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General Objectives
Community Councils were set up as a result of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 Part IV. Community Councils have an important role to play as the most local community based tier of elected representation provided for In statute. Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council is one of them.
The general purpose of a community council, which represents a full cross section of the community shall be to ascertain, co-ordinate and express to the local authority, the views, in relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable.
In Musselburgh there are strong links between the Community Council, Local Councillors and East Lothian Council, which is essential in achieving these objectives for our community. There are also very strong links with other local organisations within the community. Over the last few years one of our objectives has been to bring the people in the community more closely together in local activities.
One of our main successes in doing this, is for example the Musselburgh Children's Gala Day, and hopefully we can improve this in future year's. We have introduced a youth and adult citizen of the year for Musselburgh to try and identify suitable candidates who have excelled themselves in a particular way without seeking credit in some form or another for themselves. We continue to hold longstanding events such as the Gardening Competition and the Duck Race in the Festival week. We are involved from time to time in consultation documents received from both the local authority and the Scottish Office, all of which affect our community life. Many discussions have taken place with Utility Companies, Bus Companies and other bodies, some of which have been as a result of letters from members of the community.
A strong working partnership with the local police has been established which is important for our safety in the community. Local crime figures are reported to us on a regular basis along with any particular crime prevention information that needs to be passed on to the community. We have financially supported many local groups in the community and have successfully completed several valuable projects in Musselburgh.
All these successes could not be done without the financial support given by East Lothian Council. These are just some examples of what we are involved with. Our main objective is to support the community in ensuring that the best possible service and facilities is received from the Local Authority. If you have an issue which you may think the community council can help or support with, you can contact the community councillor for your ward and discuss the matter with them, and if necessary they will pursue it through the community council channels. Anyone interested in becoming a community councillor should contact the chairman on 0131 653 2323 to find out more and what commitment is required.
Now a word from the first Chairman of the Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council Mr Bill Caird
After the 1974 "Riding of the Marches" it was rumoured that Community Councils would be set up as statutory bodies by the scottish government, so a group of us decided to be proactive and went ahead and set up the Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council. Hence the mould was set and I was duly elected Chairman, which I was honoured to accept.
After the 1974 "Riding of the Marches" it was rumoured that Community Councils would be set up as statutory bodies by the scottish government, so a group of us decided to be proactive and went ahead and set up the Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council. Hence the mould was set and I was duly elected Chairman, which I was honoured to accept.
The first committee was also a very hard working group and apart from the Christmas Lights and carol service we introduced the Garden Competition and Duck Race. I am pleased to see that these events have not only continued, but have been greatly enhanced. The Christmas lights last year, which incorporated the first torchlight procession of thousands of children along with the large number of spectators made many of us very proud of the organisation.
This was followed by the well attended carol service which brought back memories of the very first carol service we held. Another good feature of the present committee is the planning and carrying out of the Children's Gala Day, which has proved very successful - Today's youth will be committees of the future - I am very pleased in this article to congratulate the Chairman and his committee on their success, particularly in the last few years in drawing the people of our town together into local activities and especially youth activities. They are going from strength to strength and I therefore appeal for even more support for the community council to create an even stronger community spirit.
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General Objectives 
