Minutes of Ordinary Meeting held on 11th June 2008

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council
Minutes of Ordinary Meeting held on 11th June 2008,
St Catherine’s Argyle Church Community Hall, Grange Road

Sederunt :
Susie Agnew(Chair), Anne Laird (vice chair), Susanna Lacey(secretary) Sarah Marchbanks (Treasurer)

Peng Lee Yap( FOMBL), Muriel Robertson(Magpie), Lindsay Thomson (Lothian and Borders Police), Mike Shields (CEC Service for Communities), Tony Reeves (Grange Association), Alastair Philp (Neighbourhood Partnership)

Ruth Stroud, Tina Cumming, Linda Smith, John Simon, Roseanna Agnew, Fiona Scott, Ken Dougall, Sarah Sandow, Cllr Marilyn McLaren, Alastair Philp, Cllr Cameron Rose, Masoud Malik, Richard Beauchamp, Roslyn Evans, Adam McMinn, Nan McMinn, Tony Reeves (Grange Association) Colette Meyer, Thomas Underwood, Melanie Main, Dorothy Ryle, Brian Harris.

Apologies:
Alison Johnstone, Cllr Gordon McKenzie, Anne Laing, Cherry Ledlie, Neil Brierly

Minutes of previous meeting
Proposed Anne Laird, seconded John Simon

Matters Arising
Item 9 . It was pointed out that there is going to be only one community council representative on the temporary (for one year) South Edinburgh Partnership Forum.
Item 4. Margo MacDonald had enquired if the police intend to challenge the licenses of off-licenses who sell alcohol to under-age drinkers. In response to this the Cabinet Secretary for Justice , Kenny MacAskill has informed that in September the law will be changed such that off-licenses who are caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers will have their licenses revoked with immediate effect. Previously these shopkeepers could lodge an appeal and still trade as off-licenses until a decision had been reached.

Police Report
Lindsay said that she would have to make her report brief this time.
Vandalism has been higher than normal in Southside and Morningside with wing mirrors and windscreens vandalised.
Housebreaking down, only 3 domestic and 1 busines.
Pedal cycle theft and auto crime down
There is to be a new pedal cycle initiative.
Sexual offences: another incident on the meadows 1st June.

Trams Update
Sarah Sandow attended this meeting chaired by Oscar Wells of West End CC.
The trams will ease the congestion produced by the expected increase in population of 50,000 by 2024.
Edinburgh is now 20th retail city in UK compared to previous position as 5th retail city.
There is a great deal of anxiety within the small business group on Leith Walk.
The second tram route 1B may not now happen due to cost.
Trams will serve only 7% of Edinburgh population and 60% of passengers will be standing.
If trams are not a financial success the money will come from the buses which will exacerbate the public transport situation.
These decisions have not taken into account the wishes of the local community.
There is concern about getting on and alighting from the trams safely.

Nomination for Licensing Forum
This forum is not a decision making body but a way to see how the licensing board works.
It was agreed that with her legal background, Anne Laird should be our representative on this Forum.

AOCB
Health Improvement:
Ruth Stroud highlighted the the 4 main points of the health inequalities improvement plan for 2008-2011: food and health, physical activity, social capital and healthy environment. The meeting was in agreement with this focus to the health improvement plan and that Ruth Stroud should represent MSCC at the next meeting on 18th July 2008.
Post Office Closures:
Possible closures will be listed by 19th August. If Warrender Park Road is on the list then it will be closed but there is a period of 4-6weeks for objections then decision will be made.
Licensing:
A funfair has applied for a license along with the Urban Circus. FOMBL are concerned re noise and late times and want to object. Residents in Silvan Place and Fingal Place concerned re the extent of use of the Meadows for events such as Taste of Edinburgh and Moonwalk. There is a meeting of FOMBL in Peter’s Yard on the Meadows.

Date of next meeting 10th September 2008