Community engagement review, proposed visitor levy and planning decisions: committee round-up
Recent meetings have focused on our council's response to Public Sector Reform proposals, an independent review of community engagement, a proposed visitor levy and to make planning decisions. Papers are available to read online and recording of all public meetings can be found on our public-i system.
East Lothian Council – 27 October
Independent review of community engagement
The findings of an independent review of our council's approach to community engagement, carried out by Professor Donna Hall CBE, were recently presented to elected members.
The review recognises many of the strengths already in place across East Lothian, including strong community spirit, dedicated council employees, positive partnership working and the important contribution made through structures such as Area Partnerships, community councils and locality planning.
The report also identifies opportunities to strengthen how we work with communities in the future. Key themes include building stronger relationships, supporting greater community influence in decision-making, strengthening partnership working and embedding community engagement more consistently across the organisation.
At the recent full council meeting, elected members noted the review findings and agreed that further work will be undertaken to consider the recommendations, their implications and potential next steps.
This work will involve engagement with council services, elected members, community representatives and partners, and will help inform future discussions on how community engagement continues to develop across the organisation.
A further report setting out proposed responses and recommendations will be brought to a future Council meeting.
East Lothian Visitor Levy
Councillors approved the next phase of work on a potential East Lothian Visitor Levy.
Members voted unanimously to agree to further research and an assessment of all options (including not introducing a Visitor Levy) plus an independent review of evidence and additional economic analysis.
A draft Visitor Levy Scheme for East Lothian was agreed in June 2026 and a 12-week period of consultation and engagement followed.
A Visitor Levy offers the potential to generate significant additional investment in the infrastructure, facilities and services that support tourism, enhance the visitor experience and benefit our local communities.
A further report will be presented to Council at a later date, consolidating the independent review and the council’s assessment work, together with scheme options, recommendations and any further consultation requirements.
The full report is on our website.
You can read the news article here.
Planning committee – 3 November
An application for a multi-use community, leisure and entertainment space at Dunbar was approved by East Lothian Planning Committee on Tuesday 3 November.
TheSpace Scotland Community Interest Company applied for the facility on land West of Broxburn, Dunbar – a triangular piece of agricultural land between the A1 and the East Coast mainline, known as Dunbear Point.
Committee members voted unanimously to approve the application with additional conditions including around transport planning, a walking and cycling route and drainage solutions all to be agreed at December Planning Committee.
The second application was from Harbour Business Centres Ltd for a student residence building at Harbour Point, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh. Planning permission was sought for the demolition of the existing office building and the construction of purpose-built student accommodation. The proposed C-shaped building would be between five and six storeys in height, stepping down to four storeys on the north boundary, with 270 student studios with kitchens and en-suites.
Committee members voted five votes to three to refuse the application. The grounds for refusal were that the scale and design were not in keeping with the area, there was inadequate parking provision, inadequate amenity space and there was noise impact for potential student residents of the development from surrounding uses.
You can read the full article on our website.