Date: 16.06.26. Venue: Polwarth Tennis and Boling Clubhouse
Started: 20.00 Ended: 21.00
Chaired by Ian Doig, Chair of Merchiston Districts Community Council (MDCC)
Present:
MDCC Members: Ian Doig (ID, Chair), Vivien Kitteringham (VK, Vice-Chair), Mairianna Clyde
(MC), Frances Hawarden (Treasurer), JH), John McKenna (JMK, Secretary), Bridget Stevens
(BS), Alison Edelsten (minutes secretary)
City Councillors: Cllr Kevin McKay, Cllr Neil Ross
Residents: Anna Aitken, Adam Harrison
Guest: David Somervell, BANZAI
Apologies Received:
Members: Roma Menlowe, Joan Houston, Gordon Cameron, Vanessa Meadu, Klaus Glenk,
Hilary Swanston, Annabelle McInnes (Bruntsfield Primary PTA),
City Councillors: Cllr Key (standing apology)
Residents: Jay Feeney, James Broadhurst
- Introduction to the AGM by the Chair.
People attending were welcomed to the meeting with a brief introduction and overview.
Chair stated that the AGM had sufficient members attending to be quorate. - Minutes of previous AGM on 17.06.2025
The Minutes of the previous year’s AGM of 17 th June 2025 had been circulated and were
accepted as a correct record of proceedings.
Acceptance proposed by John McKenna and seconded by Vivienne Kitteringham - Annual Report for 2025/26
Ian Doig spoke to the Annual Report, which had been previously circulated by email and also
available on the website. Noted that CK and AE have been welcomed as new members
during the year. There were no questions. - Annual Statement of Accounts for year ended 31.03.2026
The Annual Statement of Accounts were presented for approval, having been scrutinised
and agreed by the independent examiner Richard Allen. The Accounts had been circulated
to members prior to the meeting and showed a surplus of £1852.
Accounts were agreed by members as a correct record; proposed by Bridget Stevens and
seconded by Ian Doig.
A resident requested that non-members should be given access to reports prior to themeeting. At present draft versions of reports are not put on to the website due to technical, resources and procedural issues. Residents can request an email copy prior to the meeting and printed copies are available at the meeting. - Office Bearers and Other Appointments for 2026/27:
The following appointments and roles were agreed:
| Post | Nominee | Proposed | Seconded |
| Chair | Ian Doig | Bridget Stevens | Mairianna Clyde |
| Secretary | John McKenna | Vivien Kitteringham | Helen Zealley |
| Treasurer | Frances Hawarden | Ian Doig | John McKenna |
| Engagement & Inclusion Officer and website manager | Vivien Kitteringham | Ian Doig | Mairianna Clyde |
| Vice Chair | Vivien Kitteringham | Ian Doig | John McKenna |
| Planning lead | Mairianna Clyde | ||
| Licensing lead | Gordon Cameron | ||
| Minute Secretary | Alison Edelsten | ||
| Social Media Manager | Vanessa Meadu | ||
| Leaf Clearing Project | Helen Zealley | ||
Notes:
Ian Doig agreed to be the chair again for this year as no one else stood. He intends to
continue as chair until the next CC elections, likely to be in 2029. Consideration should be
given by MDCC to successor planning for office bearers and other roles.
Helen Zealley stated that she will continue the leaf clearing for this final year, after which
she wished to stand down.
Joan Houston has also notified that she is standing down from organising leaf clearing.
Therefore, successors will be required to take over coordination of the leaf clearing project
if it is to continue. Organisers need not necessarily be MDCC members.
Alison Edelsten will confirm her continuation of minutes secretary after this meeting as her
third set of minutes.
- Any Other Business
No points were raised. The AGM meeting closed at 21.00.
AE 27.06.26