Update: Edinburgh Parks Events Manifesto - The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links

The most recent version of the Edinburgh Parks Events Manifesto: The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links has been published. It will be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council Policy and Strategy Committee on Tu 4 Aug.

It is disappointing to see that the points made regarding maximum period of occupation in the Short-life Working Group on the Meadows, and through the consultation by all but the Urban Circus, have been ignored.

The Friends of the Meadows are organising a deputation to the committee on Tu.

Update: controlled parking proposals rejected

Cameron Rose's newsblog this evening informs us that proposals to redraw the boundaries of parking zones 7, 8 and S1 have been rejected. The proposal made by MSCC to merge 7, 8 and S1 is to be re-examined.

update (29 Jul at 07:20): It has been brought to my attention that the MSCC proposal is actually to merge PART of zones 7,and 8 with S1.

Student and other residents' perceptions of the communities they live in

Thomas Graham from Edinburgh University Students' Association presented research, commissioned from ibp Strategy & Research, on student and other residents' perceptions of the communities they live in at our last meeting. This has now been published.

Controlled Parking Zone - Amendments to Zones 7, 8 and S1

The Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee of the City of Edinburgh Council will consider a proposal to amend controlled parking zones 7, 8 and S1 (PDF) at their meeting on 28 July 2009. The proposal is not to merge zones 7,8 and S1 as proposed by MSCC but to amend some of the boundaries and introduce shared use bays.

Further changes to planning system

In addition to the changes to the planning mechanisms that started in April, further changes will come into force on 3 August. City of Edinburgh Council has written to us to draw our attention to these, including:

* New application types to replace outline and reserved matters applications.

* The Council will be carrying out neighbour notification instead of the applicant

* New requirements for design and access statements

* New requirements for notices to tell us when development starts and finishes

* Changes to how long planning permission lasts for

* New statutory scheme of delegation and changes to the current scheme of delegation. These schemes allows planning officers to take decisions on planning applications provided certain criteria are met

* A new appeals/review process. Local developments decided under the new statutory scheme of delegation will be open to review by the Council's Local Review Body rather than appeal to the Scottish Government.

* New enforcement powers regarding fixed penalty notices

Further information on these changes and on the previous ones are laid out in download-able leaflets. If you have further questions please contact mary.clarke@edinburgh.gov.uk or jo-anne.laidlaw@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Consultation on Patients' Rights Bill: analysis of responses

The Scottish Government have published a summary document setting out the analysis of a recent consultation on a Patients' Rights Bill, and their response.

Full versions of the analysis of public responses and the Scottish Government's response to that analysis are also available on the Scottish Government's website.

For more information contact fiona.wherrett@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Alfie the Tortoise has been found!

Alfie the Tortoise has been found!

NHS Lothian: Health link newsletter - Summer 09 edition

Four paper copies of the summer 09 edition of NHS Lothian's Health Link newspaper have arrived with the secretary with a request to circulate them to community councillors. If anyone wishes one of the paper copies please get in touch with the secretary.

Anyone fancy taking part in The Big Lunch!

On Sunday 19 July 2009, The Big Lunch is inviting you and all 61million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street as a simple act of community.

A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers;creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together.

Organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy. The Big Lunch website and printed Ideas Booklet will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible.

Given the short notice we have not organised a formal Marchmont & Sciennes Big Lunch but thought fellow residents might like to take part in their own streets.