Welcome to Edinburgh's
Southside Community Council
Minutes of 72nd meeting, held on Wednesday 9 January 2008, from 7pm until 9pm, 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; 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: Robert Beaton {RB};
Elected Members: Colin Christison (Secretary) {CC}, Linda Hendry (Vice-Chairperson) {LH}, Robert Hodgart {RH}, Hilary McDowell (Environmental Spokesperson) {HM}, Jo Scott (Planning and Licensing Convenor) {JS};
Co-opted Member: Keith Smith;
South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Manager: Susan Bruce;
Services for Communities: Archie Enwood and Paul Swan;
City of Edinburgh Council: Councillor Steve Burgess {SB};
Lothian & Borders Police: PC Ben Merrick; and
Members of the public: Three.
1. Welcome, and apologies for Absence
Robert Beaton welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Margaret Bagan, Mary Devine, Jean Downie, Carol McHugh {CM}, Kathleen Newis, George Pitcher {GP}, Justine Stanfield (Treasurer) {JSt}, Julia Wilding, and Sarah Boyack MSP.
2. Police Report
PC Merrick made a brief report. A polyglot Police Officer was assisting with welfare issues concerning Eastern European beggars. A 15 year old youth had been taken into care for begging, and two juveniles had been arrested for abusing local shop staff. Four people had been caught stealing cars. He mentioned Operations Allegro and Arctic, previously minuted. There had been a slight fall in crime figures. It was hoped that resources would be made available to start a drugs surveillance operation. He said that a vehicle used by fly-posters was found to be registered in London, and the owners denied any responsibility for putting up posters; the van had been impounded, the posters confiscated, and the culprits charged. The December newsletter would be sent out shortly. JS commented that there seemed to have been a spate of shop windows being broken. It was hoped that the two brothers, whose anti-social behaviour causes concern in the community, would have greater supervision. Julian Bukits expressed concern about a beggar operating in South Clerk Street.
HM expressed the view, shared by all, that PC Merrick’s reports were greatly appreciated.
3. Presentation by Susan Bruce, Manager of the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership
Robert introduced Susan Bruce, who gave a detailed presentation about the establishment, composition, and functions of the city’s Neighbourhood Partnerships. These come under the CEC’s Services for Communities Department. The South Central NP consists of Wards 10 (Meadows/Morningside) and 15 (Southside/Newington), and the eight city councillors, as well as a representative from each of the six Community Councils in the area, L&B Police, the voluntary sector, NHS Lothian, and the President of Edinburgh University Students’ Association, who is representing students from all the city Universities. Handouts of the presentation were issued, as well as a list of relevant departments and personnel.
The electronic version of Susan’s presentation is attached to these minutes. Hard copies are available from the Secretary.
During a question and answer session, RH said (acknowledging that this was pre-SCNP) that he felt that the CEC has ignored local views about the refurbishment of Nicolson Square. HM considered that NPs were not working as far as delivery of services was concerned, citing telephone calls not being returned, e-mails not answered, holding replies made and nothing happening, with examples such as faulty lights being left unrepaired since being reported in September, and having to e-mail the City Council Leader to get action. Susan Bruce apologised for these shortcomings, and promised to take up all the outstanding issues concerned. She said there are many ways to contact the various teams, and pointed out that some matters such as lighting are centralised through the city. KS wondered about involving young people in the SCNP, and Susan said that the NPs were looking at the idea, with perhaps a link through the Youth Parliament, and Cllr Burgess suggested an approach to the Canongate Youth Project.
4. Minutes of meeting held on 12 December 2007
Subject to the correction at 5.9 where the word ‘Solicitor’ should read ‘Secretary’ in both instances, the minutes were approved; proposed by JS and seconded by RB.
5. Matters arising
Item 2: Insp Galbraith had pointed out that the Police do not recommend that people should bombard the Evening News with complaints about beggars, and he wanted it stressed that the Police were co-operating fully with the City Council on this and other matters; Item 2: The CEC Community Safety Officer had been informed of the harassment incident at the Braidwood Centre, and had in turn told the Police; Item 5.1: Response still to be submitted on Housing Regeneration; Item 5.7: it was decided to hold over a discussion about a blog until more members were present; Item 5.9: RB had submitted qualified signed papers to the Council Secretary and would continue to act as first deputy SCNP member if required; Item 9.3: railings at Brown Street still not repaired; Item 10.2: it had not been possible so early in the year to arrange a meeting between the local Community Councils and users of the Meadows, but this would be arranged in due course; Item 10.4; the minutes of the Environmental Forum had not made it clear that their future meetings should not clash with those of the Grange/Prestonfield CC; and Item 11.3: the new cherry trees soon to be planted in Nicolson Square would bear pink cherry blossom.
6. Secretary’s Report
6.1 Meetings - The third meeting of the SCNP will be held on 14 January in the Methodist Central Halls, Tollcross, and a copy of the agenda was distributed. Future EACC meetings in the City Chambers at 10am are: 12 January (Cllr Ewan Aitken), 23 February (Cllr Tom Buchanan), and 8 March (the three Cllrs from the Green Party). Next Environmental Forum Meeting is at 7pm on 23 January in the Society Room, Nicolson Square Church.
6.2 The South Neighbourhood Local Link Officers had been confirmed by letter as Paul Swan and Archie Enwood, both of whom were present.
6.3 He had heard from the Chairperson of the Old Town Community Council about their concerns of the curtailment of the 60 Bus Service to Holyrood, and it was agreed that the SCC should liaise with him to seek reinstatement.
6.4 On the subject of Community Council training, CC said that there had only been two questionnaires submitted from the SCC. He would send out an electronic link in the hope that this would encourage more participation.
6.5 Further to Cllr Burgess’s confirmation last summer that it was possible to arrange a visit to the new Council Building at Waverley Court, it was decided to wait until the spring or early summer.
7. Treasurer’s Report
As JSt was absent, CC reported that the bank balance at 17 December 2007 was £943.51.
8. Correspondence
The following items were circulated: Issue 10 of The Rock Report (Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association), a list of Holyrood Park Events 2008 (www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), and the December 2007 update from the Cockburn Association.
9. Planning and Licensing Committee Report
Planning
9.1 Representation made about PA for new extension, refurbishment, and glazed link at John McIntyre Centre, Pollock Halls (07/05005/FUL).
9.2 Representation made about PA for 5 new car parking spaces at 108 Holyrood Road (07/04970/FUL).
9.3 Objection about to be lodged for PA to alter and extend restaurant at rear end and match finished roof level of existing air raid shelter at 22a Nicolson Street (07/05052/FUL).
9.4 A second meeting about the imminent PA for the refurbishment of Thornybauk House, 24 St Leonard’s Bank, had taken place just before Christmas; revised plans had been submitted, which had appeared to be reasonably satisfactory to local residents.
9.5 Representation made about PA for change of use from shop to office at 17 Clerk Street considered material (07/04975/FUL).
9.6 Representation made about for outline PA to demolish existing store and erect 10 flats and shop etc at 65 Dumbiedykes Road considered material (07/05063).
9.7 The committee would examine PA for internal alterations, change of use from public house to dance school and café bar at 74 East Crosscauseway (07/05212/FUL).
9.8 It was reported that a public consultation about an imminent PA for alterations to the former Odeon Cinema would take place on 24 January, at 7pm, in the Nelson Hall. The plans were thought to include a boutique hotel, an 80 seat cinema, and a multi-purpose function suite.
Licensing
9.9 Objection lodged for street trader’s food licence to operate on the north side of Buccleuch Place had been acknowledged.
9.10 One HMO LA had been received since the last meeting. RB said that no neighbour notification notices had been posted about a recently granted HMO LA at 1/7 St Leonard’s Crag.
10. Environmental Report
10.1 Paul Swan said that the normal cleaning routine for West Newington Place had been increased to attempt to deal with the extra refuse and dumped items which kept appearing there, and the Allied waste bin was to be removed from there. The Environmental Wardens had been made aware of the problems. The broken drain cover in West Preston Street had been repaired on 10 December. The Lighting Section would be reminded about the problems with lampposts at Parkside Terrace, mentioned at the December meeting.
10.2 JS said that plaques acknowledging WREN and CEC funding had been installed in the Meadows, as well as two notices to identify the Meadows as a public park.
11. Reports from meetings attended
11.1 Southside Association (8 January)
Attended by SB, CM, GP, JS, and CC who reported that there had been a presentation on the subject of Houses in Multiple Occupation from a Council Officer, and David Doig had made a short environmental report.
11.2 Canongate Youth Project
LH had attended the volunteers’ party on 7 December, as well as two meetings of the Personnel Committee on 30 November and 14 December.
12. Any other business
12.1 RH, Chair of the West Crosscauseway Association, referred to the Causey Project which had taken place last year, and said that the Association was in the early stages of planning a strategy to have some permanent improvement to the paved area there, for the good of the public amenity. This area was not part of the University of Edinburgh’s Central Masterplan. Ideas for transforming the area would be welcomed. Next meeting – 15 January.
12.2 The Community Council ratified the appointments of LH and JSt as office bearers of the Meadows Festival Association.
12.3 LH thought it would be a good idea for the SCC to produce laminated notices to be posted in the area’s stairwells to advise the occupiers of the various dos and donts about living in a communal tenement, with examples such as smoking in stairs and late night noise. She wondered if a grant would be available from the Southside and Old Town Crime Prevention Panel, and or the SCNP. These notices would also give publicity to the SCC and any sponsors.
13. Open Forum
Julian Bukits sought and was given clarification by Susan Bruce about the functions of the Local Community Safety Officer, with reference to anti-social behaviour. She also mentioned the Community Safety Team and Community Beat Officers, as well as enforcement procedures and civil action by the CEC.
14. Date of next meeting
Wednesday 13 February 2008, from 7pm until 9pm, in the same venue.
Back to top