Keeping children safe, visible and supported this summer

A shared responsibility across our communities

As the school holidays approach, East Lothian and Midlothian Public Protection Committee (EMPPC) are encouraging services to take early action to help keep children safe, visible and supported throughout the summer months.  

While summer can be a positive time for many families, the change in routine can also increase pressures for some households. Reduced contact with schools and trusted adults, combined with financial stress, caring responsibilities and more unstructured time can leave some children more vulnerable to neglect, abuse or exploitation.  

This call-to-action highlights that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility across all services - not only those working directly with children and families. Education, health, social work, community groups, sports providers and adult support services all have an important role to play in recognising concerns early and helping families access support.  

Planning ahead to support families

Partners are being asked to reflect now on how they can stay connected with children and families over the holidays, improve awareness of available support and activities, and ensure staff remain confident in safeguarding procedures.  

For teams already supporting vulnerable children and families, the message is clear: plan earlier, share concerns sooner and strengthen support before schools break up for summer.  

The campaign is a reminder that small actions - checking in, sharing information or helping families access local resources - can make a significant difference. By working together across services and communities, we can help ensure every child in East Lothian and Midlothian remains safe, visible and supported this summer.

Five-year plan to manage local roads network approved

Our plan to manage the local roads network amid rising demands from population growth and new developments was approved by Cabinet at their May meeting.

The Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) sets out a five-year strategy for maintaining or improving the roads network as efficiently as possible within the constraints of a limited budget.

The plan acknowledged that the projected population increase in East Lothian of 12.4% between 2022 and 2032 will require new roads, junctions, footways, cycle routes, drainage, and other associated infrastructure. This will place greater pressure on the existing road network and expand our responsibilities for inspections, maintenance, resurfacing, and winter service.

We are currently responsible for a road network which includes 1,147km of carriageway, 674km of footways, 18,741 street lighting columns, 101 traffic signals and 294 electric vehicle chargers, as well as bridges, drainage gullies and bus shelters. This has risen steeply in recent years with, for instance, the length of carriageway under council adoption climbing by 14 per cent from 931km to 1073km between 2013 and 2023.

The RAMP seeks to promote good practice and achieve the best value for money in an ongoing climate of reduced budgets and increasing costs.

Under the plan, the condition of road assets would be regularly assessed in comparison with similar assets across East Lothian to ensure they are safe and functional. Along with recording defects and feedback from road users and local communities, the resulting data will be used to prioritise a programme of works to ensure that the limited funding available is targeted where the need is greatest.

We have always had a maintenance plan which followed best practice, and this was formalised after the development of the Local Transport Strategy in 2018. Cabinet voted to approve the updated RAMP to cover the period 2026-2031.

While the report to Cabinet noted a halving of carriageway faults reported by the public from 4917 in 2024 to 2247 last year, the RAMP also reinforces the need for additional investment and sufficient preventative maintenance in response to recent severe winters and more frequent harsh weather conditions.

New path provides safer route to Wallyford Primary

A new path providing an alternative safer route for pupils attending Wallyford Primary School has been completed.

The tarmac path between the school and Albert Place includes new lighting to make it useable throughout the year.

We carried out the project following extensive engagement and consultation with key stakeholder groups and supported by Transport Scotland through the charity Walking Scotland’s Ian Findlay Path Fund. The council also made a funding contribution from its Active Travel Infrastructure budget.

Pupils from the school have been trying out the new route which has been named the Wallyford Express Path.

It is the latest travel improvement delivered by us in the area following the recently opened Wallyford Bing path and the upgrading of a section of the long-established route connecting the village and historic Fa’side Castle.

Zena Diggle, headteacher at Wallyford Primary School, said: “I am so proud of our partnership with the parents, carers, and community at Wallyford.

“We cannot underestimate the importance of this new pathway for our children and young people which is already making such a positive difference. This will allow a further safer route to school and will help our walking bus go from strength to strength.”

Willie Gordon, from the Wallyford Primary School Parents and Carers Council which also backed the project, said: “The path is fantastic. Our thanks go to Walking Scotland and East Lothian Council for all their work and support. The children love the path and the wider community is also benefiting greatly from the new route.”

Your voice matters: our new employee survey is here!

Your voice matters: our new employee survey is here!

Have you responded to our 2026 employee survey? It’s a great opportunity for you and other colleagues to help shape the future of the council. And in doing so, you’ll help to support a local community organisation - read on to find out more!

The Council Leadership Team (CLT) is keen to hear from you. Your feedback isn’t just collected - it drives real change.

The survey, which takes place every two years, is open until 19 June 2026.

Quick, simple and worth your time

The survey is designed to be quick and easy to complete:

• Takes just 10 to 15 minutes
• Includes optional comment sections where you can expand on your views

For some frontline teams, managers will also provide paper copies to ensure everyone can take part.

Completely anonymous

You can share your honest views with confidence – no names or email addresses are requested.

At the end, you’ll be asked a few equality and diversity questions to help us ensure the council remains a fair and inclusive workplace. These responses are stored separately from your survey answers and will not be shared with managers.

If you work within East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, please provide your views by completing the council’s employee survey as well the separate iMatter survey.

What we’re asking about

This year’s survey reflects what you told us matters most. Questions focus on key themes such as:

• workload and wellbeing
• culture and working environment
• tools, systems and ways of working
• communication and leadership
• career development
• overall engagement

Comments often provide the most powerful insights for shaping change, so please let us know what you think in response to the open questions.

You’ll also see this question: “What one thing would you change about the council if you were Chief Executive?” This is a great chance to share your ideas for improvement. Your feedback is incredibly valuable. Our Chief Executive, Laurence, will personally respond to suggestions which are made.

What happens next?

See the questions and respond to the survey

This isn’t a survey that disappears into a report — action will follow. For example, each Service Manager will be asked to identify three specific actions based on results for their teams. Progress will then be reviewed by the CLT every six months, with accountability and follow-through are built into the process

Make a difference while you take part

By completing the survey, you’ll also help support a great local cause. Participants can vote for one of four organisations, with £500 donated to the winner. This funding comes through Community Benefits from suppliers, meaning no cost to the council.

You can choose to support:

• based in Musselburgh, the Bridges Project helps young people in East Lothian and Midlothian take their next steps in life, like getting back into school, finding a job or an apprenticeship, or getting the help they need
• East Lothian Foodbank provide emergency food and practical advice and support to local people in their most difficult moments
• the Amisfield Preservation Trust is set up to maintain and improve Amisfield Walled Garden, to the east of Haddington, for the benefit of the local community and visitors more generally, and helping to enhance the skills and life outcomes of its volunteers
• based in Prestonpans, the Pennypit Community Development Trust aims to improve health and wellbeing for those most in need in the local area through provision of a range of services.

Need help or looking for further information?

If you have any questions about the survey or want to find out more, please email: organisationaldevelopment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Update on place making project

Colleagues will be aware that we are progressing a place making project focused on our council buildings that deliver – or could deliver – general face-to-face services to the public. This includes exploring opportunities to bring services together under one roof, where people can speak with an advisor, access library services, use computers and book rooms in one convenient location.

 At its core, this project is about creating high-quality, well-used community facilities that meet the needs of both residents and employees. By taking a fresh look at how our buildings are used, we have an opportunity to develop more modern, flexible spaces that better support local communities.

Listening, learning and working together

Engagement with colleagues continues to play an essential role in shaping this work. Most recently, colleagues from Library & Customer Services came together at a staff development day focused on place making. This created valuable space to discuss experiences, share ideas and reflect on what works day-to-day in local settings. These insights are vital – frontline knowledge helps ensure that our approach is grounded in reality and responsive to community needs.

The session was designed as an open environment for discussion and shared learning, where ideas, questions and different perspectives were welcomed. By bringing these views together, we can explore practical ways of working that reflect both local priorities and the council’s wider ambitions.

Alongside this, opportunity mapping workshops have been taking place with colleagues from a range of services. These sessions have explored place making from different angles, encouraging collaborative thinking and generating ideas about how services might work together more effectively in the future.

Exploring opportunities for communities

New ways of operating buildings could also create opportunities for communities themselves. This may include arrangements such as leasing buildings, community asset transfer, or working in partnership with community planning partners and others. A key part of this has been the new policy approved to empower local organisations to do this. The Community Benefits Subsidised Lease policy provides a clear and transparent framework for leasing council owned land and buildings at less than market rent where demonstrable community benefits can be delivered. Similar approaches have been successful in other parts of the country, helping to keep valued local facilities active and sustainable.

In October, elected members agreed that further local engagement would be carried out on a community-by-community basis. This includes proposals that:

• Officers develop an outline business case with options and costings for six core library and area hubs
• Alternative service delivery models are considered at some libraries, community centres and village halls – including Haddington and Dunbar town houses – in partnership with local communities
• The feasibility of relocating North Berwick Youth Project to a former nursery adjacent to North Berwick Community Centre is explored
• Work is undertaken, with partners, to assess the feasibility of creating a publicly accessible list of community facilities across East Lothian

No decisions yet – shaping the way forward

We recognise there is strong interest from colleagues across the organisation, particularly from those based in buildings that could be used differently in the future. At this stage, the work is focused on exploring the feasibility of proposals – no decisions have been made and there are no imminent changes planned.

Colleagues have an important role to play in helping shape this work. Team managers from services including Connected Communities, Libraries and Museums continue to meet regularly and will keep their teams informed as the project develops.

Further engagement activities are being planned, giving both employees and communities opportunities to influence the direction of travel and help shape how place-based services are delivered in the future.

If you have any queries or would like to share your views, please get in touch with the project team at placemakingproject@eastlothian.gov.uk

Protecting our council together

Our counter-fraud work continues to make a real and measurable difference by protecting vital public funds, strengthening our systems, and ensuring resources are used where they are needed most.

A strong year of results

Over the past year, the Corporate Fraud Officer alongside services across the council have delivered:

• enquiries and investigations into over 1,500 cases were carried out which provided total estimated current and future savings for 2025/2026 of approximately £1,044,470.15. This has been achieved through the National Fraud Initiative data matching work, Council Tax Single Person Discount exercises and staff/public reporting
• 149 of these investigations have been undertaken based on information reported by staff, demonstrating excellent awareness and engagement across services
• six tenancies were recovered and placed back in our Housing Stock with an estimated saving of £469,800.00 as a result of abandonment and subletting investigations carried out by Corporate Fraud and Community Housing Staff, with one of these cases identified through the NFI exercise
• five temporary accommodation offers removed with an estimated saving of £21,190.00 as a result of investigations carried out by Corporate Fraud and the Housing Options Team

This is a significant achievement and reflects a collective commitment to integrity across the organisation.

*Recovery value based on NFI Outcome Calculations.

Working together to deliver impact

Collaboration has been key to success this year. Teams across Housing, Revenues, People & Council Support, and others have played a crucial role in identifying and reporting concerns early.

• six council homes recovered and returned to the use of those who need them most
• ensuring fairness and accuracy in housing waiting lists
• Council Tax systems strengthened, with a total of £151,386.60 added to bills and further income in progress

Staff vigilance and reporting have been central to these successes – thank you to everyone who has contributed.

Preventing fraud is just as important as detecting it

This year we have:

• delivered fraud awareness training to managers and service teams
• developed the council’s Fraud Risk Register
• supported compliance with new legislation under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
• established a new Integrity Group to strengthen resilience against fraud, corruption and cybercrime

These actions are helping embed a strong counter fraud culture across the council.

Encouraging reporting and transparency

• our “Council Tax fraud - report it” page is now live, making it easier for staff and the public to raise concerns.
• 32 public referrals have already been received and investigated since January 2026
• whistleblowing concerns continue to be handled carefully and professionally
• a new “Fraud-report it” page for raising all other fraud concerns is coming soon

This year’s achievements highlight what we can accomplish together. By staying alert, reporting concerns, and supporting strong processes, staff across our services are helping to:

• protect public funds
• ensure fairness in our services
• support communities across East Lothian

If you spot something that doesn’t seem right, please report it to –

Debbie McKinlay – Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist

Email: dmckinlay4@eastlothian.gov.uk

Email: corporatefraud@eastlothian.gov.uk

Telephone: 01620 827 475

Your actions make a difference. Together we are safeguarding resources for the people of East Lothian.

Sharing treasured memories of Brunton Hall and Theatre

Brunton Hall marks its 55th anniversary in 2026 by inviting the community to share memories through The Brunton Encore, a travelling theatre-themed memory board celebrating its legacy.

A call has gone out for people to share their treasured memories of Brunton Hall and Theatre as part of celebrations marking the venue’s 55th anniversary in 2026.

From moving drama and stunning dance to inspiring community shows, laugh-out-loud comedy, and of course the much-loved panto - Brunton Hall in Musselburgh has brought it all to life on stage and kept audiences entertained for years.

To commemorate the milestone, Brunton Theatre Trust has partnered with East Lothian Council’s Arts Service to launch “The Brunton Encore” -  a theatre-themed memory board where residents can pin stories and reflections from their time at the hall.

The board will initially be displayed in the foyer at Brunton Hall before touring community centres across the county to encourage wider participation.

Michael Stitt, chair of Brunton Theatre Trust, said Brunton Hall held “a truly special place in the hearts and lives of so many people in Musselburgh, East Lothian and beyond”.

He added: “Whilst it’s sad to say goodbye to the building itself, The Brunton is still very much here - bringing great arts and entertainment to the Corn Exchange in Haddington and other venues across East Lothian, until we can return to a new home in Musselburgh.”

Councillor Colin McGinn described Brunton Hall as “a real hub for the community”, where generations gathered for performances, celebrations and civic events.

“The curtain might have come down on Brunton Hall for now, but all these memories and shared moments aren’t going anywhere,” he said: “They’ll live on and help bring a new building to life in the future.”

The Brunton Theatre Trust has programmed performances, events and films at the venue since 1994, while the theatre itself has served the community since opening in 1971.

Share your memories

Residents are being encouraged to share memories ranging from school trips and weddings to performing on stage or attending festive pantomimes.

Among those reflecting on their experiences was young performer Lexie Blance (pictured), who said appearing in Brunton pantomimes made her feel “really happy and confident”, she said: "I loved coming to Brunton Hall for rehearsals and getting that buzz after a successful audition - especially performing alongside the hilarious panto cast. It meant so much having my friends and family there, feeling proud watching me on stage!”

For those unable to visit the board in person, messages can be added to a dedicated Celebrating Brunton Hall page on our Archives website or emails can be sent to history@eastlothian.gov.uk .

Plans are under way for the memories collected through The Brunton Encore to help shape a future arts building in Musselburgh, while The Brunton continues its programme of theatre, music, comedy and dance performances at venues across East Lothian.

Planning Committee approves temporary park and ride in Dunbar

East Lothian Planning Committee met on Tuesday 2 June and heard two applications; the car park in Dunbar and a new house in Prestonpans.   

Metlen Energy and Metals applied for permission for the temporary, five year, park and ride facility on land to the south of Spott Road Industrial Estate. It was recommended for approval by planners but called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Collins, due to local concerns around road safety. 

The development will provide 261 parking spaces, cycle parking and bus stops to serve staff employed in the construction of the convertor station that is an integral part of the Scottish Power upgrade of the east coast electricity grid - the Eastern Link 1(EGL1) project – at Oxwellmains, which has planning permission.   

This project will need a substantial workforce but it is not possible to accommodate adequate parking onsite, therefore the off-side park and ride facility is required. The proposal states that the facility will  operate 6am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 3.30pm weekends, with around four round trip bus journeys each day. 

A total of 12 objections had been received and both Dunbar and West Barns Community Councils had also objected. Reasons included increased traffic and congestion and concerns about what might happen to the site after the five year permission period. 

Following a debate, members unanimously approved the plans with additional conditions including a traffic management plan to be submitted and approved in advance of development by the applicant; a biodiversity enhancement plan also to be submitted and approved in advance of development and that any change to the existing condition that the site be returned to its original state after five years, be approved by the planning authority. 

Members also approved, 10 votes to one, to grant permission for a new build house in garden ground of a property on Polwarth Terrace, Prestonpans. The application had been called of the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Gilbert due to concerns from the community council and neighbours. The detached house would be part single storey, part one and a half storeys, with its own driveway. It sits just outside the Prestonpans Conservation Area. Two letters of objection had been received raising concerns about noise, disruption and loss of privacy. Prestonpans Community Council also objected. 

The relevant application numbers are Dunbar, 25/00947/P and Prestonpans, 26/00346/P.

Whitecraig Primary School nominated for Scottish Design Award

Whitecraig Primary School has been nominated for a prestigious design award.