MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES and PAPERS of public meeting on 16 January 2018 at Merchiston Tennis and Bowling Club
- CC: Community Council
- CEC: City of Edinburgh Council
- EACC: Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
- FCI: Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative
- FOMBL: Friends of the Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
- LB: CEC Licensing Board
- LF: CEC Licensing Forum
- MCC: Merchiston Community Council
- SCNP: South Central Neighbourhood Partnership
- SWNP: South West Neighbourhood Partnership
1. Chairman’s welcome and report
2. Apologies for absence
- Robin Morris
- Frances Hawarden
- Joan Houston
- Daniel Cairns
- Mairianna Clyde
- Cllr Nick Cook
- Cllr Gavin Corbett
- Cllr David Key
- Daniel Johnston MP
- Ian Murray MP
Present
- Tom Graveson, Chair
- Jim Geekie, Secretary
- Guillaume Evrard, Minute Secretary
- Ian Clement
- Vivien Kitteringham
- Hugh Halcrow
- Ewan Klein
- Bridget Stevens
- Ian Doig
- Helen Zealley
- Ted Tate
Cllr Neil Ross
PC Pennycook
Maurice Popplestone, and another local resident
3. Police reports
3.1 Fountainbridge / Craiglockhart
More activity on Twitter, with the local account @EdinPolSW
Two attempts of break ins in cafés on Polwarth Crescent
What happens to abandoned vehicles?
- A non-insured car being used is towed away by the Police.
- A non-taxed car will be clamped by DVLA.
- Abandoned car will be removed by CEC, cleansing department.
3.2 Meadows / Morningside
Nobody to report.
4. Minutes of the last meeting on 21 November 2017 and matters arising not on the agenda
5. Canal towpath – update
MCC has received several emails and phone calls about the cycling incidents on the canal towpath.
6. Parking
N/A
7. Regular reports
Localities – South West & South East
SWNP on 16 January 2018 cancelled because of the inclement weather.
SCNP is meeting on 22 January 2018.
There is an ongoing consultation about the community involvement in Localities.
Planning
Edinburgh Quay
FCI had a meeting with the Council on Thursday instant. FCI is pushing for more affordable family accommodation.
1st option is for market rental development, with properties on the market c£1200-1300 pcm.
2nd option is for a mix of properties for sale, and properties for affordable accommodation.
Motion to support the FCI/GC’s proposition to have more affordable (2nd option); moved by VK, seconded by HH; and adopted unanimously by MCC
New Boroughmuir High School
The building is handed over on Tuesday 16 January 2018. Pupils moving in after the mid-term holidays. It was agreed that if the MCC were invited to attend any ceremony, JK would be MCC’s representative.
Licensing
Consultation about licences; licence extensions
Halloween two-week block late licensing opportunities
Relaxation of noise levels rules to support live music; local residents have expressed their disapproval
EK: look at Barcelona for a rational approach with systematic quantitative data with sensors in sensitive spot
WHO guidance on acceptable noise levels
Health
Astley Ainslie potential for community buyout, but 42 acres is a great commitment to cover.
There is a community group liaising with the Health Board.
VK and IC (as MCC representatives at EACC), will attend Lothian Joint Health Protection Plan meeting on 17 January 2018. MCC can help with health in helping preserving public parks and public spaces, and also places for social life and interaction.
8. Treasurer
The Treasurer’s report was accepted in her absence.
9. Councillors – in advance and/or present
Cllr Neil Ross
21 February 2018: first meeting of the South-East Locality
Full Council approved locality management model at the end of 2017
SCNP has £60K to spend on SCNP road projects; online vote
Cllr Gavin Corbett
The litter pickers and gloves purchased by the Community council have been in full use: first of all at a clean-up of Harrison Park on 9 December December where residents, and local school children lifted 14 bags of litter, planted 2500 bulbs and made Christmas decorations for one of the trees in the park; and then on 5 January where over 50 residents (including Hugh and Vivien from the CC) did a very thorough clean-up of the Caledonian Railway path, also clearing back leaf mulch and encroaching vegetation..
On the same theme I am helping to organise a Union Canal clean up with Scottish Canals, following prolonged periods when the water has been frozen and become a bit of a target for debris. The date for that is morning of 27 January. If the CC could help publicise that, that would be good.
A local residents petition about the traffic lights at Shandon Place / Slateford Road has been heard at Transport Committee in December and resulted in agreement to change the lights to improve pedestrian safety.
Boroughmuir High School is being handed over to the school on Tuesday 16 January, with the actual move taking place just before and after the school holidays.
This year’s canal festival is 16 June. Is anyone from the CC able to go on a small project group to organize it?
Cllr Nick Cook
Urban gulls will be addressed in a report prepared by CEC officers for March 2018.
10. Community Councillors – in advance and/or present
Recycling bins removal at Napier Merchiston
The situation is sorted.
Poppy seeds were distributed.
It was agreed that the backlog of MCC meeting minutes for CEC would be forwarded with members reports included.
It was agreed that in future an invitation to attend would be sent to the MSP for Edinburgh Central.
11. Communication
CC members to meet up on the matter.
12. Points raised by residents and members of the public
N/A
13. AOCB
HH agreed to consider joining the Canal Festival Committee.
TT raised concerns about levels of pollution in Shandon Place when traffic was stationary during peak periods.