MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES and PAPERS of public meeting on 21 November 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. Present

Members

Tom Graveson (chair)
Jim Geekie (Secretary)
Guillaume Evrard (Minute Secretary)
Mairianna Clyde
Ian Doig
Ian Clement
Hugh Halcrow
Vivien Kitteringham
Ewan Klein
Bridget Stevens
Ted Tate
Helen Zealley

Elected representatives

Melanie Main, Cllr
Gavin Corbett, Cllr

Police officers

PC John Pennycook, Police Scotland, Fountainbridge area

Public

Margaret Mackenzie
Robert Leitch

Apologies

Frances Hawarden (Treasurer)
Daniel Cairns
Joan Houston
Robin Morris
David Key, Cllr
Andrew Johnston, Cllr
Ian Murray, MP

3. Police Reports

3.1 Merchiston area (Edinburgh South West)

Numerous operations and initiatives regarding housebreakings (Merchiston Avenue, Murdoch Terrace, Polwarth Gardens, Fowler Terrace, Dundee Terrace); high visibility patrols of the canal towpath

3.2 Merchiston area (Edinburgh South)

Nobody to report.

4. Minutes of the last meeting held on 17 October 2017 and matters arising not on the agenda

N/A

5. Canal Towpath – update

TG charged to organise a meeting with various organisations

Went on a survey walk with MC.

MCC to approach Scottish Canals to contribute to infrastructure changes

6. Parking

Shandon, consideration of changes going to stage 2 with CEC

7. Regular reports

Neighbourhood Partnerships / Localities

South West Neighbourhood Partnership (SWNP)

Confusion on forthcoming meetings and governance

South Central Neighbourhood Partnership (SCNP) / South East Locality

Confusion on forthcoming meetings and governance

Planning

JH’s message about Edinburgh Rugby

BMS’s about Ettrick Hotel: hotel has closed, planning application has been granted for building to be converted and extended into flats; the forthcoming development is considered to be out of character with all the other buildings in the street and very close to neighbouring properties. That CEC Planning would have granted such an application in a Conservation Area is at the very least surprising.

There are also concerns that tree preservation orders may be disregarded.

BMS will alert relevant individuals in CEC.

Licensing

Nothing to report.

Health

Bottle in a fridge is supported by Scottish Ambulance Service.

Treasurer

No significant changes since the last meeting.

Councillors – in advance and/or present

GC: Shandon parking situation progressing with CEC

Harrison Park clean up and bulb planting, Saturday 9 December 2017, 10h30-12noon

Caledonian railway park clean up early January

MM, present: collected evidence for right of way at Bank of Scotland

Food bank at Bruntsfield, at the top of Leamington Terrace, on Friday morning, there is a mailing list people can join, and there is a notice every Friday with what the food bank needs

Old Boroughmuir High School: CEC Finance Committee agreed to the sale to Cala Homes again, with a revised bid conditional on planning, with a reduced price

It’s a completely new planning process

Out of the Blue community group is also getting ready for a community bid

Community councillors – in advance and/or present

IC: drainage issue at Holy Corner is very significant; difficulty in identifying who is responsible between CEC and Scottish Water

8. Communication

N/A

9. Points raised by residents and members of the public

N/A

10. AOCB

ID, Merchiston and Polwarth Neighbourhood Watch is looking for new blood; send a message on website and social media

Ancre Somme Association, TG to buy 16 poppy seeds packets for £8

QT meeting event with CEC About budget consultation on 27 November

EK to go to EACC AGM as MCC rep