Welcome to Edinburgh's
Southside Community Council





Minutes of 49th Meeting, held in the Southside Community Education Centre, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday 12 October 2005, at 7.00 pm.

Abbreviations used as required:
ASCC = Association of Scottish Community Councils; CA = Cockburn Association; 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; E&CS = Environmental & Consumer Services; HMO = House(s) in Multiple Occupation; LA = Licence Application: 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; TRO = Traffic Regulation Order; and other initials = members of the SCC.

PRESENT - Chairperson: Jo Scott; Elected Members: Jan Fraser (Treasurer), Giulia Dawson, and Linda Hendry (Vice-Chairperson); Nominated Members: Colin Christison (Secretary), Mary Devine, Jean Downie, and Sandra McCormick; Co-opted Members: Robert Beaton, and Claire MacGregor (Tree Warden); City of Edinburgh Council: Cllr Robert Cairns, and Cllr Bill Cunningham; Lothian & Borders Police: PC Brendan Meehan; Lothian & Borders Fire & Rescue Service: Bruce Nisbet.

1. Welcome, and apologies for absence

Jo Scott welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Carol McHugh, Keith Smith, and Sarah Boyack MSP.

2. Community Safety Officer, Lothian & Borders Fire & Rescue Service

Jo Scott introduced Bruce Nisbet. He outlined his responsibilities as Community Safety Officer. These concentrated on fire prevention to reduce fatalities and casualties in domestic fires. The Service is in the process of installing free smoke alarms (the batteries of which last 10 years) to households in its area of coverage, with visits (funded by Community Safety Partnerships) by officers to inspect current fire safety arrangements, and to recommend improvements where required, including formulating action plans in the event of a fire. He said that 90% of fires are caused by cooking, smoking, and faulty electrics, and the other 10% are caused wilfully. The freephone number to have a home safety check, and to obtain a free smoke alarm is 0800 169 0320. After some questions from the floor, Jo and the members thanked Bruce for his attendance.

3. Police Report

Jo Scott welcomed PC Brendan Meehan, who was attending in place of PC Ben Merrick. He reported on various matters including the arrest of an individual thought to have been responsible for about 60 break-ins over a year, and his ‘apprentice’. He said that there had been 16 domestic burglaries over the weekend of 8-9 October, including 3 in the Southside. Some behavioural contracts (stepping stones to ASBOs) issued by the CEC were being broken by recidivist offenders. Initiatives to combat juvenile crime in Holyrood and Dumbiedykes were under way, as well as antisocial behaviour tactics. He said that home safety security checks can be made, and recommendations given. The dispersal order at Hunter Square had been extended by a further 3 months, and it was hoped to install permanent CCTV cameras there soon. There were questions from members on issues such as cycling on pavements, and motor cars going through red lights (in the St Leonard's area), and Cllr Cairns mentioned the fact that road signs, cones, and bollards were being removed from the area of roadworks around East Preston Street (and being thrown in the Scottish Widows’ pond), creating potential for car crashes and disruption.

Jo thanked Brendan for attending the meeting.

4. Minutes of Meeting of 14 September 2005

Approved; proposed by JF, and seconded by LH.

5. Matters arising

5.1 Item 9.7 - CC and JS had not been allocated places at the Civic Participation Event on Planning, but JS said that she had applied for a place as an observer.

5.2 Item 9.22 - JS had not received a letter (sent to her in September) on the Freedom of Information regarding licensing, and this was being sent again.

6. Secretary’s Report

6.1 CC said that some local groups and individuals had been successful in the CEC’s Keep Edinburgh Growing gardening competition 2005, including St Leonard's Nursery School, High School Yards, 60 South Clerk Street, Nicolson Square Methodist Church, and St Peter’s in Lutton Place.

6.2 He said that the second half yearly meeting of the Southside Community Network would take place on 18 October at the Square Centre Cafe, Nicolson Square Methodist Church, with the main subject being Affordable Housing. JS and some others thought that they would be able to attend.

6.3 He said that a series of free 2 hour sessions on disability awareness training were being run in conjunction with Tollcross Community Council until the end of October.

6.4 The next meeting of the South LDC Environmental Forum would be on 25 October at 7pm in the Southside Community Education Centre. CC and others would attend.

6.5 Next meeting of the Edinburgh Civic Forum - 13 October; JS/RB to attend.

6.6 He had received some user statistics for the website from Derek Christie.

Further information on any of the above is available from the Secretary

7. Treasurer’s Report

JF reported that the bank balance was £1214.

8. Correspondence

A number of advertising and promotional leaflets etc were circulated, and the following material -

8.1 TROs changing public parking bays to residents’ parking bays in various locations (Blackwood Cres, East Preston St, Parkside St, Parkside Terr, St Leonard’s Lane, and Salisbury Rd).

8.2 Advance notice of the proposal by the CEC to promote an order to prohibit double parking in Edinburgh.

8.3 The CEC’s Leader’s October report.

8.4 Copy letter from James Gilmour of East Parkside Proprietors’ Association to the Principal Warden of Pollock Halls regarding his concerns about the dangers of traffic cones etc being removed from the various roadworks in the area with most of them landing in the SWF pond (mentioned in the Police Report, above).

8.5 Copy e mail from Hilary McDowell of Newington Residents’ Association detailing a walkabout with a CEC Officer, examining pavements etc in the south of the area.

8.6 Letter from the Central LDC Community Grants Fund acknowledging the report and receipts submitted by the SCC in respect of the planters in Pleasance ‘triangle’

8.7 Information on the grants (up to £5000) for recycling waste initiatives.

Further information on any of the above is available from the Secretary

9. Planning & Licensing Committee Report

P = Planning matter, L = Licensing matter

9.1P Telecoms PA for monopole etc at corner of Gilmour St/Pleasance, previously refused by Planning Dept, and the subject of an appeal to the SE; appeal dismissed by Reporter.

9.2P Objection lodged for telecoms monopole etc outside the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

9.3P Letter sent to Planning Dept welcoming South Bridge-Nicolson Square street improvements, expressing the hope that funds would soon be found to restore the coping and replace the railings on all sides of the square, not just the front. Comments were acknowledged, followed by an e-mail saying that all side of the Square would be repaired.

9.4P 50-54 South Clerk Street. Refused PA subject to appeal to the SE; appeal dismissed.

9.5L JD raised the matter of premises at 58 Newington Road applying for a hot food takeaway licence; JS would investigate.

9.6 10 HMO licence applications had been received in the period.

10. Environmental Issues, including Tree Warden’s Report

10.1 CMacG reported on various matters including tree seed gathering Sunday, concerns about the birches outside the Royal Commonwealth Pool, the removal of a dead cherry tree from the small park at West Richmond Street, and the expected removal of a storm damaged elm at St Patrick Square. Other matters were discussed.

10.2 CC had written to City Development regarding concerns about increased traffic flow in Bernard Terrace once the traffic calming measures are completed in nearby streets, especially with the imminent reopening of the Nelson Hall, which would be used partly by an out-of-school-hours group.

11. Reports from Meetings Attended:-

11.1 Southside Association (4 October)

Attended by CC, MD, JS, and SMcC who reported a normal business meeting had taken place, with a Police report, and some discussion about the Association’s archives, and how best to preserve these. It was decided to appoint Mrs Maggie Wilson as Honorary President of the Association.

11.2 Southside Community Education Centre Management Committee (11 October)

Attended by CC, who gave an update on the progress of the Nelson Hall refurbishment (delayed), and new staffing arrangements. It was hoped to hold taster events there in December. The unsatisfactory quality of the cleaning of the Centre was being addressed. The future development of both venues was under discussion.

11.3 Southside & Old Town Community Safety Forum 20 (September)

Attended by CC, JF, JS, and MD who reported that an excellent presentation on drugs awareness in schools had been made by 2 police officers. Next meeting is on 15 November, in the Community Centre, and all are welcome.

11.4 South Edinburgh LDC (26 September)

Held at St Peter’s Primary School, Falcon Gardens, and attended by CC, and JS, who reported that various environmental and recreational matters had been discussed as well as community grants.

11.5 Edinburgh Partnership (28 September)

Held in the Business Centre, City Chambers, and attended by CC, and LH, who reported that there was a poor turnout from Community Councils. The evolving Edinburgh Partnership has a complex remit, and once various boundary changes are agreed, and the future role of LDCs or LCPPs is determined, progress should be made. 2 CC members from each LDC area, making a total of 12, are entitled to attend EP conferences, which are held from time to time, on a variety of subjects. Communities of place, and communities of interest, feature in the plans.

11.6 Canongate Youth Project (26 September)

Held on and attended by LH who reported that 36 young people were currently being trained, and 4 were in placement. The annual report would be available in November, and a new training programme for volunteers would start then. She had asked if any youth members would consider attending SCC meetings, and it was clear that anyone who attended would prefer to be accompanied by an associate.

12. Any other Competent Business

12.1 Cllr Cairns said that school rolls were expected to fall by about 25% over the next 10 years in the city, and that since funding for education from the SE was based on these rolls, the Council would be examining ways of adjusting to the proportional decrease in funding. Schools will not necessarily be in the areas where the people are, and although new schools will be built in areas such as the Waterfront, there would be inevitable closures and adjustments of catchment areas.

12.2 JD raised the question of mature trees in communal gardens, and CMacG said that she would have a word with the CEC’s tree officer, Mr Hinshelwood.

12.3 The HMO Partnership meeting is on 24 October - JS will attend.

12.4 JS said that the next public meeting of the Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links would be held at St Catherine’s Convent on 24 October. The following meeting will be at the Greek Orthodox Church on 27 February 2006.

12.5 The annual jointly arranged Christmas Lights Ceremony and Party will be on Tuesday 6 December, at 6 pm. CC said that a group consisting of the Southside Association’s committee, and representatives from the Community Council, and the Community Centre, would meet to discuss arrangements on 19 October.

13. Open Forum

None.

14. Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday 9 November 2005, at 7 pm.