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Monday 21 October 2024

MSCC - Agenda for October 2024

 

M archmont & Sciennes

Community Council



Meeting on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 at 7.30pm

To be held at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall






A G E N D A (draft)



1 Sederunt and apologies

2 Draft Minutes of last meeting 25th September 2024

Matters arising not included in this agenda

a) Earl of Marchmont defibrillator

3 Police Report

4 Meadows & Bruntsfield Links

5 City Councillor report on topical local issues



Items for discussion

6 Publicity

7 Update on Community Space in IQ student accommodation block (The Mont) (Douglas Rogers)

8 Bin hub Issue

9 Planning (Applications & consultation)) (report attached)

10 Update on Sewer Flooding project (if available)

Items for information

11 Treasurer's report (circulated)

12 Meetings attended

13 Progress in provision of Public Toilets on the Meadows

14 Xmas tree event

15 AOB

a) Sunday parking on Melville Drive (Susie Agnew)

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 20th November 2024



All who live or work locally are welcome to attend

MSCC - Minutes for June 2024

 

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on June 26th, 2024 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall


Present: Brian Gilmore - Chair, Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary, Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer, Douglas Rogers - MSCC, Lianne Phillips - MSCC Publicity, Kayleigh Gordon - MSCC Publicity, Cllr. Tim Pogson, Richard Robinson - local resident, Cathy McDonald - local resident, Kate McNairney - local resident (SMAG)


Apologies: Susie Agnew - MSCC, Anthony Holmes - Thirlestane Lane Association, Cllr Ben Parker (recieved after meeting)


Attending: Nora Flynn-McIver - Minutes Secretary


Meeting began at 7:33pm


Draft Minutes of 22/05/24

Alison moves to pass, Anne seconds. The minutes are approved.


Matters Arising

Cllr. Tim Pogson got an answer about whether or not planning permission is necessary for bin hubs. The answer is no - a TRO is necessary instead.


Anne attended the Meadows Festival, there were two names added to the Google Group list. The people from Southside and Anne agreed that this might have been a waste of time, as they got very little attention at the event.


Police Report

None.


FOMBL Report

The FOMBL project update has been circulated. There is a proposed siting of the new Meadows toilet block, which has been circulated as well. Some members of FOMBL are concerned about the proposed placement of the toilets being at the bottom of Middle Meadow Walk, more people want it either where the temporary toilets are, across from the pavilion, or on the North end. The Council cited trees and roots as issues with that area. Alison also brought up that bollards of sorts should be put up to stop cars from parking in the bike lane if the toilets are placed in the Council’s proposed area. The MSCC members are of a consensus that there is a concern and that they will express this concern. A local resident notes that the men’s toilets on the east side of the Meadows are closed and asks whether the toilets are going to remain open. Cllr. Pogson will inquire about why the toilets are closed.


City Councillor report on local issues

Tomorrow is the last Council meeting before the summer recess. Consultations currently live: Council budget-setting process (closes on the 28th of July), 2040 city planning as to how the Council should engage with citizens and the city (open until the end of August). The process on solving the bin hub issue is ongoing, there was a meeting last Monday. A local resident notes that nearly 50 people showed up to that meeting with complaints about the lack of community/resident consultation. Alison volunteered to write to Cllr. Watt and get updates on the bin hub situation. The proposal for amenity on the bin hub requirements was not passed, but there will be a workshop. Cllr. Pogson will look into what the recommendations are. The application to put a student accommodation on Causewayside was refused, the developers can apply to Scottish government to appeal. A conversation was brought up about the proportion of students who live in Edinburgh and the amount of student accommodation that is necessary because student accommodation is the majority of what comes through the planning process. Cllr. Pogson notes that the Council is attempting to introduce regulations that would disrupt the control that student accommodation has over the market. The road closure outside of Sciennes school is progressing as the closure has been made permanent, and the process has moved forward to what exactly this will look like in the long term. The school hopes to have the new arrangements in place by the next term, which is possibly ambitious. A local resident asked how much money would be freed up if the tram project was abandoned - Cllr. Pogson clarified that all of this project is aspirational, there is no money currently stored away for it. Douglas Rogers notes that he and the MSCC at large would like to be a part of the conversations about the school road closure.


Publicity

Anne noted that she has been doing the notice boards and that the smaller boards are a very difficult surface to use for a notice board, and wants to know whether these surfaces can be replaced with cork. Lianne will give Alison a quote to replace them, and will also take some time to remove the graffiti from the notice boards.


Update on progress of buildings replacing old Sick Kids site

IQ Students owns the entirety of the Sick Kids site but they seem to be impossible to contact, Douglas has attempted to contact them in multiple ways to no avail. Douglas requested that Cllr. Pogson attempt to contact them directly. Someone has approached Douglas about using the community space in this area for art therapy. There are no updates at all on the Mortuary Chapel.


JR Builders has contacted anyone affected by their building site and answered any questions. They had an accident last week that is now being investigated.


AGM


Approve Note of last year’s AGM

The date was incorrect. Alison moves to pass, Anne seconds. The minutes pass.


Matters arising from the AGM minutes

None.


Annual Report - Chair (Brian Gilmore)

Many issues have come up. Sick Kids site shows complexity. The bin hub situation is progressing but has been an issue for a year at this point. Climate change and the effect on housing has been addressed multiple times. The number 41/9 bus got successfully rerouted. St Catherine’s Argyle church is being sold. There have been many reports from FOMBL. Thanks to Anne, Alison, Nora, Douglas, Nigel Ayton and all members of the MSCC and local residents. The Christmas tree event was of particular note.



Annual Report - Secretary (Anne Laing)

Communications have continued with the developers of the Sick Kids site - Downing completed the work

on the Student accommodation which became available at the end of the year. Square and Crescent are developing the original hospital building and the Victorian villa properties and hoping to have properties for sale on Millerfield place this year. JR builders are developing the site on Sylvan Place for affordable/social housing, hopefully will be done by Spring 2025. There has been extensive work on the sewer system. There has been much dissatisfaction about the bin hub situation. Anne has been working on the notice boards and gives thanks to the publicity team for helping with this.


Annual Report and presentation of audited accounts - Treasurer (Alison Service)

The financial situation is stable, main expenses are the minutes secretary, certain memberships, and the rental of the room. The Christmas tree event was a great success, thanks to the German-speaking church for providing their hall free for this event, and for all of the shops that provide prizes. Thanks to the independent reviewer, Jim Orr, for looking through accounts. There is a deficit of £3.11 this year, there is £1144 in the bank at the moment. Most of the MSCC money comes from a city council grant.


Election of Officers

Douglas Rogers nominates Brian Gilmore for Chair, Anne seconds. Brian is elected.

Brian Gilmore nominates Anne Laing for Secretary, Alison seconds. Anne is elected.

Douglas Rogers nominates Alison Service for Treasurer, Anne seconds. Alison is elected.


Date of next AGM

Cllr. Pogson will check on dates of election for Community Councillors. The provisional date will be the 25th of June, 2025.


Ordinary meeting dates for 2024-25

Alison proposes the 4th Wednesday of every month, excluding December, July, and August.


AGM AOCB

None.


Planning applications

Planning applications have been circulated. The Rajas building is currently up for sale.


Treasurer’s Report

£1240 in the bank.


Meetings attended

Alison attended the FOMBL trustee meeting and their AGM is this week. JR Builders has given £700 for a table tennis table and FOMBL is applying for a grant for the remainder of the money.


AOCB

Anne asked about the defibrillator at the Earl of Marchmont pub, Lianne will check with the current manager about this.


The St. Catherine’s Argyle and Marchmont St Giles union is still in doubt so no decision about the future as yet.


There is an LHES consultation to put heating pipes in the streets to provide heat to people’s homes. There is also a Clean Heat Edinburgh movement for a heat network from furnaces. There will be a presentation from the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum to the forum of Edinburgh Community Councils tomorrow night, Douglas will circulate details.


Douglas has been looking into doing a study on making a block within Marchmont net zero and this idea is getting some traction. This is in early stages - there will be a community consultation on this.


Anne has been looking after the planters on Marchmont Crescent with Nora, Douglas’ wife. These look nice, and Anne thanks the Council for providing the plants.


There is a blocked drain, Cllr. Pogson suggests getting in touch with local Councillors.


Date of next meeting

Wednesday, 25th September 2024




Sunday 15 September 2024

MSCC - Draft Agenda for 25th September 2024

 

Marchmont & Sciennes

Community Council



Meeting on Wednesday 25th September 2024 at 7.30pm

To be held at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall


A G E N D A


1` Sederunt and apologies

2 Draft Minutes of last meeting 25th June 2024

Matters arising not included in this agenda

a )Earl of Marchmont defibrillator

3 Police Report

4 Meadows & Bruntsfield Links

5 City Councillor report on topical local issues



Items for discussion

6 Publicity

7 Use of Community Space in IQ student accommodation block (The Mont)

8 Funding application for a Community Consultation re achieving net zero in heating/insulation of

flats

9 Planning (Applications & consultation)) (report attached)

10 Update on Sewer Flooding project (if available)

Items for information

11 Treasurer's report (circulated)

12 Meetings attended : Bin hubs workshop (Anne Laing)

13 Progress in provision of Public Toilets on the Meadows (circulated)

14 progress on Sylvan PL development

15 Xmas tree event



16 AOB

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 23rd October 2024



All who live or work locally are welcome to attend

Wednesday 10 July 2024

MSCC Minutes of the May 2024 Meeting

 

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on May 24th, 2024 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall

 

Present: Brian Gilmore - Chair, Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary, Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer, Douglas Rogers - MSCC, Cllr. Pauline Flannery, Stephen Antram - local resident

 

Apologies: Susie Agnew - MSCC, Lianne Phillips - MSCC Publicity, Kayleigh Gordon - MSCC Publicity

 

Attending: Nora Flynn-McIver - Minutes Secretary

 

Meeting began at 7:32pm

 

Draft Minutes of 24/04/24

Alison notes that 27-31 Ratcliffe Terrace should be listed as a property, not a house, and also requested that it be clarified that Calum Bell will be donating the table tennis and benches to FOMBL, but they do not yet have these.

Anne moves to pass, Alison seconds, the minutes pass.

 

Matters Arising

None.

 

Police Report

None.

 

City Councillor report on local issues

On the bin hub issue: Cllr. Flannery gave statistics on bin hubs - there have been 135 changes to bin hubs, approximately 9% of bin hubs in total. There will be a list of changes published and there are some changes to come as well. The main difficulty is the rigidity of the application of the criteria for bin hub placement. In some places, there were particularly good reasons for moving bin hubs that have not made the bins be moved. Controlled Parking Zones is another reason why moving bin hubs is difficult. There are some bin hubs where CPZs are different, so 2/9 properties on a street are in one area and 52 are in another. The ward councillors are meeting in the next few weeks to try and figure out the issue. The noise of the glass bins is also being addressed because the lining of the bins is not sufficient. Douglas asked about whether there might be a mandate to recycle glass through shops, but this seems unlikely.

Brian notes the circulated email from Cllr. Ross about Cllr. Osler bringing a motion to the committee tomorrow, Cllr. Flannery believes that this motion is a possibility for to go through. The bins that have not been changed already will be monitored and will hopefully be able to be changed if necessary.

It may be possible for the bins to be changed without a TRO if moving them takes less than 45 minutes, Cllr. Flannery is going to check on this.

There is a meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee covering bin hubs on the 23rd.

 

There is a local housing strategy online and people can sign up and give their views - this may be specifically relevant in Marchmont/Sciennes due to its diverse population.

The student housing application on Causewayside was withdrawn, but there is a possibility that the sale of Summerhall could result in more student housing. Summerhall is being sold with protections for the groups that use it, meaning that it is likely to still be an arts community centre of some sort. The property has also acquired an alcohol license for the entire property. It is possible that one part of the property will be sold but not the others. Cllr. Flannery will be looking into what parts of the property are listed. There is a petition on Change.org about the sale of Summerhall and there have been meetings and requests for councillors to try and give support. If people want to try to preserve Summerhall, this likely needs to be a community effort.

 

The feasibility for the tram extension from the North to the South will be looked at tomorrow, but the money necessary is not available at the moment - it would be difficult to justify this cost to council. If this does go through, there will be a consultation.

 

Douglas asked about what is happening to St Catherine’s Argyle church, Anne says that it is being sold at the end of the year and the congregation is merging with Marchmont St Giles - a new name for the union is being chosen but has not been decided on yet.

 

Publicity

None.

 

Planning applications

Grange Association report has been circulated.

 

FOMBL Report & Meadows Festival

There will be an AGM in June along with a public meeting, this is on their website and has been circulated to the MSCC mailing list.

 

There should be updates upcoming about the installation of the toilets, the only current information is that they are on their way.

 

MSCC will be contributing to the Southside Community Council’s tent at the Meadows Festival.

 

Update on Sewer Flooding project

Two updates have been circulated, including a diagram of the plans for the works.

 

Treasurer’s Report

£1280 in the bank, the audit is done and ready for the AGM.

 

Meetings attended

None.

 

Bin Hub Situation

Anne reached out on behalf of the MSCC to Michael Richardson, but the only response was an attachment to the next two phases. Alison wrote to Cllr. Pogson about the planning and whether there is any flexibility. Cllr. Flannery notes that it is worth reaching out again and copying in Paul Lawrence, who is high on the chain of command. Stephen Antram has reached out to Paul Lawrence, who delegated to a clerk, and he got a response eventually. His bin hub is now being used as a smoking area and people have been dumping garbage disproportionately in his bin. Cllr. Flannery notes that it is good to continue exerting pressure, specifically referencing bad communication and lack of consultation. The motion going in tomorrow is specifically on the impact on the local community. Brian spoke with Cllr. Arthur about the bin hubs and got nowhere.

 

AOCB

Douglas is going to try to figure out who now owns Mortuary Chapel, as it has been sold by Downing, possibly to a student accommodation company.

 

Stephen Antram also notes that the storm drains need to be cleaned - he has reported this to council, but nothing has happened. Cllr. Flannery will chase this up. There are also several overflowing bin hubs near the previous Downing site, Douglas is going to chase this up.

 

Dates of events taking place in the Meadows:

27-28 May, James Gillespie’s High School Sports Day

29 May, Sciennes School Sports Day

14 June, Archers event

6 July, World Naked Bike Ride

15 July, World Orienteering Championships

28 July, Mindful Peace Walk

 

Date of next meeting

Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 - the AGM will also be at this meeting

 

 

 

Tuesday 18 June 2024

MSCC Draft Agenda for 26th June 2024

 

M archmont & Sciennes

Community Council


Meeting on Wed 26th June 2024 at 7:30pm (including AGM)

To be held at St Catherine’s Argyle Church hall



A G E N D A



1 Sederunt and apologies

2   Draft Minutes of last meeting 28thJune 2023; actions and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

3 Police Report

4 Meadows & Bruntsfield Links: Including FOMBL report

5 Publicity

6 City Councillor report on topical local issues

7 Update on progress of buildings replacing old Sick Kids





Items for AGM



A1 Approve Note of last year's AGM

A2 Matters arising from the AGM minutes

A3 Annual Report - Chair (Brian Gilmore)

A4 Annual Report - Secretary (Anne Laing)

A5 Annual Report and presentation of audited accounts - Treasurer (Alison Service)

A6 Election of Officers

A7 Date of next AGM

A8 Ordinary meeting dates for 2024-2025

Proposed: 4th Wed of each month except no meeting in July, August or December

A9 AOCB



Items for discussion

9 Planning applications

Any significant?



For info:

11 Treasurer's report

12 Meetings attended

13 AOCB



14 Date of next meeting: Wednesday 25th September 2024



All who live or work locally are welcome to attend

Monday 27 May 2024

MSCC - Agenda for 22nd May 2024

 

M archmont & Sciennes

Community Council



Meeting on Wednesday 22nd May, 2024

at .7.30 pm

To be held at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall












A G E N D A



1 Sederunt and apologies

2 Draft Minutes of last meeting 24th April 2024

Matters arising not included on this agenda

3 Police Report

4 City Councillor report on topical local issues



Items for discussion

5 Publicity

6 Planning (Applications & consultation)

7 FOMBL and Meadows Festival

8 Update on Sewer Flooding project (circulated)

Items for information

9 Treasurer's report (circulated)

10 Meetings attended

11 Bin hub situation

12 AOB

Date of next meeting and AGM: Wednesday 26th June, 2024



All who live or work locally are welcome to attend

Friday 24 May 2024

MSCC - Minutes for 24th April 2024

 

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on April 24th, 2024 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall

 

Present: Brian Gilmore - Chair, Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary, Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer, Douglas Rogers - MSCC, Calum Bell - JR Builders, Susan  - local resident, Gordon Mulholland - resident, Ryan Gilmour - local resident, Margaret Coughtrie - local resident, Richard Robinson - local resident, Morag Macrae - local resident, Stephan Antram - local resident, Ruth Dolan - local resident

 

Apologies: Susie Agnew - MSCC, Lianne Phillips - MSCC Publicity, Kayleigh Gordon - MSCC Publicity

 

Attending: Nora Flynn-McIver - Minutes Secretary

 

Meeting began at 7:30pm

 

Draft Minutes of 27/03/24

Douglas Rogers corrected that the property on 27-31 Ratcliffe Terrace is currently being sold, it has not already been sold.

Cllr. Ross had a correction that Quenton Rd should be Clinton Rd.

A member of the public wanted concern noted about no mention in last month’s minutes on concerns on the behavior of the chair of the meeting. The concerns about the behavior of the chair at last month’s meeting are now recorded in this month’s minutes.

Alison moves to pass, Anne seconds.

 

Matters Arising

Cllr. Ross was asked to look into tree memorials - executive of the trust has given a response clarifying that homemade displays are inappropriate and will be reminding donors that these are not allowed and will be removed.

On the fallen stone outside of Margiotta’s - investigation showed that the stone was of completely different type than those on the building, Anne notes that CCTV footage showed someone placing the stone outside the building.

Douglas Rogers notes that Tim Pogson got in touch with someone with expertise in the historical preservation and Douglas is meeting with him tomorrow.

 

Police Report

None this month.

 

JR Builders update

Calum Bell attended the meeting to answer any questions. He also says that he is able to donate three new benches and a new table tennis table to FOMBL. Douglas asked about any time scales for completion, Calum says that they are looking at being finished in April 2025. Progress is going well and relatively quickly thus far.

 

City Councillor report on local issues

No councillors attended this meeting.

 

 

 

Publicity

Kayleigh is happy to produce material (flyers and maps) for the Meadows Festival if the MSCC can pay for it. Alison notes that new leaflets may not be needed but other material is helpful.

 

Planning applications

Grange Association report (circulated) has no updates.

On the Raja’s application, the response to concerns about the listed building consent says that investigations made the people who approved the application believe that the ducts would not have adverse affects on the building. Brian notes that there was an article in Edinburgh Live saying that Rajas is selling the building, it is unclear whether or not this is true.

 

FOMBL Report & Meadows Festival

FOMBL projects largely going quite well - many new trees are being planted, the new log house and wooden train were installed in the playground. Benches are being restored, birdboxes cleaned, and the wildflower Meadow coming along well with a bush perimeter.  Future projects include more bench restoration, another table tennis table for the South Links, new stores at the three toilet areas, and new exercise equipment - the tennis table and benches will now be provided by Calum Bell.

 

Alison is looking at getting an information point for community councils in the middle of the festival area, they will need volunteers. Festival is on 1st and 2nd of June.

 

Update on Sewer Flooding project

No updates.

 

Treasurer’s Report

£1445 in the account this month.

 

Meetings attended

Douglas attended meetings for NESTA, LHEES, CHEF, EdinBrick, Home Energy Group, and Edinburgh World Heritage. They are looking at ways to decarbonize houses in the next ten years. He also encourages the meeting to attend the Grange Association Home Energy Open Evening on April 30th.

Two local residents question the necessity of reaching net zero, Douglas notes that this is not the forum to address this and the MSCC is not a political group.

 

Bin Hub Situation

Cllr. Tim Pogson looked into the question of planning permission being needed for bin hubs - the response is that it is probably not due to how long the bin hub review was out, as this likely would have been brought up before. A local resident questioned why planning permission is not needed, the MSCC believes that this issue has been dealt with and the MSCC has taken this as far as we can.  Several local residents argued that this was not good enough and that the MSCC should be more a voice for the locals.  Alison, as an MSCC officer, said she would write to Cllr. Pogson to push for more clarification from the Council as to exactly why planning permission can't be sought retrospectively as it was felt that the 5-year limit had not been reached.

 

Cllr. Ross got answers about the questions that were brought up at the last meeting, these were circulated to Google Groups. The responses are as follows:

On glass bins: glass bins have always been on residential streets and are now just more spread out than before. Noise assessments are being done now and they hope to have a report on this soon.

On the 50 metre rule: review framework allows for this to be relaxed to 100 metres in certain circumstances. The bins also aren’t allowed to be too close to road junctions. Brian believes that this answer is not overly satisfactory but the problem is that this seems to be strictly enforced council rule. Anne notes that there seems to be a protest being organized somewhere in response to the bin hub issue. Anne suggests that the community council write a letter to Michael Richardson about the community’s feelings on the issue and to press for more flexibility. Douglas notes that it is probably a good idea for those who have concerns to make a map with suggestions for where the bin hubs can go, it is mentioned that this can likely be shut down by not according to the framework, which prevents people from appealing the situation.

On whether the bins need to be in groups of 6: the design follows standard layout and involves all residents having access to all of the bins that they need. The layout is also in line with future changes for how recycling is collected.

Alison recommends that the next step is likely to reach out to councillors directly as the MSCC has little power over the issue at hand.

 

AOCB

Anne mentions the Meadows to George Street Active Plan - there are meetings about this on May 2nd and May 9th. Douglas notes that there will be a bus gate at the top of the Mound.

 

Date of next meeting

Wednesday, May 22, 2024