We wish you a Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year!

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council wish all in our community a Merry Christmas.

Best wishes for health & happiness in 2017!

Update and review of previous 9 months for the community policing team

Inspector Graeme Nisbet has shared this with us (including contact details for local community police officers):

"This year has been one of challenge and change, along with the fluctuations in crime in the area the community team along with the division have responded to major operations and events however our continuation on and commitment to local policing remains strong.  

Officers have been tasked with responding to the complaints from communities and increased their ability to respond quickly and attend specific locations where we have had reported concerns.  We  have worked closely with our partners and officers have worked with other agencies in the area and we maintain very good links with a number of local groups and I have no doubt this will continue in to 2017.

On this note I would like to thank all of my partners, community groups and stakeholders for all of the help, support and assistance this year as tackling community issues is one which needs a shared approach and it is one which has worked and will continue to work very well in the south area.

You will know that I am committed to local officers supporting and being visible in the community and I have made sure officers have attended as many community meetings and events as possible and I will do everything possible to have this continue.

With regard to crime, this year we have seen a significant fall in house breaking crimes with an average 30% reduction although vehicle crime is on the slight increase and is the focus of continued police activity.

Anti social behaviour, particularly with the use of motorcycles was a problem in the open green spaces and park areas during the summer and autumn and we saw issues not only in the south but across the city with the north area suffering. Locally we had put together a local operation which sits under a citywide operation and this will be put in place early next year to prevent an escalation, although the winter nights have seen it, not surprisingly, tail off.

Other forms of anti social behaviour mainly, youth calls, have been tackled and a number of individuals are now subject to various forms of intervention and ongoing work to disrupt their behaviour and we will continue to concentrate on those responsible.

Violent crime remains a priority under operation Austinberg and we continue to work in the known hot spot areas where we conduct weekly patrols, overall violent crime in the area has fallen which is a positive. I also recently attended a domestic abuse forum in Southouse where I did a presentation along with other speakers, this was very well attended by a broad spectrum of public and professionals and domestic abuse remains as a divisional priority.
Road Safety, will continue as a focus for my team, we have been supporting the school streets initiative and also the introduction and roll out of the 20mph zones in Edinburgh. Speeding in general will be monitored and enforced where we have concerns and vulnerable premises. Recently we worked with partners to increase the safety and visibility of cyclists and will continue this through the winter.

A number of warrants over the last 9 months were applied for allowing us to tackle drugs and search for stolen property at a number of addresses in the area, I plan to keep this going as tackling drugs is a focus for not only my community team but by the division and we often have specialist officers in plain clothes deployed in the area. We make sure we collaborate with one another and share information to maximise opportunities but the information from the community has been excellent allowing us to obtain warrants and carry out enforcement.

We now have a dedicated sergeant for each area:

PS David Cuthbert, based at St. Leonards is now in charge of the Southside/ Newington & Meadows/ Morningside wards
PS Mark Innes, based at Howdenhall is in charge of the Liberton/ Gilmerton ward

The community officers can be contacted on
EdinburghSouthsideNewingtonCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk  
or
EdinburghMeadowsMorningsideCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk
or
EdinburghLibertonGilmertonCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

I can also confirm our current ward officers areSouthside/ Newington Ward
PC Chris Harris & PC Neil Mackay
Meadows/ Morningside
PC Jennifer Mackenzie &  PC Stuart Fraser.
Liberton/ Gilmerton Ward
PC Rebecca Wilson & PC Craig Cairns

The Police Scotland Survey is live and we are committed to getting the opinion of residents and local businesses on local Policing priorities. Since April 2016 we have been asking individuals to complete an online survey that would influence local Policing plans. This is an ongoing project however the most recent results will shape Edinburgh's Policing priorities for 2017.

Please take two minutes to confirm the top priorities that have been highlighted by others in Edinburgh represent YOUR VIEWS too.
We want to hear from you. To take part copy and paste this link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MN9WGCF

Please pass this information on to anyone else you think might be interested in taking part, but don't forget to do it now as this mini-survey closes at the end of December.
This coming festive season, is as always a busy time for the police and we have a number of operations and events to oversee and of course like many of our colleagues in the emergency services, officers will be on duty through the festive period, which is a typically a demanding period for us all.

May I wish you all the very best for the festive period and I look forward to working with in 2017.
Graeme Nisbet"

Please comment on a report of the public engagement meeting on 16 Nov about RHSC redevelopment

update, 3 Jan 2017: MSCC have produced a draft 'summary of collective views')

The report of the public engagement meeting on 16 Nov about RHSC redevelopment is now available  [as Appx 3].

This is a report that contributes to the community views section of a 'pre-application position statement' that’s been prepared by NHS Lothian's planning advisors (GVA) for NHS Lothian. 

We are interested in gathering your responses to the report, whether you were at the meeting or not: we are keen to know what you feel about the development of this site at the heart of our community.

Please add your comments on the report below or e-mail them to pagsk2017@gmail.com.  

Comments will be used, along with those already expressed, to shape a set of MSCC views.  These collective MSCC views will be added to the final ‘position statement’, being completed by GVA for NHS Lothian (and available to developers).  The MSCC views will also be sent with the final NHS/GVA 'position statement' to interested developers.  A final draft of the ‘position statement’ is now available.

The 'position statement' also contains details about i] formal planning constraints and ii] heritage considerations (listed buildings, conservation area etc). Developers will be asked to take full account of the facts and findings in the 'position statement' (including community views) when their formal offers to purchase the site are invited.  This will support NHS Lothian's identification of the scheme that represents 'best value' and lead to an agreement to sell by Easter 2017. 

As yet ‘best value’ has not been clearly defined but during the public engagement meeting there was an indication that this might mean something other than simply selling the site at the highest cost.

There is no guarantee that community values in the ‘position statement’ will be binding within a development agreement, but we really want to represent your views on the development of the site. And this is our opportunity to do precisely that: place your views within the development process.

NHS Lothian has confirmed that the closing date for interested developers’ offers will be 9 February 2017. Therefore MSCC have been asked to share a set of views from the community by mid-January.

Once a developer is selected there will be further community engagement. The normal pre-application consultation process will ensue, with a Proposal of Application Notice and at least 3 months, and at least one local event, to engage further with stakeholders.  MSCC will be working to promote as much on-going additional community involvement as possible.

If you'd like to stay informed please join our dedicated mailing list by e-mailing pagsk2017@gmail.com or keep an eye on the MSCC Infoblog or on the MSCC Facebook page, or follow @marchsciennesCC on Twitter.

 

South Centra£ Decides: Intergenerational Projects - applications now open!

South Centra£ Decides again!  

This time for Intergenerational Projects

Applications must be in please by FRIDAY, 20^TH JANUARY 2017

Once again the Scottish Government has awarded the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership £10,000 which will be matched by the Neighbourhood Partnership, making a total of £20,000.   The money is to be distributed to the community via the Neighbourhood Partnership Community Grants Fund and is specifically ear-marked for intergenerational activities.  

The maximum grant available is £2,500 but please – it’s not compulsory to bid up to the max!  More projects can be funded if groups only bid for what they really need.   An application form and guidelines can be downloaded from the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Website.   Please remember – community grant funding is specific to each Neighbourhood Partnership area so your idea must be for the benefit of people local to South Central (Council Wards 10 and 15).

What are intergenerational activities?

Intergenerational involves two or more ages coming together in a joint initiative, sharing memories, skills, knowledge and having fun! This could be anything from sport, art, history, environmental improvements, dance etc – basically whatever you like as long as it involves two or more generations.  An example of a project could be Strictly Come Dancing where over a period of weeks older people teach the younger generation how to do the Fox Trot, Jive etc.   It could also include one off events.   If you are unclear or looking for some inspiration, why not check out the Generations Working Together website.   This organisation provides information, delivers support and encourages involvement to benefit all of Scotland’s generations, by working, learning, volunteering and living together.

How will the grants be awarded?

There will be a one off market-stall event held on Saturday, 4^th February at Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street.  On the day, the public will be will be asked to score the projects and those scoring the highest points will secure funding – until we reach the £20,000 available.

Nearer the time you will be provided with guidelines on what is expected of you on the day, including times etc.   The important thing just now is to get the application submitted.

Deadlines

There is going to be quick turnaround so your application and supporting documentation needs to be submitted by Friday, 20^th January 2017.  Please provide an electronic copy of the actual application form (in a Word format) as well as a signed hard copy.  

The reason for such a quick turnaround is that the money needs to be out of our coffers by the middle of March - don’t worry though successful projects will have the normal six months to spend their grant.

Research participants needed for Univ Edinburgh project exploring how to save energy

Changeworks has partnered with the University of Edinburgh to deliver IDEAL, a cutting edge research project exploring how smart technology can help save energy in the home. They are looking for Edinburgh households (EH1-17) with gas combi boiler heating to participate.

The benefits include:

• Gaining insight into your home energy use
• Receiving a free android tablet used to display energy use information
• Receiving tailored advice from University of Edinburgh experts
• Hopefully saving money on gas and electricity bills

For more information visit changeworks.org.uk/projects/ideal

To get involved email your name, address, and contact details to IDEAL@changeworks.org.uk, or call 0131 539 8610.

James Gillespie's High School Christmas Concert on 20 Dec at Usher Hall

Musical groups from James Gillespie's High School are performing at the Usher Hall on Tu 20 Dec at 7pm.

Visit usherhall.co.uk to buy tickets!

Thanks everyone for a wonderful Christmas Tree Lighting Event!

Thanks to all the performers at the Marchmont & Sciennes Christmas Tree lighting (Choir from Sciennes Primary and Pipes and Drums, Wind Band and Chamber Choir from JGHS). 

To Stuart from Marchmont Hardware and Brian from MSCC who compered. 

To the local traders who provided raffle prizes (Marchmont Pharmacy, Bohemia, New Leaf Co-op, MarchHair, Ann McGinley Florist, Marchmont Hardware, Doodles). 

To Butterflies Cafe for mince pies and Scotmid.

And to the volunteers who put out the chairs, put up the staging, served the wine and passed out song sheets and mince pies.

But especially to Alison who organised the whole thing!

Merry Christmas everyone when it comes. Maybe it'll snow!