MSCC - Minutes from April 2026

 

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on April 22nd, 2026 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall

Present

Brian Gilmore - MSCC Chair

Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer

Douglas Rogers - MSCC Inclusion Officer

Susie Agnew - MSCC

Geoff Parsons - MSCC

Peter Olech - MSCC

Cllr Tim Pogson

Apologies

Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary

Kate McNairney - SMAG

Kayleigh Gordon & Liane Phillips - MSCC Publicity

Attending

Eli Ferrell - Minutes Secretary

Meeting began at 19:33pm.

Sederunt and apologies

Brian welcomes everyone to the meeting. Sederunt and apologies as above.

Draft Minutes of last meeting March 2026

Peter moves to approve the minutes. Alison seconds.

Actions and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

Suggested donation to SMAG: this information is being put together at the moment, so this item will be held to the next meeting.

The Argyle Pl/Melville Drive junction will be added to the Council's list of suggested improvements, and the traffic signals team will review the timings of this junction and make improvements if possible, either now or at the next time this junction is scheduled for improvements.

Post office depot letter included a justification in regards to which postcodes each available office controls. There is a question as to why EH9 cannot be reassigned to Falkland Road entirely. Susie will action this question by writing to Ian Murray.

In regards to the community grant mentioned in the last meeting, the recommended grant is not within our area and would require additional liaison with the Council. It was agreed that the MSCC stick to the original plan of donating £100 to FOMBL and suggesting they apply to Morningside CC for an additional donation.

Meadows & Bruntsfield Links

Publicity

No publicity report.

City Councillor report ::

Cllr Pogson reported that the council, in response to criticism about bad landlords has, at the last meeting, struck four off due to criminal records and persistent failure to remedy living conditions, and one other has a chance to attend the next meeting to make her case to avoid being struck off (note that only three landlords were struck off in the entirety of last year). When a landlord is struck off, they must sell their properties, which could result in an eviction of current tenants. If tenants are living in substandard conditions, they should refer their landlord to the council.

Astley Ainslie Hospital’s place plan has been lodged and both the NHS and the council are producing their vision for the site as well.

In the recently approved budget, the council has introduced a 400% council tax uplift on second homes, given that there is a housing emergency. Due to backlash, this policy has been paused for six months while an impact assessment is carried out. There is some concern over this policy from MSCC as this tax also applies to empty homes during renovations.

Inclusion Officer’s report (attached)

Sciennes ArtsHub

Thanks to Tim for easing the way to get the IQ Students space. Currently the space can be used for Arts teaching and Community Council meetings. Potential activities will increase once noise reduction installments take place. MSCC agrees that from next month, Community Council meetings will take place in that space. For more detail on the IQ students space proposed activities, please see the attached report.

Key Updates from Democracy Matters:

A plan was circulated on how to empower local communities with three options on how to decide the funding criteria. As Community councils must vote for their preferred option by the 4th of May it was agreed that Douglas will email all members of MSCC to vote on the option they prefer.

Heat networks

Douglas is now working with Lothian Heat to identify heat networks in Edinburgh so that Lothian Heat can support these smaller heat networks.

Geoff flags that new builds are not contributing to heat networks right now, although Douglas flags that new builds should be banned from using gas. Cllr Pogson notes that the heat from the Edinburgh/Midlothian landfill incendiary is currently used to power turbines, but there is infrastructure building taking place for excess heat to support local heat networks.

Planning

No relevant planning reports.

Treasurer’s report (attached)

Last month’s balance of £1632 is down to £1338 due to payments for the insurance, hall hire, and minutes secretary. From May onwards the hall hire will be the new Sciennes ArtsHub.

SMAG report

No report this week.

Meetings attended

No meetings attended.

AOCB

The end of year accounts will go to the external reviewer in April. The AGM will take place in June.

The date of the next meeting is Wednesday 27th of May at Sciennes Arts Centre, 13 Rillbank Terrace.

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend.