to Inform
What's On
Hike with the Countryside Rangers
Sunday 24 February 10:00-15:00 Coastal Wildlife £10
A 6-mile walk along the coast from Musselburgh to Longniddry exploring the internationally important wintering grounds for many species of waders and wildfowl. From Godwits to Goldeneyes and Redshank to Ruff, we will aim to spot the different species that over-winter along our coastline. Bring warm waterproof clothing, sturdy footwear, binoculars and a packed lunch.
Meet: Car Park at Racecourse Pavilion, end of Balcarres Road, Musselburgh NT 348 734. Return transport provided.
Booking essential: https://eastlothian.bookinglive.com/home/ranger-service-event-programme/events-for-adults
Coming up at The Brunton
February Highlights
DOWNLOAD OUR SPRING BROCHURE
National Theatre Live: Antony & Cleopatra (Encore) | Fri 8 Feb 7pm | £13.50 (£11.50) 
Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakepeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power.
Royal Opera House Live: The Royal Ballet – Don Quixote | Tue 19 Feb 7.15pm | £15 (£12.50)
Love and friendship triumph in Carlos Acosta’s vibrant production of this dazzling Ballet.
Film: A Fantastic Woman (15) | Wed 20 Feb 7.30pm | £8 (£7)
Spanish with English Subtitles. A vision of defiant resistance, club singer Marina’s (Daniela Vega) life, is shattered by the death of her beloved partner, Orlando (Francisco Reyes).
Afternoon Classical Concert: Maximiliano Martin, Clarinet | Sat 23 Feb 3pm | High Tea & Concert: £28 (£26), Concert only: £15 (£13)
With Gillian Samuel, violin, Marcus Barcham-Stevens, violin, Jane Atkins, viola and Donald Gillian, cello. The Mozart Clarinet Quintet are performed by the brilliant principal clarinet of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with a group of distinguished soloists.
Mull Theatre: The Electrifying Mr Johnston & Bite Size | Sat 23 Feb 7.30pm|£14 (£12) 
By Robert Dawson Scott. The world premiere new play about one of Scotland’s great unsung heroes – Tom Johnston. Then, Bite Size, an informal script-in-hand reading of new plays and works in progress.
Film: The Miseducation of Cameron Post (15) | Wed 27 Feb | £8 (£7)
When teenage Cameron (Chloë Grace Moretz), is caught having sex with another girl on prom night, she is shipped off to God's Promise, a middle of nowhere treatment centre, where she is subjected to dubious 'gay conversion therapies'.
For more unmissable entertainment CLICK HERE
All tickets are available from The Brunton on 0131 665 2240 or www.thebrunton.co.uk
What's on at Museums
All our museums have FREE ADMISSION and lots of drop-in crafts and activities that are perfect if you are looking for something to do at the weekend. See www.eastlothian.gov.uk/museums for details.
Regular activities
Fun & Crafty Drop-in Activities in February
Join us for fun drop-in crafts from Friday lunchtime to Sunday! Suggested donation £1 per craft
Follow us on Facebook at East Lothian Council Museums Service, John Muir’s Birthplace or John Gray Centre to find out more.
Good Memories Café Friday 22 February in the Star Room at John Gray Centre from 2pm till 4pm. A friendly & informal drop-in cafe for people with dementia & their carers. Join us for tea & cake! The Café has a lovely atmosphere and often includes singing, music, crafts & museum objects.
Exhibitions
FLORA: Until Saturday 16 February at John Muir’s Birthplace.
In her exhibition of artwork and photography Cathy Bell is concerned with capturing a personal connection with the natural world of "flora". For paintings she has chosen to depict plants. Flowers and trees which mean something to her personally and also for their shape, line and colour. She is not interested in rendering a realistic likeness, however, she does endeavour to capture an image which is true to the essence and spirit of the subject. Her photographs are similar in that they are not created with technical merit in mind. Rather, they are derived from an instinctive connection with the subject, some of the photographs are enhance to heighten the mood, thereby, altering the aesthetic. In all of the work on display she tries to follow John Muir's advice to "keep close to nature's heart".
Up Our Street features some of the shops which were on Dunbar High Street at the time of Frederick George Sanson. Open weekends 2-4pm at Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery courtesy of Dunbar & District History Society.
Street, Shore and Sea…Photography by Frederick George Sanson (1874-1965) is on display until mid March 2019, open weekends 2-4pm at Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery courtesy of Dunbar & District History Society.
Amateur photographer Frederick Sanson capitalised on his hobby to produce postcards of local sights. They were retailed through the family drapery at the height of the Edwardian postcard boom. Our selection is drawn from private collections and East Lothian Council Local History Collections. Hands-on activities for families.
Raise Your Glass! Celebrating Haddington's Brewing Heritage Until 23 April 2019 at John Gray Centre, Museum.
Explore the story of the breweries of Haddington and of the people who built, owned and worked in them as well as the malting and distilling that took place in the town. Bottles, barrels, coopering tools and photographs explore the production of beers and ales from the early days of very small-scale production to a thriving and well-developed industry employing many at four major breweries in the town. The essential raw material, high quality barley, was readily available from the farms of East Lothian and well-established markets for ale both locally and further afield made brewing commonplace in the town.
Organised by Brewing Heritage Scotland in partnership with East Lothian Council.
Silva: a meditation on trees and woods in eleven photographs 
Chris Thomas, photographer Wednesday 20 February to Sunday 24 March at John Muir’s Birthplace.
Humankind has had an intimate relationship with trees and woodland since the days of our earliest ancestors – on the one hand, practical and prosaic, on another, a deeply-felt sense of their intrinsic value as living things, expressed spiritually by some. The importance of trees and woodland as part of a sustainable, richly-biodiverse and resilient future environments is well-recognised, but our attachment goes beyond this: trees and woodland are just as important to us psychologically and physically, simply by being.
Arising from his own fascination with trees and woodlands, Chris’s sequence of black and white film photographs seeks to invite visitors to the exhibition simply to reflect upon the ‘being’ of trees and woods: their ‘essence’ expressed in their architectures, textures and forms, the way they create light and shade and space, how these phenomena change daily, or through the seasons – and how we respond ourselves, consciously or subliminally, to our trees and woodlands.
Exciting opportunities to use our exhibition spaces:
John Gray Centre Museum is looking for artists, historians, photographers, community groups, researchers and anyone with a story to tell or a discovery to unveil to apply for exhibition space in the museum from April 2019 to March 2020. To find out more email jgc@eastlothian.gov.uk or phone 01620 820690
Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery is looking for artists, makers, crafters, photographers or anyone with a story to tell in the first floor gallery. To find out more email museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk or call 01620 820699
Be dementia and veteran aware
Free Age Scotland training. Thursday 14 February, 
9.30am - 3.30pm John Gray Centre, Haddington
We can boost your confidence and ability to work with and support older military veterans and older people affected by dementia
When older people attend your group or use your service, are you confident that you can:
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Spot if someone shows early signs of dementia?
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Offer appropriate support if they do have dementia?
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Identify who belongs to the veterans’ community?
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Help them access extra support available to veterans and their families?
No? Then our free training is for you. Lunch and refreshments will be included for all attendees. Where demand exceeds places for any individual event a cap of two places per organisation may be applied. 8-16 participants per event. Follow-on options will be available:
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Dementia awareness 'training for trainers',
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Dementia and veterans' awareness badging in Age Scotland Community Connecting guides. Book online.
Our People
Spotlight On ...
This issue our staff spotlight falls on Rebecca Payne
Name: Rebecca Payne 
Job title: Strategic Assets Graduate Intern
Background: After I left school in the West of Glasgow, I spent a couple of years studying and working to find a career path that balanced both the art and technical skills that I was keen to pursue. After completing an NC in advanced art and a 2 year HND in Interior Design, I moved to Edinburgh where I graduated in July 2018 with a first class honours in Interior Design from The University of Edinburgh. My university course was very much a combination of creative concept and artistic skills blended with structured and technical skills that are central to interior architecture and building renovation. During my studies I worked on live projects and was employed as a design consultant for Danish design company BoConcept which allowed me to develop my design skills in a professional environment.
How long have you been with the council? I’ve been with the council since the end of July so just over 6 months.
Who do you work with? I work in the Strategic Asset & Capital Plan Management department with a team of interior designers, architects, quantity surveyors and engineering services.
What is your typical day to day routine? Every day is very different because we work on such a broad range of projects from new-build schools or school extensions to council offices, collaborative projects with the police and every day moves and changes within council owned buildings. I spend quite a lot of time out of office meeting people across the council and community to discuss projects or on building sites which is something I really enjoy about working with East Lothian Council.
Any interesting projects you are working on? I’m currently working with my colleague, Helen Campbell on the interior for the new Wallyford Primary School. I’ve also been working recently on the redesign of the Outdoor Centre in Innerwick and various council offices to implement new ways of working concepts. I find the diversity within the projects really interesting, as a graduate it allows me to experience a wide range of work and develop skills in a lot of different areas.
Plans for the future? I plan to embrace opportunities within the industry to expand on my skills and experience. I’d love to find work that allowed me to continue working on a wide range of projects, as this internship has allowed me to.
What do you enjoy outside of the office? Outside of work I like to go for long walks with my partner and our Romanian rescue dog Teddy. I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with family and friends, visiting restaurants, markets and local events.
Gica's voluntary work at Samos
Gica Loening, of our Arts Service, was recently working as a volunteer at the Samos Refugee Camp where nearly 5000 people, including families and young children, have been living in makeshift tents and tarpaulins in freezing temperatures. Samos is one of the EU frontline Greek islands nearest to Turkey, and has been a hotspot for thousands of refugees escaping wartorn and impoverished countries, but under reported in the media. 
In the past 6 months the refugee population has grown to between 4000 to 5000 people. The official capacity for the camp, set up by the Greek Army was for 750, but most live in ‘the jungle’ spillover, with no sanitation or running water, and queues for food lasting five hours. With the asylum process taking from a few months to 2 years, people are desperate, in limbo, and with limited access to human rights and the freedom to move off the island.
Gica’s six day a week timetable included helping out in the vital laundry service (you could expect to get your clothes and bedding washed every 5 months), being 'bouncer' on the door of the community centre, where more than 500 people a day flooded in to take shelter, play board games, learn a language or use a sewing machine. As a musician she led music and song sessions for the camp children, including 300 unaccompanied minors and at the Saturday women’s sessions and guitar group. Gica is left in photo with her fiddle.
Gica said: "The passion and skill for musicmaking and singing amongst many of the refugees was impressive and moving, and was a reminder that music and the arts can have a powerful effect amongst all the hardship and injustice.. It was an unforgettable and tough but amazing experience that will stay with me."
You can find out more about Samos Volunteers and the refugee situation HERE or read Gica’s blog .
Amy's Appetisers!
If only you could fast-forward these cold early months to the spring. Who’s with me? Fortunately, winter gives us the chance to try out some hearty and warming recipes such as a Beef and Lentil Cottage Pie.
Ingredients
- 400g Potatoes (peeled)
- 1 large Parsnip (peeled)
- 1 large Onion
- Carrot
- 1 clove Garlic
- 200g Mince (Support local produce and get your mince from a local traditional butcher, such as North Berwick's Anderson Quality Butcher or the family run online butcher John Gilmour.)
- 5ml Smoked Paprika
- 5ml Mixed Herbs
- 250ml Beef Stock
- 80g Lentils
- 20ml Chopped Tomatoes
- 15ml Tomato Puree
- 25g Butter
- 50ml Milk
- 10ml Horseradish Sauce
Method
- Preheat oven to 200°C or Gas Mark 6.
- Cut the potatoes and parsnips into even sized pieces and then place into boiling salted water; boil the veg for approximately 15-20 minutes, until soft.
- Finely chop the onion, crush the garlic and evenly dice the carrot.
- Brown the mince in a hot pan and then add the onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes with lid on. Add the smoked paprika and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat. Add carrot, lentils, mixed herbs, tomatoes, beef stock and tomato puree. Stir well, return to the heat.
- Bring to the boil, reduce heat and stew for 25 minutes. (No time for a cuppa though, still lots to do!)
- Drain potatoes and return briefly to heat and carefully dry them.
- Then mash both the potatoes and parsnips with butter, 30ml of milk and horseradish sauce. Season potato to your taste.
- Pour the mince mixture into the bottom of a large oven-proof dish and cover neatly with the potato mixture. Glaze with milk.
- Place in oven until potato is golden brown on the top.
- Serve, garnished with finely chopped parsley sprinkled over the top.
- Job done! Bon appétit!
Could Alan be a national Apprentice of the Year?
Congratulations to apprentice joiner Alan Smith who has been shortlisted as a Second Year Trade apprentice in the national APSE Scottish Building and Housing Apprentice of the Year 2019 Awards. 
APSE (The Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not-for-profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK promoting excellence in public services.
Apprentices submit a portfolio which includes examples of work tasks including photos, references from supervisors and college lecturers and any major achievements. The portfolio is scored by judges, with the highest scoring apprentices invited to take part in the final stage of the awards process.
Alan will be interviewed about the award in early February and the winners will be announced shortly afterwards so he doesn’t have too long to wait to find out if he’s scooped first place!
Being announced as a finalist in this national award comes hot on the heels of Alan being announced as Edinburgh College Apprentice of the Year 2018.
Gemma and Irene - the faces behind the East Lothian giftcard!
The brand new East Lothian Gift card officially launched in November and proved popular as a Christmas gift with sales totalling an incredible £13k in the short run-up to the festive season.
The next key time for promoting the gift card is the upcoming Easter school holidays when we anticipate that not only shops, but restaurants and attractions, will be very busy with families visiting East Lothian or local residents taking their children for a day out locally. 
Business Development Assistant Gemma Slight and Business Support Administrator Irene Ramsay from the economic development team are working hard to bring even more businesses on board. The giftcard has a double benefit – increasing sales by those who are given a card as a gift and at the same time giving businesses an advertising boost through the giftcard website.
Gemma said: “We introduced the giftcard as a follow on from the council’s popular Christmas Shop Local Scheme. The giftcard retains the same aims of supporting our town centres and local businesses and boosting East Lothian’s economy but it’s much easier for businesses and customers to use as there is no paperwork, no need to return competition entries or keep receipts. It’s just much easier and faster.
Irene added: We have a range of businesses already on board, including shops and beauty therapists as well as restaurants and attractions all being able to take part in the scheme at no cost, with the only requirement being their business is able to take Mastercard credit card payments.”
EnjoyLeisure have also signed up meaning the card can be used at their sports centres across East Lothian. As Gemma and Irene pointed out, by giving a giftcard, you are ‘giving the gift of choice’ as the recipient can use it to buy themselves a treat from a local shop or put it towards a day or a night out – or even to get started on a health kick at a local gym.
Anyone buying a giftcard does so online by loading their card with their chosen amount. The behind the scenes administration and distribution of the cards is all handled by Gemma and Irene and they deal with setting up businesses to accept the payments too so it’s been a particularly busy time for them!
The card works as a gift for any special occasion as well as being a great corporate gift for example as a reward for staff. There are almost 130 businesses taking part at the moment and we expect more and more will come on board as there’s really no limit to how many people can get involved in the gift card scheme. All the participating businesses will be listed on the gift card website and will display in their premises that the East Lothian Gift Card is accepted there.
The East Lothian Gift Card is the perfect present for all your friends and family and is available from www.eastlothiangiftcard.com
Green Corner
Single Point of Contact update
Preliminary work on creating the new Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for John Muir House is set to begin from Monday.
Work will be carried out in and around main reception.
The contractor will be setting up a compound on part of Peffers Place (the lane between John Muir House and the Corn Exchange). Siting the compound here will enable main reception to stay open and help to minimise disruption.
To gain access to the site, the contractor will cross the single storey flat roof near the UNISON office and into the courtyard, at the rear of main reception.
A temporary meeting space for Planning colleagues will be formed in the atrium at reception closed to the glazed screen. This will enable the space behind main reception to be cleared for works to commence.
Look out for further updates in due course.
Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme Open Day
Local residents are invited to discover more about the flood protection works being planned for Musselburgh at an open public event to be held at Venue 2, The Brunton on Tuesday 26 February. The event has been designed to provide flooding information to interested parties in Musselburgh and will showcase progress made by East Lothian Council to date. Members of the Scheme’s Project Team will be available to discuss local concerns and answer any questions. 
The event will also include stalls from Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Flood Forum and the council’s Emergency Planning section who will be present to provide information and advice on flood risk, flood warning systems and property-level protection measures that householders may want to put in place.
Musselburgh has a history of damaging floods from the River Esk - the last major flood, and inundation of the High Street occurred in 1948. There were also significant events in 1927 and 1891. There is a lack of evidence of these events available to the Scheme, and so the Project Team are asking local people who may have any historical photos or memories of these flood events to get in touch.
HWL Practitioners appointments
March appointments are currently available for HWL Practitioners. These are all at JMH
Susan Green (Massage) –
1 March : - 09.00, 10.00, 11.00 and 12.30
15 March : - 11.00, 12.30, 16.00
29 March : - 10.00, 11.00, 12.30
Angela Jones (Massage) –
6 March : - 11.00
20 March : - 11.00
Lesley Nichol (Podiatry) –
13 March : - 09.00, 09.45, 10.30, 13.00, 13.45, 14.30 and 15.15
For further information and to book an appointment please email hwl@eastlothian.gov.uk
Council budget agreed
The council’s budget plans were approved today by Elected Members.
Read the news release
Watch our video
As you’ll be aware, the council – like all local authorities – continues to operate in a very challenging financial environment.
We’re dealing with multiple spending pressures at a time of significant local population growth, continued demand for services, inflationary costs and an obligation to deliver national policy commitments.
Most of our budget comprises central government funding. The expected revenue support grant for the council in 2019/20 equates to a reduction of £0.198m. When adjusted to reflect funding for new policy obligations – such as investment in the expansion of childcare, health and social care integration, implementation of the Barclay Review and Carers Act – we are facing an effective reduction of just under £2.5 million (1.5%).
This has underlined the need to continue looking for ways to reduce costs or raise additional income.
Key points agreed in this year’s budget include:
- Investment in new, improved or expanded local schools and infrastructure, with a near £300 million programme of capital investment over five years.
- A £170 million investment over five years in council housing, including significant expenditure on new homes and the modernisation or extension of others.
- Council tax will increase by 4.79% in 2019/20 (the maximum permitted), with indicative council tax increases of 3% in 2020/21 and 2021/22. Council tax provides less than a quarter of the money we need to run local services.
- Rent for tenants living in council properties will increase by 5%.
- The council will draw on £3 million of its reserves to help set a balanced budget in 2019/20.
- The council will continue to develop its transformational change programme, introducing further innovation, new ways of working and helping to reduce expenditure and/or increase income. Some service reviews will take place to support new and efficient ways of working and look at options for service re-design, helping to reduce costs.
While this means change will be required, East Lothian Council has a strong track record of building on improvements to services while challenging ourselves to be increasingly innovative - as highlighted by last year’s very positive Best Value Report from the Accounts Commission. And we are a council which performs very strongly in comparison to other local authorities.
This is testament to the commitment of employees and we will continue to build on this in the years ahead.
We will need to look at the design of services and ensure the structures we have in place are as effective and efficient as possible, enabling us to deliver services within a balanced budget.
We will develop our approach to transformation – for example increased digitisation, helping residents access council services online at a place and time of their choosing, allowing us to focus on the delivery of frontline services.
And we will continue to empower local residents and organisations to work with us in partnership to deliver on our priority of reducing inequalities across our communities.
Although it is a challenging time – and is likely to remain so – there are huge opportunities for us all at East Lothian Council to play a full and active part in creating the even more prosperous, safe and sustainable East Lothian, which is at the heart of our vision.
Angela Leitch
Chief Executive
myHR
Pay Deal agreed with Local Government workforce
The Council has received confirmation from Cosla that the SJC Trades Unions have confirmed their acceptance of the national pay offer, covering a 3 year period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021. This offer covers the Chief Officer, Local Government Employee and Craft groups. The details of the pay agreements are as follows:
- 1 April 2018 an increase of 3.5% ( salaries above £80,000 are capped at £1,600)
- 1 April 2019 an increase of 3%
- 1 April 2020 an increase of 3 %
The 2018-19 pay award effective from 1 April 2018 will be paid in the next available pay run:
- Weekly Pays – 14 March 2019
- Four Weekly Pay – 28 March 2019
- Monthly Pay – 29 March 2019
Pay offer for all employee groups covered by Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers including educational psychologists, quality improvement officers and managers, music instructors and education support officers have not as yet reached an agreed position.
Backdated Pay and Universal Credit
Universal Credit Payments may stop or reduce
If you receive Universal Credit the amount you get changes if your take-home pay changes. This includes awards of backdated pay. If you get additional pay within a Universal Credit assessment period (month), your Universal Credit payment will either be less than you normally receive or your income may be too high to qualify for a payment.
Universal Credit is calculated on your personal circumstances. Because of this we, as your employer, do not know how, or if, you may be affected.
The 2018/19 Local Government pay settlement was agreed on 1 March 2019 with backdated pay awards effective from 1 April 2018 being paid during March 2019. This increase together with the backdated payment means you will either receive less Universal Credit than normal or you may even earn too much to qualify and your Universal Credit claim will close. If your claim closes, you will see a message on your UC Journal telling you about this.
Will Universal Credit payments start again automatically?
No. If Universal Credit payments stop because you have had additional pay, you must start up your claim again. You should do this as soon as you can to make sure you do not miss out.
How do I reclaim Universal Credit?
Log into your UC journal and select the “Reclaim” tab. You will find this at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to a new screen where you will be asked to answer a few simple questions. If you have any problems doing this, contact your Work Coach or visit your local Jobcentre Plus.
You can access your UC Journal at www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
An overview of Universal Credit can be found at www.gov.uk/universal-credit