Community Council
Minutes of Marchmont &
Sciennes Community Council
Meeting of Wed 26th
May 2021, 7.30pm by Jitsi Meet.
Present: Brian Gilmore (Chair, MSCC), Elinor O’Donovan (Minute Secretary),
Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Christopher Cowdy (Member of public),
Cllr Cameron Rose, Cllr Neil Ross, Tony Holmes (Thirlestane Lane Association),
Adam Stewart (MSCC), Alison Service (MSCC), Shane Voss (MSCC).
Apologies: Susie Agnew (MSCC), Anne Laing (MSCC), Barry
Mercer (Police Representative).
Although Cllr. Ross joined the meeting, he had technical problems
and was unable to participate.
Matters Arising:
Minutes have been circulated; approved
by Alison and seconded by Nigel.
Shane wrote to Newington Safe Routes to
tell them we had given them a general vote of approval, and that they could
share this on their website.
Police Report:
None.
Meadows and Bruntsfield Links:.
FOMBL Report:
Alison has circulated the report, which includes the following key
points:
·
There is a new seesaw by
the tennis courts on the Meadows, and a trampoline by the Links playground.
FOMBL are working to establish a new playground for toddlers on the south Links
area by Whitehouse Loan.
·
The table tennis table
mentioned in the last meeting is going ahead.
·
The Jawbones will be
erected later in the year.
Toilets:
Alison has been liaising with Cllr Melanie Main and the members of
the public who attended the last meeting. They attended the Transport &
Environment Committee Meeting where it was agreed that three units of toilets
will be placed around the Meadows. These units are in the style of prefabs and
can contain several toilets each. Melanie is in direct contact with the members
of the public who attended the last meeting to discuss where the toilet units
should be placed around the Meadows. These toilets will be for the duration of
the summer.
As Covid-19 restrictions ease, the opening hours of the existing
public toilets on the Meadows is likelyto be extended. Cllr Rose hopes that
before long the existing hygiene measures in place will be alleviated.
Pavilion Community Hub: There is an opportunity
to turn the Pavilion on the Meadows into a community hub. Cllr Rose interested
in hearing people’s thoughts for the future of the Pavilion.
The Facebook page for the Pavilion is: https://www.facebook.com/PavilionCafeEdinburgh/
Underbelly Circus Planning Application:
A planning application has been submitted by Underbelly to erect a
large circus tent at its usual location on the Meadows for the festival period,
over a period of 33 days including set-up and take-down. This has drawn some
discussion from local residents – some believe that it isn’t right for part of
the community’s green space to be sacrificed to a private company, others
(including FOMBL) are happy for the Underbelly Circus tent to go ahead as
usual, as it generates some income which is put back into community groups like
FOMBL.
Nigel believes that the reason this is drawing attention this year
is because it is the first time Underbelly have submitted a planning
application for the festival, following the controversy following recent
recognition that the Christmas Markets in Princes St Gardens have been
constructed without planning permission for many years and that large temporary
structures require planning permission, even if the structure is otherwise
commissioned or sanctioned by the Council.
As long as their planning application is only temporary for the
period of the festival, MSCC is happy to support their application. However, it
might help if the fact that money does return to the community is greater
publicised to concerned residents.
City Councillor Report on topical local issues:
Spaces for People:
Cllr Rose: There has been a consultation on Spaces for People
which is being assessed, and a report will come back to the Transport &
Environment committee on 19th June. A review of all present schemes
will be undertaken then.
Sick Kids Hospital Site
The specified date for the handover is confirmed as the first week
of June.
Planning permission was given to Downing to remove the buildings
which link the mortuary chapel to the main site.
Astley Ainslie.
None.
Planning applications
Marchmont Road:
The premises of the former sofa shop on Marchmont Rd are now
Alpine Bikes. A planning application has been submitted for new large backlit
signs and totems on the front area, and the illumination of these signs may be
a concern. Edinburgh Council have published full guidelines on how listed
buildings should be treated, and MSCC expects that the Council will enforce
their own guidance in full, with regards to this B-listed building.
Action: Alison will relay these
comments to the Council.
Grange Cemetery
Report has been circulated.
The Grange Association will contribute £2000 to re-erect fallen
monuments in the cemetery. Thanks to Alison’s advice on how to receive
donations by text, that service is now available for use by the cemetery group.
Congratulations to the Grange Association and Grange Cemetery
group on the success of the group so far, and the improvements made in the
cemetery.
Stock Take
Adam: As discussed at the last meeting, it will be useful for us
to think about how we, as a community council, are working, and what our
priorities will be going forward. Adam believes our three primary goals should
be to tap into local issues, become more proactive in actioning small
deliverables for the community, and be representative of the whole community
regarding local issues.
Social media: There is a discussion about
how MSCC might use social media to engage with local residents who might not
know about the community council but may still be interested in our activities.
The Grange Association has had success with the forum section of their website,
which has generated comments from local residents in response to the B1
controlled parking measures. Cllr Rose says that often it takes a big issue to
generate interest in local community councils. Elinor recommends that the MSCC
agenda is posted once a month in the Facebook groups ‘The Meadows Share’ and/or
‘The Meadows Chat’, to encourage comments from local residents on the topical
issues.
AGM
Brian proposes that the AGM takes place in June.
Treasurer’s Report
Monthly report has been circulated. The bank balance is currently £972.28.
The audit has been done by auditor Jim Orr which will be presented
at AGM, as well as our forward plan for the year.
Meetings attended.
None.
AOCB
Neighbourhood Network Meetings: the email has been circulated.
Date of next meeting: (AGM) Wednesday 23rd June
at 7.30 – using Jitsi Meet.
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