Welcome to Edinburgh's
Southside Community Council




Minutes of 66th meeting, held on Wednesday 9 May 2007, from 7.30pm until 9pm, in the Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh

Abbreviations used:
ASCC = Association of Scottish Community Councils; CEC = The City of Edinburgh Council; CYP = Canongate Youth Project; DEG = Dumbiedykes Environmental Group; EACC = Edinburgh Association of Community Councils; HMO = House(s) in Multiple Occupation; LA = Licence Application; L&BP = Lothian & Borders Police; LHC = Late Hours Catering; MMW = Multi-member ward; NP = Neighbourhood Partnership; PA = Planning Application; SCC = Southside Community Council; SE = Scottish Executive; SP = Scottish Parliament; UoE = University of Edinburgh; and other initials = members of the SCC.


PRESENT: Chairperson: Robert Beaton {RB}; Elected Members: Colin Christison (Secretary) {CC}, Linda Hendry (Vice Chairperson) {LH}, Robert Hodgart {RH}, Hilary McDowell (Environmental Spokesperson) {HM}, Jo Scott (Planning & Licensing Convenor) {JS}, and Justine Stansfield (Treasurer) {JSt}; Local Interest Groups’ Nominated Members: Margaret Bagan {MB}, Idris Bozyil {IB}, Mary Devine {MD}, and Liz Mulligan {LM}; Co-opted Members: Jean Downie {JD}, and Carol McHugh {CM}; City of Edinburgh Council: Cllr Cameron Rose; Lothian & Borders Police: Inspector Tom Galbraith; Edinburgh Leisure: Malcolm Jefferson and Gordon Forsyth; Members of the public: Three.

Robert Beaton welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Kathleen Newis, George Pitcher, Liz Walker, Keith Smith {KS}, Sarah Boyack MSP, and PC Ben Merrick.

1. Presentation by Malcolm Jefferson, from Edinburgh Leisure

Robert introduced Malcolm Jefferson, and the manager of the Crags Sports Centre, Gordon Forsyth. They discussed their report on the local perceptions of the Crags Sports Centre, following their survey towards the end of 2006. Much useful information had been gathered from this survey, copies of which are available from the Secretary. There is a perception that the Centre is for the use of youths and younger people, and it was stressed that various activities are now in place for older adults. Many of the issues, such as the tidiness of the surrounding area, parking, and so on, have been addressed since the survey, but proper external lighting is still required, and the SCC agreed to write to the Council in an effort to hurry things along. Sgt Galbraith said that the police would support improved lighting. RB would represent the SCC at the inaugural meeting of the advisory board on 14 May. Gordon said that he and his staff had been keeping the adjoining play park tidy, by removing rubbish, broken glass, and fallen timber, and he hoped for reciprocal action by the Council’s environmental dept. Members thanked Malcolm and Gordon for attending the meeting.

2. Police Report

Inspector Galbraith discussed the Force’s role in the new Neighbourhood Partnerships which are being established throughout the city. Regarding local issues he said that there had been an upsurge in housebreaking, mentioning that Yale locks were easy to force, and that mortise locks should also be used for extra security. Four Community Beat Officers were working the area.

3. Minutes of meeting of 11 April 2007, and matters arising

Approved; proposed by JS, and seconded by MB. Item 10.4 – it was reported that the street lights in Rankeillor Street had been repaired.

4. Secretary’s Report

4.1 The CEC’s local transport strategy for 2007-2012 is available on the transport section of www.edinburgh.gov.uk.

4.2 Liberton Community Council had invited other local Community Councils to attend their meeting on 15 May, at which there would be a guest speaker from Lothian Region Transport.

4.3 CC said that Angus Currie, Director of the UoE’s Estates and Buildings Dept, would attend the SCC meeting on 13 June.

4.4 The CEC’s draft Private Housing Strategy for 2007-2017 had been received; comments required by early July.

4.5 The ASCC’s website had been relaunched – www.ascc.org.uk.

4.6 CC said that it had been reported that the rear access doors of the former Odeon Cinema in Buccleuch Street had been left open; the Council had investigated this report and were satisfied that the premises were secure after all. However, in the past few days it was reported that these doors were again open, as was one of the doors leading to the balcony on Clerk Street. General concern was expressed about the future of the premises, and it was agreed to write to the City Council about this and the security of the premises, as well as to telephone Duddingston House Properties to report the open doors.

5. Treasurer’s Report

JSt said that the bank balance at 19 April was £6,451.08. The sum of £5,000 had been paid into the SCC’s account in error, and this had been returned to the Council, so the true figure was £1,451.08.

6. Correspondence

The following items were circulated: Keep Edinburgh Growing Garden Competition 2007 Entry Form, invitation to attend the BAA Edinburgh Airport Youth Games 2007 on 17 May, centrepiece May issue, Tenants’ Voice Issue 64, Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links Newsletter, Working Capital Issue 13, Edinburgh Tenants’ Federation invitation to a meeting on tenant led inspections (7pm, 30 May, South Side Community Centre), Notice of Cockburn Association’s AGM (7pm, 6 June, Scottish Storytelling Centre), and the NHS outcome of Public Consultation.

7. Planning & Licensing Committee Report

Planning

7.1 Objection lodged for PA to create 4th bedroom by subdividing lounge at 1 (2F) Lutton Place. (07/01187/LBC) 7.2 PA from 2005 to install roller shutters at 29-35 St Leonard’s Street withdrawn. (05/0339/FUL) 7.3 The Planning Committee would examine plans to demolish warden’s house and build student residences containing 149 rooms and two wardens’ flats at Pollock Halls of Residence, 18 Holyrood Park Road. (07/01423/FUL)

Licensing

7.4 A letter in support of Chris Wigglesworth’s application to become a member of the new Licensing Forum had been sent to the Council Solicitor.

7.5 Four HMO LAs had been received since the last meeting.

8. Environmental Matters

8.1 CC and HM had taken part in an environmental walkabout on the Nicolson Street-Salisbury Road corridor, on both sides, with Cllr Cairns and three CEC officials on 19 April, during which around 60 defects were noted. These included damaged or missing bollards, broken or loose paving slabs, defective street lights, missing or damaged litter bins, damaged chamber covers, redundant signage poles, and street clutter. A list was distributed to those present. It was hoped to have similar walks on other local streets.

8.2 The local tree warden, Claire Macgregor, had sent a note to say that a new lime tree (Tilia Candila) had been planted in the gardens at St Patrick Square. She had also sent details about the Forest Schools Project, which is designed to help schoolchildren understand environmental issues.

8.3 Information had come from the Southside Association that the owners of the premises at 86 Nicolson Street had been instructed by the CEC to repaint the shop frontage with a colour more in keeping with the character and appearance of the Southside Conservation area. Failure to repaint would mean an enforcement notice, and the Council would carry out the work and invoice the business.

8.4 HM mentioned the following matters: railings at the foot of Brown Street are rusted through and require removal, work to install replacement gas pipes on West Nicolson Street is taking far longer than the original five weeks, some of the new trees around the Magnet play area are leaning over, and need to have metal guards (tree warden to be asked for help), and many of the street lights had been repaired. She thought that the Gardens Open Days Scheme was a great community event, and the private garden at 60 South Clerk Street had over 500 visitors.

8.5 HM went on to say that she had previously expressed concern at a South Edinburgh Local Development Committee meeting about the state of the grounds around the Crags Sports Centre, including the spread of tall dock (Rumex Obtusifolius) plants. She said that the written response was “…the dockland area is owned by Forth Ports plc and not maintained Edinburgh City Council…….contact the Forth Ports HQ at Leith Docks”. This caused considerable amusement amongst those present.

9. Reports from Meetings attended

9.1 Southside Association (1 May) Attended by MB, RB, CC, MD, and KS. Professor Mike Fourman, from the UoE’s School of Informatics, and Angus Currie, Director of Estates and Buildings, had provided an illustrated update on new buildings and proposals for improvements to existing building stock in the Southside area.


9.2 Braidwood Centre Management Committee (1 May) Attended by JS, who reported that things seemed to be running smoothly. It is hoped to build a regular customer base for the café. The premises have not yet been adopted by Children and Families Dept from the Housing Dept.

9.3 South Side Community Education Centre Management Committee (8 May) Attended by MB, CC, MD, CM, JS, KS, and JSt. Routine matters had been discussed and an update given on the various 20th anniversary events.

9.4 Neighbourhood Partnership Reference Group (23 April) Attended by CC, JS, and Insp Galbraith. This was an introductory meeting to determine procedures etc. The date of the next meeting will be notified in due course.

9.5 Community Council Joint Meeting (25 April) Attended by RB, CC, LH, and JS. Introduction by Cllr Ewan Aitken. Major presentation and discussion about the role of Neighbourhood Partnerships.

10. Any other business

10.1 RH gave an update on the Causey Project, which would take place at the west end of West Crosscauseway from 26-28 May. The traffic island there would be converted to a tropical island, using 50 square metres of turf, and there would be numerous effects and activities to appeal to families, and he gave full details. After a proposal by LH, which was seconded by JS, the SCC agreed to contribute £50 towards the event.

10.2 Newly elected Councillor Cameron Rose, one of the four new members for the new Ward 15 (Southside/Newington) said that he was pleased to attend the meeting, and looked forward to liaising with the SCC in the future.

10.3 MD reminded members of the South Side and Old Town Crime Prevention Panel’s AGM on 15 May, which would be preceded by an opportunity to see how the mobile cctv van operates.

10.4 JD said that she had attended her first meeting as a member of the pharmacy planning committee (NHS Lothian), and she had found the work, which included site visits to existing and proposed new pharmacies in West Lothian, to be informative and interesting.

10.5 LM said that she was concerned that there was still much remedial work to be done on the common stairs at Dumbiedykes.

11. Open Forum

11.1 Caroline Barr expressed concern about the number of undropped pavements, suitable for wheelchair users, in the area. She had counted 27 examples between St Leonard’s Street and Newington Library. 11.2 She also was disappointed to learn that the Holyrood Information Computer Technology Centre had closed due to lack of funding.

11.3 John Sharp wondered if the resurfacing of the tennis courts at East Meadow Park had ground to a halt.

12. Date of next Ordinary Meeting

Wednesday 13 June, from 7pm until 9pm, in the Gray Room, Nelson Hall.