SCC CHAIR'S REPORT, for meeting of May 11, 2021

  1. Climate Change Workshop - Edinburgh World Heritage appear to be taking a strong focus on climate change just now and also on engaging more with communities. On 19th April, along with a few other Community Council representatives, I attended a workshop that was seeking views on the effects of climate change on our historic built environment. The conversation was wide-ranging, reducing the environmental impact of our historic buildings, increased flooding, the dangers of loose and falling masonry, grassfires, the effects of increased high winds incidence, etc. I think a number of these sessions were being held with a view to EWH informing their policy and practice work.

  2. Use of Public Spaces for Filming and Events Working Group - on 21st April, I attended the first meeting of this group, along with fifty plus representatives of the City Council, events and film production companies and community organisations. This was really just an introductory meeting and no business was conducted other than confirming the terms of reference of the working group. Work will be progress in subgroups and I have said my primary interest would be in the two subgroups exploring an Area Conditions Template, i.e., an agreement of what factors would be established when an event application on an area of public space is made, and also Engagement and Communication with communities about events in public spaces. The next full meeting of the Working Group is scheduled for 19th May.

  3. East Meadows Table Tennis Table - I submitted a statement in support of the planning application for a table tennis table in the east Meadows area to the rear of the tennis pavilion.

  4. EACC Steering Group - I attended the second meeting of the EACC Steering Group. This Group is seeking to agree a position statement to put to the Edinburgh Partnership Board to establish a more constructive relationship between Community Councils and the City Council and other members of the Partnership Board. This is a very interesting area of work, to me. This meeting considered a paper that John Tibbitt, the immediate past chair of the EACC, had prepared, proposing:
    • work to reduce inhibitors of community engagement;
    • the resumption of the Neighbourhood Partnerships;
    • enhanced support resources for CCs, e.g., staffing, more budgetary resources to be determined locally, and
    • development of EACC as a forum for engagement between CCs and the City Council.


Tim
May, 2021