Thank you! Celebrating staff compliments
Individuals, teams and departments across the council regularly receive compliments from residents, visitors, staff and businesses. Here's a selection:
Comment from supplier: Thank you so much for your help. I would like to say you are the most efficient county council I have ever dealt with. Everyone I have had dealings with have been efficient and professional, from planning to council tax, and I would like to pass on my thanks to you all.
Local resident: Waste Services. I Just wanted to say a quick thank you to the refuse collectors who collected our brown bin today. My daughter was having a bit of a meltdown so we distracted her by letting her watch the bin lorry, one of the staff gave her a cheery wave and it’s made her day. She’s gone off to nursery wanting to be a bin man! Thanks so much to whoever it was that waved, you made our morning much less chaotic!
Visitor comment: Amenity Services. I have recently visited Dunbar and just want to say what a stunning park and playground is in Dunbar, well done - the flowers were amazing. I loved the town and area as well, can't wait to come back.
Local resident: Planning. I wish to bring to your attention the excellent ongoing professionalism and extremely kind support I have recently received from Mr Neil Millar, a member of staff within East Lothian's Planning Department. I am currently in the process of seeking planning permission for a woodland hut within Bothwell wood and my planning consultant, suddenly became unwell near the end of June 2025 and was admitted to hospital.
As you can imagine I was floundering, thankfully, Mr Millar very kindly guided me through the remainder of the process and he couldn't have been more helpful, kind or quietly professional. He is a terrific credit to you team.
These days, people are very quick to criticise, but rarely praise, especially when it comes to council planning decisions. Mr Millar's guidance and attention to detail has allowed me to appreciate the extremely difficult, but vital job planning officers do and he thoroughly deserves to be commended in the highest terms to yourself and East Lothian Council.
Local resident: Musselburgh East Community Learning Centre. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your kindness and help when my mum had a fall outside the centre. You were so caring and professional and it made a very stressful situation for me so much easier. She got home from accident and emergency with five staples in her head and is doing fine.
Family of local resident: Community Response Team. The team came out yesterday to promptly fit a new digital community alarm. Thank goodness, as mum left a pot on the hob this morning and the smoke alarm was triggered so the Community Response Team were able to speak with her through the alarm and call the fire brigade. She hadn’t noticed the smell so was in a bit of a panic when the alarm sounded and couldn’t understand what was going on until she went into the kitchen which was filled with smoke. So really grateful that you arranged the new digital box and pendant.
Local resident: Waste Services. Yet again, I am impressed that the recycling containers are neatly stacked rather than just being strewn where they might have landed after emptying. The garden waste and landfill bins are always similarly left – in a neat row. There is never any evidence of spills being left on the road. All of the collection crews have tough all-weather and often unpleasant jobs and receive little explicit appreciation for their work. Perhaps therefore a few words of recognition and thanks would not come amiss – as where would we be without their activities?