Welcome to Edinburgh's
Southside Community Council
Minutes of Annual General Meeting, held on Wednesday 9 May, 2007, from 7.00pm until 7.20pm, in the Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh
Abbreviations used:
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; HMO = House(s) in Multiple Occupation; LA = Licence Application; L&BP = Lothian & Borders Police; LHC = Late Hours Catering; MMW = Multi-member ward; NP = Neighbourhood Partnership; PA = Planning Application; SCC = Southside Community Council; SE = Scottish Executive; SP = Scottish Parliament; UoE = University of Edinburgh; and other initials = members of the SCC.
PRESENT: Chairperson: Robert Beaton {RB}; Elected Members: Colin Christison (Secretary) {CC}, Linda Hendry (Vice Chairperson) {LH}, Robert Hodgart {RH}, Hilary McDowell {HM}, Jo Scott {JS}, and Justine Stansfield (Treasurer) {JSt}; Local Interest Groups’ Nominated Members: Margaret Bagan {MB}, Idris Bozyil {IB}, Mary Devine {MD}, and Liz Mulligan {LM}; Co-opted Members: Jean Downie {JD}, and Carol McHugh {CM}; Lothian & Borders Police: Inspector Tom Galbraith; Edinburgh Leisure: Malcolm Jefferson and Gordon Forsyth; Members of the public: Three.
1. Welcome, and apologies for absence
Robert Beaton welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Kathleen Newis, George Pitcher, Liz Walker, Keith Smith, Sarah Boyack MSP, and PC Ben Merrick.
2. Secretary’s Report
Colin Christison made the following report:
“After a long period of five years and eight months, instead of the standard three years, the composition of the first Southside Community Council changed in May 2006. It was not necessary for an election to be held, and the new Community Council was formed, consisting of eight ‘elected’ members (people who had been nominated for election) - Robert Beaton, Colin Christison, Linda Hendry, Robert Hodgart, Hilary McDowell, Jo Scott, Justine Stansfield, and Liz Walker, and six nominated members from local interest groups - Maggie Bagan (Southside Association), Idris Bozyil (Parkside Terrace Residents’ Association), Mary Devine (South Side & Old Town Crime Prevention Panel), Liz Mulligan (Dumbiedykes Environmental Forum), Kathleen Newis (Nicolson Square Methodist Church), and George Pitcher (New Pleasance Residents’ Association).
At the AGM on 31 May 2006 the following office bearers were appointed - Chairperson: Robert Beaton; Vice-Chairperson: Linda Hendry; Secretary: Colin Christison; Treasurer: Justine Stansfield. Jo Scott agreed to convene the planning and licensing sub-committee as well as represent the Community Council on the management committee of the South Side Community Education Centre; Linda Hendry was pleased to continue as a member of the Management Committee of the Canongate Youth Project; and Hilary McDowell agreed to represent the Community Council on the committee of the Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links. At the June meeting the following were co-opted on to the Community Council – Jean Downie, Claire MacGregor, Carol McHugh, and Keith Smith. Claire continues to be Tree Warden for the area, although later in the year she ceased to be a co-opted member.
The Community Council held nine meetings since the 2006 AGM, all at the Nelson Hall. Police Reports were presented at eight of these meetings. At five of our meetings we had guest speakers on a variety of subjects. Members attended about 84 other meetings, conferences, and seminars over the period (up from 60 last year), as well as a few training courses.
A total of 23 representations were made to the planning or licensing departments of the City Council, slightly down on last year. 39 copy HMO Licence Applications were received. It has been noted that there are an increasing number of planning applications to subdivide rooms (especially lounges) in local flats. Some of these applications are lodged retrospectively, and the outcome is usually that they are refused and enforced. There is widespread concern in the area about the future of the former Odeon Cinema in Clerk Street. Responses were made to a small number of consultations this year.
The area has seen the installation of the Magnet Play area in East Meadow Park, and this has been a great success. An environmental walkabout was held on 19 April, with Councillor Cairns, three officials from the City Council, and Colin Christison and Hilary McDowell. About 70 defects on pavements, roads, lighting, signage poles etc were noted, as well as examples of street clutter.
The Annual Christmas Event at St Patrick Square and at the Community Centre continues to be successful, and Una McLean was a popular choice to perform the lighting ceremony.
The list of recipients of the Community Council’s minutes is growing, although slowly. Please let me know of anyone who you think would like to see them, especially by e-mail. We were successful in our application to the Central Local Development Committee for a small grant to purchase a laptop computer and a printer. These will be kept in the Nelson Hall, and members will have use of them as required, by arrangement, including internet access. We shall now have the opportunity to view planning applications online during our regular meetings if required. The Scotsman Publications has now launched the Southside and Newington Gazette, following the success of their publications covering Leith, Morningside, and other parts of the city, and I hope that the Southside Community Council will be able to contribute to the paper on a regular basis.
Under the old system of local government, Ward 33 (Southside) was more or less co-terminous with the boundary of the Southside Community Council. Now that we have new arrangements, we are part of the new Ward 15, Southside/Newington multi-member ward, and four Councillors were elected last week. They will be kept informed of our activities, and it is to be hoped that all of them will be able to attend our meetings from time to time, although they have four other Community Councils in their ward, and no doubt there will be a clash of meetings dates. The new Neighbourhood Partnerships are getting under way, and Jo Scott, representing us, has been appointed to the Southside/Newington and Meadows/Morningside one.
I am grateful to Derek Christie for continuing to keep the website up-to-date, and to Claire MacGregor for her work as Tree Warden. Thanks are due to the planning sub-committee for careful scrutiny of planning applications, especially to Jo for managing the information, and for borrowing plans from the Council’s offices, and to Eileen Hewitt, the City Council’s Liaison Officer for Community Councils. Thanks also to all the other office bearers, and members, for their hard work, interest, and help over the year.”
3. Treasurer’s Report and Presentation of Annual Accounts
Justine Stansfield distributed copies of the Annual Accounts, and made the following report:
“The largest single purchase this year was the outdoor display case for outside Nelson Hall. However it has proved well worth the £199 paid, as it has increased awareness of the Centre and its activities, including the Community Council.
Donations made this year include £75 to the Canongate Youth Project, and £50 to the Southside Association for the Christmas event.
Memberships were paid to the Cockburn Association, the Association of Scottish Community Councils, Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, South Side and Nelson Halls Community Centres.
Stationery, postage and printing has been shown together, and you may be interested to see this separated next year, as it is a significant proportion of the total spend. However, these costs are fairly stable and necessary. Stationery costs include the printing of new headed paper and ink cartridges, and total £147.49, while postage costs are £96, representing 300 items of mail sent.
Petty cash spending has included some photocopying, and transport costs, so is slightly higher than the previous year.
The end of year bank balance remains healthy, at £682.08, and the petty cash balance is £60.25. The CEC annual administrative grant was £659, with £53 for insurance and £75 for election publicity costs deducted.
In summary, spending has been slightly higher than last year, but this is mainly due to the purchase of the notice board, so remains reasonable.”
Adoption of the accounts was proposed by Jo Scott, seconded by Linda Hendry, and agreed.
4. Any other business
None.
5. Date of Next Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 14 May 2008.