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Southside Community Council
SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Minutes of 105th meeting held on Wednesday 9th March 2011, from 7.00pm until 9.00pm, in the Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh.
Meetings are held from 7pm until 9pm on the second Wednesday of the month, from
September until June, in the Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh, EH8 9QZ
Telephone: 0131-667 8838
*Further information on any of the items below is available from the Secretary,
by using the above postal address or web site: www.edinscc.org
Abbreviations used as required:
ASCC = Association of Scottish Community Councils; CEC = The City of Edinburgh Council; CYP = Canongate Youth Project; DEG = Dumbiedykes Environmental Group; EACC = Edinburgh Association of Community Councils; EUSA = Edinburgh University Students’ Association; HMO = House(s) in Multiple Occupancy; LA = Licence Application; L&BP = Lothian & Borders Police; LHC = Late Hours Catering; NP = Neighbourhood Partnership; PA = Planning Application; SCC = Southside Community Council; SCNP = South Central Neighbourhood Partnership; SG = Scottish Government; SP = Scottish Parliament; TRO = Traffic Regulation Order; UoE = University of Edinburgh; and other initials = members of the SCC.
PRESENT:
Chairperson: Hilary McDowell (HM);
Elected and co-opted Members: John Largue (Treasure, JL), Caroline Barr (CB), Susan Brown (SB), Bob Hodgart (RH), Deborah Charlesworth (secretary, DC), Nikki Thomson (NT), May Linton (ML), Lisa Sibbald (LS, representative for the South Side Association), Colin Symes (CS, representing Community Church Edinburgh, South Clerk St), Keith Smith (KS, Southside Community Education Centre).
City of Edinburgh Council: Councillor Ian Perry, Shaun McGrath (City of Edinburgh Council liason officer and Local Environment Manager).
2 members of the Public were also present.
1. Welcome and apologies for absence.
HM welcomed those present to the meeting. An apology for absence was received from Michael Strain. HM announced the resignation of Amy Williamson, who has moved away from the area.
2. Report about Crags Sports Centre. David Wardrop was unable to attend, and so Councillor Steve Burgess gave the update on this. There are 12 notes of interest, and it is hoped that it will be let, and will become available for community use (see February 2011 minutes). In response to a question from HM, Councillor Burgess will enquire about management of the building until it re-opens (e.g. whether it is heated).
3. Election of vice-chair. The candidates were NT (proposed SB, seconded CB) and JL (proposed LS, seconded DC). JL was elected.
4. Minutes of meetings held on January 12 and February 9th 2011. The January 12 minutes were approved without changes (JL, CB), and the February 9th minutes were approved as corrected (LS, JL).
5. Matters arising, including update on plans for discussion of procedures. The CC discussed how to organise discussion of procedures, and it was agreed to hold this discussion at the May meeting. SMcG offered to facilitate the discussion. In addition, JL offered, as vice chair, to be available for any problems to be brought to him, and he will try to resolve them.
6. Police Report: Jeanette McCulloch attended the meeting. She reported that further fires are being investigated, including plain-clothes police visiting premises with fire department people. There have also been several burglaries, and she emphasised the importance of security in tenements stairs, and the value of having good locks on front doors. In response to a question from RH, there was a discussion of whether a police report is necessary every month. It was agreed to continue with the current arrangements.
7. Odeon/Save Our Cinema campaign. HM reported that the paper petitions were handed in and that many on-line objections have been submitted, and that an applications has been sent to Historic Scotland for A listing of the building. She asked for letters to be written to the planning department objecting to demolition of the building, as individual letters may carry greater weight than other objections. The CC web-site has advice about the grounds that are suitable for such objections. She also outlined the proposed events on March 12th (weather permitting). Councillor Perry described the motion that he will propose to ensure proper maintenance and to help resolve the problem of this building.
8. Treasurer’s Report.
• There is £1468.38 in the bank, and £7.29 petty cash.
• Our application for £500 to part-fund a newsletter (see February minutes) was approved, the papers have been signed, and the draft newsletter will be updated.
• New indemnity insurance is not yet arranged, but discussions are continuing.
9. Secretary’s Report. The file of emails and correspondence received was made available.
10. Correspondence (see also Appendix below).
i) An email was received outlining the major road works in Nicolson St during the week from March 13th. For bus diversion, see http://www.lothianbuses.com/news/11-traffice-news/562-nicolson-street.html
ii) Letter from Network Rail re access, including disabled access at Waverley station during renovation work from 4 March to 30 May.
iii) Consultation from the Scottish Government re Fire & Rescue Services, www.scotland.gov.uk/FireReform (closing date 5 May 2011).
iv) Consultation on draft statutory guidance for local authorities for Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/02/03132417/0).
v) Correspondence with members of the public to support them on Gifford Park bins and the Archers’ Hall development.
vi) Email re 'Energize' in the Meadows (Edinburgh Leisure, Active Schools and Club Sport Edinburgh organised afternoon of various sports and activities to launch a new package of youth programmes for Edinburgh Leisure) This small-scale event is quite acceptable to the community, but we requested that the organisers should be reminded that vehicles should not be driven on to the grass.
vii) Emails about student Community volunteering to take place between 31st May & 2nd June; we have suggested some helpful activities and agreed to arrange details near the time.
viii) PowerPoint file showing trees that are missing in 'our end' of the Meadows sent to FoMBL.
ix) Email to PAS re successful and poor planning consultations.
11. Reports from meetings attended
1) EACC Poverty Conference, March 5 (SB, RH, LM attended).
2) LS: the Southside Association meeting on 1st March, had a presentation from David Allan of Scottish Love in Action (SLA, www.sla-india.org), a charity, based in the Pleasance, which cares for and supports destitute children in India. They feed, clothe, house, educate and provide medical care for over 500 children, most of whom are of the Dalit caste (Untouchables).
3) LM attended a NP Business meeting. The NP will be considering trees on the Meadows (see NP papers on-line for details).
4) CS attended a NP meeting on Health and Wellbeing. They were told that the Commonwealth Pool will now not open until early 2012.
5) KS attended The Southside Community Centre meeting, which heard about the projected budgets for sessional staffing in 2011-12, the repairs programmes that are underway for both South Side and Nelson Hall, and the plans to celebrate the South side Community Centre's 25th Anniversary next year.
12. Forthcoming meetings
1. The Big Society in a wee country on 10th March 7.00-8.45pm at Moray House. (Email: ActiveCitizenshipGroup@gmail.com for details)
2. South Central Neighbourhood Partnership, March 14th
3. Haddons Court Action Group, 14th March. (HM)
4. Welfare Reform; Who benefits? on 14th March 2011.
5. Selection for the South Central NP Roads Capital Programme 2011/12, 24th March (HM, LM)
6. Civic Forum meeting on Tuesday 29th March (JL).
7. Joint Environmental Forum, 7.00 pm on 4th April, City Chambers, old council room
8. Hustings for Scottish Parliament elections (chaired by Lesley Riddoch) at City Chambers 7th April 7.00-9.00pm.
13. Public Question Time: There were no questions.
14. Any other business: SB informed us that she is resigning as tree warden, as she has not had the requested training.
15. Date of next meeting – April 13th 2011.
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