Welcome to Edinburgh's
Southside Community Council






Minutes of 42nd Meeting, held in the Southside Community Education Centre, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday 12 January 2005, at 7 pm.

Abbreviations used as required:
ASCC = Association of Scottish Community Councils; CEC = The City of Edinburgh Council; CLG = Community Liaison Group; CPOL = Council Papers on line; CYP = Canongate Youth Project; EACC = Edinburgh Association of Community Councils; HMO = House(s) in Multiple Occupation; LCPP = Local Community Planning Partnership; LDC = Local Development Committee; LEEP = Lothian & Edinburgh Environmental Partnership; LHC = Late Hours Catering; PA = Planning Application; SCC = Southside Community Council; SE = Scottish Executive; SP = Scottish Parliament; tie = Transport Initiatives Edinburgh; and other initials = members of the SCC.

PRESENT

Chairperson: Jo Scott; Elected Members: Derek Christie (Treasurer), Giulia Dawson, Jan Fraser, Linda Hendry (Vice Chairperson), and Carol McHugh; Nominated Members: Colin Christison (Secretary), Mary Devine, Jean Downie, and Robert Hodgart; Co-opted Member: Keith Smith; and 3 Members of the Public.

1. Welcome, and apologies for absence

Jo Scott welcomed those present to the meeting, and wished them a Happy New Year. Apologies for absence were received from Andrew Purves, Claire MacGregor, Cllr Cairns, Cllr Cunningham, and Sarah Boyack MSP. Jo said that although Andrew Purves found it difficult to attend meetings now, he was very happy to continue as a member of the Planning & Licensing committee.

2. Police Report

None.

3. Minutes of Meeting held on 8 December 2004 and matters arising

Approved - proposed by JF, and seconded by MD.

Item 8.4 (CD Rom on Biodiversity) - LH said that it was difficult to navigate round the CD Rom, and she would prefer printed material (see Item 6.10, below)

4. Secretary’s Report

4.1 CC said that David McDonald, the Director of the Cockburn Association, would attend the SCC meeting on 9 February, to talk about his organisation’s work.

4.2 He said that he would write to the appropriate Police Officer to arrange a suitable date for a visit by members to the Force Communications Centre at Bilston.

4.3 He circulated copies of the new central Edinburgh Traffic Management Scheme arrangements.

4.4. He said that he had received a copy of the revised Licensing of HMOs booklet, and having ascertained that members would like a copy, said that he would obtain more from the CEC.

4.5 He circulated a copy of the Edinburgh Joint Health Improvement Plan.

5. Treasurer’s Report

DC reported that the bank balance stood at £841.84. Recent expenditure was mainly for the 4 postcards advertising the SCC.

6. Correspondence

6.1 Copies of the December issue of the Lothian & Borders Police December 2004 Newsletter were distributed to those members who had not received it by e-mail.

6.2 A copy e-mail from Hilary McDowell (Chairperson of the Newington Residents’ Association), written to City Councillors and MSPs, with suggestions on how to improve HMO Licensing procedures was circulated. The NRA is happy to have this circulated as widely as possible.

6.3 Revised controlled parking arrangements for some local areas were circulated. (DC said that he had received notification about 2 temporary taxi ranks to be situated in Pleasance, outside the theatre complex, during August, for fringe-goers. This was felt to be a positive step).

6.4 Letter from Scottish Water on Infrastructure Maintenance was circulated.

6.5 December issue of the CEC’s Live Issues circulated.

6.6 CEC’s litter plan, a new brochure outlining aims to improve the overall standard of cleanliness in Edinburgh by 2006 was circulated.

6.7 E mail on congestion charging from Blackhall Community Association and other groups. The CEC extract of questions and answers from the Congestion Charging Public Enquiry was circulated.

6.8 Edinburgh City Centre Management Company newsletter circulated.

6.9 Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan - DC and LH to study.

6.10 Christmas Greetings cards from various people and organisations.

6.11 Warmburgh Information leaflet was circulated.

6.12 Information on the Keep Edinburgh Clean Awards. It was agreed to obtain copies and ask shopkeepers (in South Clerk Street, from East & West Preston Street to Hope Park Terrace) to consider entering the competition, which had Standard, Silver, and Gold award categories.

6.13 A seminar on health matters is to be held at the Orwell Lodge Hotel on 23 February. More info from JS.

7. Planning & Licensing Committee Report

CC reported on the following:-

7.1 Application for change of use from shop to restaurant at 107 Newington Road, to which the SCC had objected, had been granted.

7.2 An objection had been lodged for a PA for change of use from shops to bar/restaurant at 10 Forrest Road.

7.3 Acknowledgement had been received to previous objection for LHC licence application at 11 Forrest Road.

7.4 The SE had sent a copy of their recently published analysis of consultation responses for Rights of Appeal in Planning.

7.5 Members of the planning committee were asked to observe the materials used on the wall to the side of the PDSA shop at 85 Nicolson Street, and to consider a possible representation.

8. Environmental Issues

8.1 Winter 2004 edition of LEEP recycling news circulated.

8.2 Concern was expressed about the number of large black wheelie bins which were not properly fixed to stanchions, or had their wheels left unlocked, so that they became dangerous to motorists and pedestrians, particularly during spells of high winds. It was also considered that some bins were only emptied when they were more than half-full, otherwise they were left until the next collection day. See also Item 12, below. JF said that Midlothian Council issued annual permits for their black wheelie bins, and she said she would get more information. CC to write to Environmental Services to point out the problems with unfixed bins.

8.3 CC said that the next South LDC Environmental Forum meeting would take place on 20 January at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

9. Reports from Meetings Attended

a) Southside Community Education Centre Management Committee

Held on 11.1.05, and attended by CC, CMcH, and KS, who gave a brief report. The centre had been slightly quieter in December. There were new dance workshops starting for youngsters, and he was looking for ideas to fill an empty slot on Monday evenings. There was no news about progress with the Nelson Hall, other than that tenders were being scrutinised. He described forthcoming changes to the CEC’s structure, which would see the new Children & Families Department replace the Education and Social Work Departments, and said that it was not clear how the new set-up, with reference to geographical considerations, would affect the centre. The committee had agreed with the proposal that a day’s takings from the centre bookings and the cafe be donated to an educational project in a part of the world affected by the recent tsunami.

b) Joint Community Councils Meeting

Held in the City Chambers on 15 December on the subject of Community Planning, and attended by LH. A number of lengthy and irrelevant questions were asked, and some of the business was not completed.

c) Licensing Forum

Held on 10.1.05, and attended by JS, who circulated relevant papers. There had been discussions about irresponsible drinks promotions, an update on disability equality training for door stewards, and permitted opening hours extensions, particularly 6 am opening times. JS said that Edinburgh is well ahead in the consultation field, as other areas in Scotland do not have similar groups. She sends copies of the minutes to Tollcross and Canongate CCs.

10. Our Southside Exhibition

The exhibition of photographs by Derek Christie on aspects of the Southside natural and built environment was opened by Cllr Cairns on Thursday 6 January, and there was a reasonable turnout of guests, despite the bad weather. The exhibition was very favourably received, and runs until 28 January. Packs of 4 postcards are available for £1.50. It is hoped that it might be possible to hold the exhibition in the Southside Community Education Centre at a later date.

11. Any other Competent Business

DC and KS thought that perhaps a ‘virtual’ tour of the area as described in the Southside Heritage Group’s new illustrated map of the area could be added to the SCC’s website.

12. Open Forum

A member of the public raised the subject of containerisation. He said that some commercial wheelie bins were being kept on pavements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the South Clerk Street/Newington Road area, and that some shopkeepers were ignoring rules that the bins be kept indoors. He wondered if the SCC could obtain information on any enforcement action, including the issuing of fixed penalty notices and referrals to the Procurator Fiscal, which was being taken by the CEC. He felt that he was receiving contradictory information from CEC staff. He also considered that bin men could be careless in replacing bins on anchors, and that they sometimes placed two bins face to face, making it difficult for people to use them properly. Sometimes it was difficult for people to get off buses because of the situation of certain commercial bins.

The same member of the public complained about the untidiness of the shop called Chariot Express in South Clerk Street, and about the clutter on the pavement, and the fact that bicycles for sale are bring attached to the bollards on the pavement. It was acknowledged that there were ongoing problems with this particular shop. There is also an abandoned child’s bicycle on Lutton Place.

Another member of the public asked for information on local residents’ groups, with reference to HMO Licensing, and CC said that he would obtain this for him.

Another member of the public referred to the pedestrian lights being out of action from time to time at Surgeons’ Hall.

13. Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday 9 February 2005, at 7 pm, same venue.