Commenting on progress on the delivery of the Administration’s Council Plan at today’s Full Council meeting, Cllr Michael Veitch said:
“Our over-riding priority as elected members must to ensure that the policies outlined in our Council Plan are being delivered in line with pledges made to the electorate two years ago. I therefore warmly welcome this report which outlines the very encouraging progress which we are making.
“I would like to restrict my remarks to two policy areas which are extremely important in my own ward of Dunbar & East Linton and, I’m sure, across the County.
“The first is supporting local businesses, which are of course the engines of the local economy here in East Lothian and the life-blood of our town centres. The Council Plan pledged to “support investment in business start-ups” and “regenerate East Lothian’s town centres”.
I’m therefore greatly encouraged to see that the total number of new business start-ups supported by East Lothian Council grants and loans increased from 141 in 2012/13 to 206 in 2013/14. I also warmly welcome the decision of the new Sustainable Economy Partnership that Dunbar be the focus of town centre regeneration efforts which I trust reflects the existing joint working between the Council and the Dunbar Trades’ Association to boost the high street.
“The second area I’d like to mention is transport, where we have delivered, and are continuing to deliver, on a range of specific pledges from the Council Plan. We promised to work with bus operators to improve services and have been able to make improvements to a range of supported routes including the 110 Port Seton to New Winton, 120 North Berwick to Dunbar, 123 Gifford Circle and 130 Dunbar local service. We have also co-signed the new East Lothian Bus Passenger Charter; begun a programme of improvements at bus stops and have been carrying out a thorough consultation in advance of the next round of supported service contracts.
“We promised to support improvements to rail services in the county and successes in this area include:
- Commissioning a feasibility study into local Edinburgh-Berwick services
- Submitting a bid to the Station Fund for a station at East Linton and allocating funding in our own budget for a contribution.
- Active involvement in the new East Lothian Community Rail Partnership.
- Signing a concordat agreement between East Lothian Council and ScotRail.
“And on roads, we have delivered on our pledges to:
- maintain high levels of spending on the local network,
- take forward 20 mph speed limits, and
- actively take the lead on campaigning for the dualling of the A1 east of Dunbar.
“This report is good news and shows the Administration is delivering on its promises , and I commend it to the chamber.”