SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting on Monday April 8th 2019, 6:45pm
The Gray Room, Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh
Present: Joan Carter (JC), Liz Logie (LL), Tim Pogson (TP, Chair), Philip McDowell (PM), Bob Hodgart (BH), Svetlana Rapanova
Also Present: Stuart Tooley (University of Edinburgh), 3 Public members
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Welcome:
A warm welcome note by TP and apologies conveyed on behalf of Nick Oddy.
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Amendments to Previous MoM:
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Point 8: 20 objections are required for householder applications to be referred to Planning Committee
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Summerhall Issue: Need to organise the meeting with the community representatives, but no response received so far with respect to the contact
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Adult education fees: 2 councillors raised the issue, Proposed fees for those on lowest incomes were not introduced
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Councillor’s Report: Not available, councillor not present in the meeting.
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Nextdoor Southside Introduction
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Lyn Blackhall spoke about Non-profit website, Nextdoor Southside
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Talked about promotion of help and benefits of it to the society
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Explained about the website and basic workflows on the website
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Awareness about recommendations given in various groups
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Query raised by Tim- If it could be used as place for posting community issue? Possibly, but not a place for political issues.
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Lyn confirmed No advertisement marketing on the website
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Questions raised by Bob regarding posting of planning issues on the website to get feedback
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Probably more appropriate for individuals rather than community council
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Report from Chair: None. Items covered elsewhere on agenda.
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Report from Treasurer
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Last transaction for minute secretary salary: £90 (2 months)
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Insurance policy renewal on 10th May 2019. Premium for next 12 months: £70.87
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Any requirement of funds or new ideas, Svetlana should be updated for future vision expenses
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Various suggestions from the team, Philip suggested newsletter, Liz suggested Wi-fi facility in the meeting hall (not a CC responsibility), David suggested colourful posters. Should be able to be met from existing budget.
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Meetings Attended: 2 meetings attended
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Joint meeting of Newington/ Southside and Morningside Sub Committee and South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting attended by Joan
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Very first meeting, 3 agenda items were discussed
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Funding to Traditional music and song association (TMSA)
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Public Issues: None raised
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Communications Report
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Nicolson square bus shelter issue was brought up by Philip.
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Notices were put up near bus stop and 80 votes received
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Voting suggested no shelter required
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Suggestion to remove telephone box and place the shelter at Nicolson Square to allow for more space
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Long gap between bus stops at St. Patrick Square
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Phone box at Nicolson Square used primarily for advertisement
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Suggestion by David: Council could get rid off telephone boxes and replace them strategically.
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Official Graffiti clean-up day not organised yet
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Stuart mentioned about a litter pick up work being organised by a university student on Friday (26th April) at Pleasance from 1 PM onwards. Different places were suggested for the clean-up for e.g. Meadows, Crags (Bike park), down to Holyrood Road, Brown Street, Drummond Street etc
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Public and school groups can be part of it
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Collaborate with the student to organise 1 or 2 clean ups a month - Idea suggested by Joan
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A policy can be implemented (one day per year) for cleaning day- Suggestion by Stuart
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Meadows Meetings- Attended by Joan
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Held every two months
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Agenda focus is Planning projects and proper spending of money, commenting on meadows activities
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In last meeting: Tree planting fund was discussed, will work with City tree teams on it
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Basketball in Meadows proposal was discussed
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Council considering strategic use of park
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Concerns raised regarding lot of money being spent on management and commercialisation
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Tree could be restored from Princes Street Scottish National Gallery fund —Suggestion by Liz
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FoMBL promotion can be done on notice boards, online website, library etc
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Feedback Report- Astley Ainslie (Bob)
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NHS to move out and the land can be preserved for park and wild life
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Similarly to Bridgend Farmhouse - Local community facilities had been discussed
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The future is very exciting and ambitious. See Astley Ainslie Community Trust website
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Licensing Applications
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Superpub ‘Wetherspoons’ opposite to Nicolson Square
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No planning objection made but licensing application has now come
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No details mentioned in the application
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Concerns were raised regarding noise during late night and in residential area
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Closing time of 11PM was agreed
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Content of license application was discussed
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Scheme of Community Councils
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Auditing proposals modified by Philip. Tim will attach the draft made by Philip
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Community council direct voice with planning- Suggestion by Tim
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Support of admin responsibilities of different community councils throughout City - Suggestion by Bob
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Supporting election advertisements- Publications, notice boards
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Any Other Business
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Promotion of clean up event at Nicolson Square, 20th April 10 AM to 3 PM by The Friends of Nicolson Square
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Causey Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30th April, 7PM.
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Cowan’s Close Depot- Liz will be pursuing
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Agreed to invite Erica Manfroi from waste management team to present Albert Street prototype report - Idea suggested by Joan. Invite people from other relevant community councils.
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Dumbiedykes dropped kerb issue not being progressed. Joan will be following up with councillors
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Citizen Network: Developing a manifesto on city’s future. Bob discussed how city is changing and concerns about various aspects of city’s future.
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Tim had emailed Cockburn Assoc. but no response received. Will follow up
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Plastic bags discontinued in Oxfam charity shop
Next Meeting: 13th May 2019. Will check if AGM required, as elections will be held in autumn