2024 November Minutes

Merchiston Community Council — Minutes of Public Meeting (by Zoom)

Date: 19th November 2024

Chaired by Ian Doig, Chair of Merchiston Community Council (MCC)

Started: 19:00
Ended: 21:04

Present: 
MCC Members: Ian Doig (ID, Chair), Vivien Kitteringham (VK, Vice Chair, Zoom Host), Mairianna Clyde (MC), Joan Houston (JH), Bridget Stevens (BS), Raphael Uddin (RU, Minute taker), Roma Menlowe (RM), John McKenna (JM), Vanessa Meadu (VM), Frances Hawarden (FH)

Councillors: Cllr Christopher Cowdy – Ward 9 (CC, Conservative)

Residents: Mary Breatnach, Caty’s iPad user

1. Introduction, Apologies & Declarations of Interest

      Apologies had been received from Daniel Cairns, Klaus Glenk, Helen Zealley and Cllr David Key.

      There were no declarations of interest.  

      2. Residents’ Issues Forum

        There were no residents’ issues raised.

        3.   Minutes of Public Meeting of 15th October 2024; Matters Arising

        The minutes of the previous meeting were approved, with no matters arising that hadn’t been incorporated into other items on the agenda.

        4.   Chair’s Report

        ID spoke to his report (circulated previously), discussing a variety of issues including:

        • Visitor Levy
        • ID explained that, unlike previously assumed, the Sc Government legislation for the Visitor Levy is now primarily aimed at promotion of tourism, with hopefully some flexibility to fund projects that both residents and tourists would benefit from.
        • At a recent CEC and EACC discussion meeting, ID expressed comments from MCC’s October meeting on various aspects of the visitor levy, with other CCs in agreement about the importance of accountability, ensuring that both the public and visitors are made aware of what this levy is funding.
        • ID noted that the consultation on the Visitor Levy is open until 15th December, with comments from residents and other stakeholders invited.
        • Community Council Elections 2025
        • The closing date for applications to run in the 2025 CC elections will be 27th February, with the elections taking place in March. CEC has planned activities to encourage residents to be elected to their community council, however ID highlighted that none of these events were taking place in MCC’s boundary area. It was agreed that promotion by MCC would be required, in an online format (Good News Stories requested by CEC for posting on CEC and MCC website) and in person (a community event organised by members, taking place locally).
        • 2030 City Plan
        • This plan has now officially been adopted by CEC and will be used to inform CEC planning decisions in future.
        • Bin Hubs
        • Since the October MCC meeting, where residents raised concerns about local communal Bin Hubs, there has been significant progress, with the criteria for Bin Hub locations being relaxed as a result of residents’ complaints and a review by City Councillors. CEC officers said that there now may be an influx of requests for reviews of current Hub locations, which means that it may be some time before changes are seen.
        • Accounts Commission Report on CEC
        • The Accounts Commission reported that savings of £109 million will have to be made by CEC by 2028/9, with uncertainty around how management of CEC services in the city will become financially sustainable. The Commission report stated: “City of Edinburgh Council must listen to and act on community views” and that CEC should not lose sight of community priorities. CEC therefore will have to simultaneously modernise services while reducing its costs.
        • Project Support Officer
        • ID thanked RU for his help so far, detailing the proposed plan to explore how this new role could help several MCC tasks in the coming months, including switching MCC to digital banking, creation of promotional materials, and organisation of an in-person community event to promote MCC projects and advertise CC elections. Not all of these may be possible due to limitations on funding and time, but RU will liaise with ID and other MCC members to discuss details of this.
        • EACC
        • ID has submitted his name to continue to represent MCC on the EACC Members’ Advisory Board. EACC AGM will take place on the 28th of November.

        5. Licensing Report – Bridget Stevens, Licensing Lead

        There are currently 3 pending applications, but BS had no new licenses or complaints to report, explaining that she was no longer on the list to receive automatic updates. BS will seek to reestablish better communications with the Licensing Board.

        6. Planning Report – Mairianna Clyde, Planning Lead

        MC updated MCC members on the application for a flat on Yeaman Place (the former car parts shop). After several unsuccessful attempts to propose a two-story flat (that received objections due to obstruction of historic details of the bridge and building), an application for a one-story flat has been submitted, which is more likely to be accepted.

        MC also noted a piece of news that has relevance to planning, regarding a consultation that has been carried out in the space of a month about legislature making it easier to approve and begin energy projects. This is reportedly to be utilised to support greater use of clean energy. However, MC explained that nuclear energy is perceived as clean energy by some, but not by all, and the Scottish and UK governments often have opposing views in this. This could complicate the discussion around this, and MC felt that the 1 month notice for the consultation was too short.

        ID inquired about Dalton’s Scrapyard site, having recently noticed activity there after the scrapyard had closed. No members had any further information to add, it appears that the development is on hold at the moment because of uncertainty about funding.

        7.  Polwarth Project – Roma Menlowe

        In the past month, RM and VM have met with a CEC officer, and could now share with MCC members the various stages of the redevelopment as it moves forward:

        1. Currently, CEC are taking counts and conducting surveys to inform their designs.
        2. A public consultation will take place on these designs at some point in early 2025.
        3. There will be an independent road safety audit on the design.
        4. The design of the area will then be finalised.
        5. Physical delivery of the project.

        This is an outline of the plan, with RM emphasising that CEC are not looking to deliver this quickly, but instead to ensure they get the redesign right.

        VM updated members on the new Mailerlite subscription MCC has purchased, which is nearly up and running and will soon be able to be utilised for the Polwarth Project and other MCC initiatives. In light of the recent move of many social media users from X/twitter to BlueSky, VM proposed that an MCC account be set up on the platform. This was approved, with the X/Twitter account to be shut down if and when MCC and those followed/following are properly settled on BlueSky.

        8.  Local History Project – Frances Hawarden

        FH reported that the local history project is making good progress. She listed various ideas currently being explored as part of the history projects, including possible applications to Community Grant Funds and/or Old Edinburgh Club grant, and engagement with members of the community interested in particular topics in our local history, with a view to showcase some of these at the in-person event. JH recommended a resident who would be willing to share memories and will pass on his contact details to FH and RU.

        9. Leaf-Clearing Scheme – Joan Houston

        JH reported that the scheme has run very efficiently this year, with only the location for residents to collect bags to be reconsidered for next year. Helen has met with Craiglockhart CC, at their request, to explain the methodology of the MCC scheme; Craiglockhart and other community councils are looking to establish something similar. Cllr CC and ID praised the volunteers for the visible difference they create on the surrounding streets. ID said this and other MCC projects can be used as one of MCC’s “Good News Stories” for submission to CEC, asking VM to look into compiling information, including from the MCC Annual Report and BS’ recent Canalside article to create some “good news stories” to be included in this.

        10.  Trees Issues – Raphael Uddin

        The paper proposing a study on tree volume and change in the Merchiston and Greenhill Conservation Area was approved. ID recalled his discussion of this at EACC, noting that many community councils were unaware of the lack of protections in place and indeed many erroneously thought that trees are protected. However, MCC are not the only CC interested in this, with Stockbridge and Inverleith CC also expressing concerns. JM highlighted the need for replanting, reviewing valid reasons for felling and the population of native trees to be taken into account.

        11.  Treasurer’s Report – Frances Hawarden

        FH reported a healthy balance of around £4,229 (however, part of this is earmarked grant received for Polwarth Project).  ID reminded members that, in the CEC Community Councils review, more funding for CCs was requested but had been rejected by CEC, other than possible additional funds for IT equipment for hybrid meetings, which not everyone is supportive of moving to; hybrid meetings do not appear suitable for MCC because of lack of personnel. ID also mentioned that MCC’s annual running costs grant from CEC could possibly be reduced if there is no longer the cost of venue hire if MCC continues to meet online. However, this would need to be compared to subscription costs for hosting online meetings.

        12.  City Councillors’ Reports

        The most significant issue Cllr CC had dealt with in the past month was road safety around Craiglockhart Primary School, which has received a substantial increase in redirected traffic due to road works elsewhere. The school crossing guard/lollipop man, who had previously been positioned at traffic lights on Colinton Road, is now stationed closer to the school, which is much more efficient as he previously only stepped out onto the road when there was a green man anyway.

        VM asked if there were any updates on a review and recruitment of crossing guards that was announced in April, Cllr CC will look into this and report back to ID.

        The issue around hooded speed cameras, mentioned at a previous meeting, was raised, and Cllr CC said that he believes it’s a legal requirement to cover cameras if not in use, however he had also heard that it was the responsibility of the police and not CEC, unlike what MCC had heard previously, where Police stated that fixed speed cameras are owned by and operationally the responsibility of CEC – clarification of this will be necessary.

        13.  Other Reports & Correspondence

        There were no other reports or correspondence.

        14.  Any other business

        – JH mentioned the forthcoming resurfacing of South Ettrick Road. She explained that she hadn’t received notification of this, and parking will be restricted because of these works taking place. JH has written to express her concerns regarding the pavement quality in the hope this will also be addressed.

        – VK is looking for new locations to host/sponsor the Blister Pack recycling box, as the Eric Lidell Centre have declined to continue with it and to meet the ongoing cost. VK will approach Bruntsfield Pharmacy to see if they are interested, and urged members to come up with other suggestions, too.

        – The Chair pointed out a membership stipulation in the CEC Scheme for Community Councils, which governs membership & proceedings for all 46 CCs throughout Edinburgh.

        CEC Scheme states: “Para 8.1 Disqualification of membership is automatic under the following circumstances: 

         • Failure to attend any community council meeting, with or without submitting apologies, throughout a period of six months. 

         • Relocation which renders invalid the residency qualification for membership. 

          8.2 If absence is due to ill health or any other reasonable circumstance e.g. planned holidays, work shift patterns etc, a leave of absence not exceeding six months may be approved at the discretion of the community council” 

        The Chair stated that he was becoming concerned that several MCC members had not attended scheduled MCC meetings on numerous occasions. CEC Scheme is prescriptive that any community council member who has not attended CC meetings during a six-month period is automatically disqualified & demits their membership of the community council.

        It would appear that several MCC members were at risk of automatic disqualification from MCC membership. This issue should be reviewed again at next MCC scheduled meeting on 21st January.

        15.  Future Meetings:
        2025 – 21st Jan, 18th Feb, 18th Mar, 20th May, 17th June, 16th Sept, 21st Oct, 18th Nov

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