MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES and PAPERS of public meeting on 20 June 2017 at Merchiston Tennis and Bowling Club

CC: Community Council
CEC: City of Edinburgh Council
EACC: Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
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

Nick Cook, Cllr
Gavin Corbett Cllr
Jim Geekie
Hugh Halcrow
Joan Houston
Daniel Johnston MP
David Key, Cllr
Ian Murray MP
Ted Tate

Present

Tom Graveson (chair)
Frances Hawarden (Treasurer)
Guillaume Evrard (Minute Secretary)
Daniel Cairns
Ian Clement
Mairianna Clyde
Ian Doig
Vivien Kitteringham
Robin Morris
Bridget Stevens
Helen Zealley

Iain McKinnon, resident
Simon Metcalfe, North Merchiston Residents Association (NMRA)
Kenneth Redpath, North Merchiston Residents Association
Jenny Wilson, resident
PC Simon Wotton, Police Scotland (Ward 9 Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart)

3. Police reports

PC Simon Wotton (Ward 9 Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart)

Numerous operations and initiatives against house breakings, high visibility patrols of the canal path and regarding youth antisocial behaviour.

One can report ‘dangerous or erratic driving’ over the phone, especially with the car number.

4. Minutes of the last meeting on 16 May 2017 – accuracy and adoption

5. Matters arising not on the agenda

None

6. Recent public events

Thanks to MCC members who helped with these events. Members who did not help missed out on meeting other members of MCC and members of the public.

Meadows Festival: donation of £100 agreed
Canal Festival: donation of £100 agreed

Only need to clarify the addressees of these donations.

NMRA asks for advice on organising a street party in North Merchiston. Best port of call is CEC. Fountainbridge Green belongs to CEC.

7. Areas of Responsibility – Regular reports

Neighbourhood Partnerships

NP have been suspended considering the recent local elections, and the installation of the new localities. So there is a question mark on the seven NPs.

It is important that the business that has been dealt with by NPs so far is not abandoned and taken up by the new localities.

Grant commitments agreed by NPs to local organisations will be honoured.

RM has agreed to carry on his MCC representation on EACC.

Planning

Meeting about Boroughmuir High School with Cala Homes, Malcolm Fraser.

Cala Homes have appealed the planning refusal. So, the planning application is with the Scottish reporter, who will examine the grounds for refusal, which are likely to be sound.

Cala Homes bid £13.9M and will cancel their purchase if the planning application refusal is confirmed. Out of the Blue originally offered £16M.

Lower Gilmore Place: PAN with mix of ownership and tenure, and with some businesses like the Parenting Centre.

Licensing

BMS: Meeting of the Licensing Forum on 20 June 2017; discussion about how many community reps should be on the forum, alongside the licensed trade?

Alcohol Focus Scotland prepared a strategic document; a publican proposed that new pub licensees should have to have a defibrillator in all new pub. Training staff is also essential so that the defibrillator is properly used. Training could be added to take the personal license exam.

Health

HZ: Aislie Ainstley is 42 acres for 81 patients.

Alongside the Health Board, Scottish Futures Forum to take on board what people would like to see happening once the NHS has vacated the site. Developers will then be invited to bid to these specifications like a masterplan.

There are various rights of way that are being preserved and enforced into the conversion of the site after the NHS.

Treasurer

FH proposed that a new signatory be added to the current signatories (BMS and RM) for the MCC business account.

TG will submit an application to the Bank of Scotland in order to register as third signatory for MCC payments by cheque.

Councillors – in advance and/or present

Gavin Corbett (in advance report)

8. Points raised by residents and members of the public

NMRA: Ongoing row over CEC libraries funding. Fountainbridge Library is part of CEC libraries. NMRA has organised a petition on that matter.

9. AOCB

ID: the MCC members contact details list needs updated.

VK: on the idea to set up a picnic to increase the visibility of and presence MCC, some bunting and a banner; there is need for liability insurance

FH to check MCC’s insurance policy.

Urban gulls: city-wide urban gull de-nesting group