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Southside Community Council





Minutes of 76th meeting, held on Wednesday 14 May 2008 from 7.15pm until 9pm, in the Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh.

Abbreviations used as required
ASCC= Association of Scottish Community Councils; CEC= The City of Edinburgh Council; CYP = Canongate Youth Project; EACC =Edinburgh Association of Community Councils; HMO = House(s) in multiple Occupation; LA = Licence Application; L&BP = Lothian and Borders Police; LHC = Late hours Catering; PA = Planning Application; SCC = Southside Community Council; MMW = Multi Member Ward; NP =Neighbourhood Partnership; SE = Scottish Executive; SP = Scottish Parliament; and other initials = members of Southside Community Council, as below.

PRESENT:

Chairperson: Robert Beaton {RB};

Elected Members: Linda Hendry (Vice-Chairperson) {LH}, Robert Hodgart {RH}, Hilary McDowell (Environmental Spokesperson) {HM}, Jo Scott (Acting Secretary and Planning & Licensing Convenor) {JS}, and Justine Stansfield (Treasurer) {JSt};

Local Interest Groups’ Nominated Members: Margaret Bagan {MB}, Mary Devine {MD}, Kathleen Newis {KN}, and Julia Wilding {JW};

Co-opted Members: Carol McHugh {CM};

City of Edinburgh Council: Councillor Ian Perry {IP} and Councillor Cameron Rose {CR};

Lothian & Borders Police: PC Ben Merrick.

1. Welcome, and apologies for Absence

Robert Beaton welcomed those present to the meeting. He announced the sad news of the death of Jean Downie earlier in the week. Hilary McDowell paid tribute to her, speaking of her involvement in community affairs and her continued interest even when her health was failing during the last five years. She was a very valued member of the Community Council, and was always more interested in others than in herself. Jo Scott told members about the funeral arrangements, and said that she would send a card to Jean’s sister and family on behalf of the Community Council.

Apologies for absence were received from Colin Christison, Liz Mulligan, Keith Smith, Liz Walker, and Sarah Boyack MSP.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9 April

Adoption of minutes proposed by MB and seconded by JW.

3. Matters Arising

Item 11 - JS had enquired about sales of fruit flavoured tobacco syrup from a shop in South Clerk Street. The only relevant legislation does not permit tobacco sales to under age children. Licenses are not required to sell tobacco.

4. Police Report

The Salvation Army Premises at East Adam Street are to be opened as a drop in Centre in June to replace the premises in Bread Street. This will be on a temporary basis, and the Salvation Army continues to search for a suitable building for this purpose in the city centre area. There had been problems between a group of students and some local and not so local youths at the kick pitch area in Brown Street. Five people were detained. The University of Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Police, and Community Safety Staff will be patrolling the Meadows and surrounding streets more frequently over the summer months. The good weather has brought more trouble with groups of youths. Most off licences are now being responsible about not selling alcohol to underage young people. Test purchasing is to start in June. Members advised to call police if they observe young people causing trouble.

5. Secretary’s Report

Information received on ‘Eco Schools’; ‘Postcards in the Park;’ Consultation Paper on Education (added support for learning) [Scotland] Act 2004 Amendment Bill 2008 - LH will read this; Notice of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils AGM 21 June - RB hopes to attend this meeting; Consultation Paper from the Scottish Association of Community Councils on a model Constitution; Consultation papers from the Scottish Government on a model Constitution for Community Councils, a Code of Conduct for Community Councils, and a Model Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils - these four documents relating to Community Councils to be read by RB, CC, JSt, HM, and JS, who will prepare responses; Second Notification of Proposed Amendments to Business and Trades Permits affecting Clerk Street, South Clerk Street, Newington Road, and Dalkeith Road - no action required.

6. Treasurer’s Report

The bank balance is £895.47 from the most recent statement (April).

7. Correspondence

Newsletter from ‘Warm Homes’; ‘Working Capital’; Tenant Participation Strategy - leaflet on Housing Allowance Scheme; ‘Inside Letting’; ‘Centre Piece’; Information about the Cockburn Association AGM on 21 June; Information about a talk on Edinburgh’s Common Good Land by Andy Wightman on 22 May; Information on Trams meeting on 29 May; Information on proposals for a ‘time bank’ in South Edinburgh from Phyll Meyer of Liberton Community Council; newsletter from Edinburgh Community Representatives Network; the Canongate Youth Project programme; ‘Care and Repair’ leaflet; leaflet ‘Licensing in Your Community’ - about the new licensing act; information about ‘Clan Edinburgh Challenge’; Notice about tours of Princes Street Gardens; Health Impacts of the Renovation of the Commonwealth Pool - a request from Martin Higgins of NHS Lothian to attend a meeting to discuss the way in which local residents use the Royal Commonwealth Pool. It was agreed that JS invites him to speak briefly at the June meeting. Letter from Isobel Leckie asking if the Community Council will make an application for a grant of £500 from the Neighbourhood Partnership Community Engagement Fund to assist in running a consultative process with local people to gather their views on future plans for the Causey - the Community Council believes that a grant of up to £500 can only be allocated once in the financial year. RH (Chairman of the Causey Project Group) believed that more than one grant would be allowed in this financial year due to the poor uptake over last year. JS to confirm this with the NP officials, and the subject will be brought back to the June meeting

8. Planning & Licensing Committee Report

25/29 Clerk Street 08/00365/FUL: change of use to drop in centre withdrawn.
119 Nicolson Street 08/00818/FUL: retrospective change of use objection considered material.
Licence application for street trader in Buccleuch Place: granted
Licence application for HMO at 50A East Cross Causeway: granted

9. Environmental Report

Brown Street. The fallen trees have been cut up and chipped. The proposed communal litter pick can now go ahead. The date chosen during discussion was 24 May 10.00 am to 12.00 noon. The Dumbiedykes Environmental Group will be invited to join us. Depending on numbers it might be possible to clear the area between the park wall and Braidwood Gate. Future improvement to this area would be to replace the dock plants and other weeds on the bank by the Crags Sports Centre with periwinkle or other ground cover plants, as suggested last year.

Gas Main on South Clerk St. This is progressing very slowly. The permitted time slot for this work expires at the end of May and all the premises still need to be connected to the supply. There appears to be no method of communication between the contractor and the Community Council. This should be rectified.

Drains. It will not be necessary to make a Freedom of Information request. We now know that we need to speak to David Simpson who has been very helpful in the past. We will deal directly with him in the future. All gullies are supposed to be cleaned out once a year, and sensitive ones more often.

Walkabout on 25th April. Various defects were noted. Cllr Perry has asked for a list of those defects left from last year, and will add pressure for them to be fixed.

Salisbury Road. The Council Solicitor has been contacted to ask when the double yellow lines on Salisbury Road will be installed. As yet no reply.

Toilets on Middle Meadow Walk. These have been shut for months. JS has been pursuing this one, and has put the relevant staff at the Council and Quartermile in contact. There are promises that the toilets will reopen before the Meadows Festival. There is money for refurbishment. We are keen that this should happen but not at a time when the city is so busy.

Meadows. The BUPA run did not cause much new damage, but in future it is hoped that the water bottles provided will have attached tops as this year the separate tops had got squashed into the grass. There were lots of vehicles on Middle Meadow Walk, including Council vehicles, parked with their doors open, completely blocking the whole path. This despite last year’s orders that MMW should not be used for vehicles for special events from then onwards.

The promised consultation on the conditions to be applied to the Urban circus did not happen, despite assurances that they would be sent to us for comment before discussion with the event organisers. No reasons have been given. The dates for the group to be on site have also been extended, despite other assurances.

Nicolson Square. Lights have been dark there since the end of January. An electricity cable has been damaged which Scottish Power refuse to repair until work is completed. There have been many promises of temporary power being supplied, the latest being at the Neighbourhood Partnership meeting, 12th May, by the project manager. The planting of the square is well on, turf laid, trees planted and shrub planting in progress.

Environmental Forum. It had been hoped to discuss the agenda, minutes, matters arising, and action from the last meeting but six weeks later and despite several requests these are not available. We had asked for these to be issued quickly, and were assured that lots of details of useful contacts were to be included and so note taking during the meeting would be unnecessary. The Community Council deplores this position. Members expressed their frustration.

A-Boards. Kathy Evans and Paul Baxter have been emailed about the proliferation of these in our area. Two weeks later after emailing again a holding reply was received asking for patience. Reports via the Neighbourhood Partnership have achieved nothing. Oversized A-boards are still in place.

Bollards. Still no new bollards, but the bollards outside the Environmental spokesperson’s house have been repainted, and new fluorescent tape put round them. Why?

Ducklings. 14 ducklings have been seen in the ponds round the Scottish Widows building, and a duck board has been provided to allow access between the ponds!

10. Reports from Meetings Attended

Planning Customer Focus Meeting, attended by LH. New members present. Training on the new act will be arranged. Some useful suggestions to improve the planning portal made but may be constrained by the system going nationwide soon. Information about staff training and rationalisation of process by Kaizen Groupwork. It would be helpful to planning if we let our MSPs know that for Major Developments 50 houses could be the cut off point rather than 100 as currently proposed. This could be part of secondary legislation.

Canongate Youth Project Management Committee Routine matters discussed.

Edinburgh Joint Community Council Meeting Welcomed by Jenny Dawe, presentation by Russell Bain of the Scottish Government on ‘Community Councils - the Scottish Government Perspective’ and an ‘Update on Partnership working in Edinburgh’ by Susan Bruce. Workshops and questions. Concern expressed by CC members regarding increase in work for CCs but no increase in funding. Libraries to make computer time available but this not thought to be adequate due to Community Councillors’ time constraints.

Meadows Short Life Working Group Good meeting with some progress slowly being made. There are plans to have much greater control over activities in the area and on the Meadows during the Festival and Fringe period.

South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Community Planning Sub Group Approximately 20 community members present. It was felt the time allowed was inadequate and that the officials had decided what was to go into the Community Plan. Some discussion followed with a view that the Neighbourhood Partnership was not yet working as had been hoped. The review of the Partnerships is ongoing and the Community Council awaits the outcomes with interest.

South Side Community Education Management Committee Routine business discussed.

Southside Association – AGM, with annual reports presented, and a slight alteration to the list of office bearers.

Meadows Festival Association The Festival is to take place as planned on 8 and 9 June this year. A table will be available in a marquee for local Community Councils.

Braidwood Centre Management Committee and AGM RB unable to attend.

Crags Sports Centre Advisory Group Next meeting 9 June. A Community Sports Fair is tentatively scheduled for early September and all groups are welcome to participate.

South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Updates on car parking in the Merchiston area and HMO policy. Presentation on the Development of the Neighbourhood Partnership Work Plan on Tollcross Short Life Working Group, Meadows Short Life Working Group, and the Local Community Plan Development Programme. Information is sought from Community Councils on the proposed nine outcomes. Feedback forms are to be sent out and it is hoped a Community Plan will be agreed by the end of the summer. There was some discussion on this point and the general view was that it might be better to agree on some necessary improvements and work. It was felt some ‘quick wins’ were needed.

Presentations on Housing Board Projects, Streetscape Works update –Roseneath Terrace and Argyll Place, and Tollcross Improvement Project. Report on Neighbourhood Partnership Grants Fund. Information that £100K has been allocated as discretionary spending on roads and footways for 2008/11 and Neighbourhood Partnerships will be consulted on the proposed maintenance scheme over the next three years. A request was made that in future written answers to questions are routinely included with the papers for the meeting. The next Neighbourhood Partnership meeting is to be on 11 August 2008.

11. Any Other Competent Business

MB drew the attention of the meeting to a neighbour notice she had received regarding the restaurant below her flat and a planning application to install a canopy.

12. Open Forum

No members of the public present

13. Date of next meeting

Next Ordinary Meeting Wednesday 11th June 2008.

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