This blog is where you will find community council information, including meeting times, minutes and agenda. Do please comment on postings.

Wednesday 20 November 2019

DRAFT Agenda for the meeting on 27th November 2019


Marchmont & Sciennes
Community Council


Meeting on Wed 27th November 2019 at 7:30pm
St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls, Beaufort Road

A G E N D A

 1             Sederunt and apologies
 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 23rd October 2019, and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)
 3             Police Report
 4             Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
 5             City Councillor report on topical local issues
 6             Election of Secretary (repeat)
Items for discussion
 7             Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment
                                – Current position
 8             Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update
                                Report on consultation meetings
 9             Marchmont, Meadows and Bruntsfield Conservation Area Consultation
10           Review of Parks
11           Parking Charging changes
12           Planning (Applications & consultations)
·         Any others

Items for information
13           Treasurer's report
14           Meetings attended
                                City Plan 2030
                                EACC
15           AOCB
15           Date of next meeting: 22nd January 2020 (No December Meeting)

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend.
MSCC is online at: https://www.facebook.com/MarchmontSciennesCommunityCouncil

Friday 25 October 2019

MSCC Minutes for September 2019


Marchmont & Sciennes
Community Council



Minutes of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council
Meeting of Wed 25 September 2019 at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Halls, 
Beaufort Road

Present:  – Brian Gilmore (Chair), Mike Shields (EDC Parks Officer), Sophia Coyne (Minutes Secretary), Shane Voss (MSCC), Alison Service (MSCC), Anne Laing (MSCC), Adam Stewart (local resident), Mandy Watt (Cllr Morningside), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Neil Mackay, Mark Phillips, Cameron Rose (Cllr Southside/Newington )

Apologies:– Stuart Tooley, Douglas Rogers, Susan Agnew (MSCC)

Matters arising:
Draft Minutes from last meeting, 26th June 2019, have been circulated and amended with a few minor corrections.  Brian will make 3 changes to the minutes.  Alison and Shane moved minutes as corrected. 

Police Report: 
Police reported on drug enforcement activity.  Numerous arrests have been made related to drug supply charges.  There has been continued issuance of drug warrants.  The target has been dealers to obstruct supply.  

Police continue programme to steer young people away from crime and drug abuse.  

In July there were incidents of garage thefts and break-ins.

A man has been extradited from Germany to face charges of sexual assault relating to an incident in Salisbury Place in October 2016.  

There was youth disorder reported on first week of school holidays with vandalism and misbehaviour in the Crags and Meadows.  CCTV inquiries identify the group.  

Currently, there is a graffiti task force underway.  There was discussion concerning incidence of bike theft in the area.  

Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
Mike shields reported on activity in the Meadows over the summer. There was a wet July but not a lot of flooding.  A ticketed Tennis event is to take place in May with a tennis court built and taken down after use.  It was proposed that another walk about in the Meadows occur in November.  

There was a query concerning maintenance of planters on Marchmont Road.  Discussion was had concerning use of barbecues in the Meadows and elevating the barbecues to avoid singe of grass.  Temporary signs have been effective in promoting proper use of barbecues in the Meadows.  

There was additional discussion concerning camping in the Meadows and status of the campers.

In terms of rough sleeping – festival sleepers who are not engaging with homeless services are not permitted to stay, they will be moved on. There have been attempts to help those who are rough sleeping.  A homeless task force has been meeting.

City Councillor report on topical local issues: 
In terms of the issues of refuse collection there are concerns about overflowing bins, street bins, and recycling bins. There was also discussion concerning recycling. A new reporting website system, accessible 9th of October, available to anybody, will be a much better way of reporting any local issue such as street lights, overflowing bins, potholes etc. 
There was discussion concerning on-street cycle storage units on proposed streets for units.  
Adam Stewart, local resident, raised local concerns about seagull management.  It has been observed that seagulls are increasing in number.  Would like to see local residents grouping together and participating in the cost of removal, estimated at £150 per month in the breeding season (per block).
.  

Election of Secretary: (repeat)
Awaiting with the election of new CC members.  

Items for discussion: 

Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment:
There have been no further developments pending the move of NHS Lothian from the site which is now currently scheduled for Autumn 2020.  
Developers appear content with this timescale for access as their planning permission is valid for three years.  

Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update 

Similarly drawn out situation with Astley Ainslie.  Meetings have been postponed.  

There have been four drop-in sessions, one nominally for each of the community council areas. The council sessions have had moderate attendance, with a couple of hundred people coming through.  People have expressed interest in lots of nature, green trees.  This has been a good exercise.  


Graffiti Issues

There has been contact from St. Catherine’s church about graffitti.  There was discussion concerning putting up CCTV to catch perpetrators.  

Planning (Applications & consultations): 
None of significance.  Discussion centred on electric vehicle charging, and short term lets, room rental/whole flat rentals, and planning enforcement.  

Items for Information: 
Treasurer's report: 
The Treasurer’s report had been circulated.  
The EDC grant has been received. No contact details have been found for the Meadows Festival so the MSCC donation cannot be paid.    The balance in the account to end Aug-19 is £1117.25
           

Meetings attended: 
None. 

Elections for the Community Council – deadline for nominations 30 September

Each elector may propose one nominee and second one nominee. 

For Marchmont Sciennes Community Council there are currently 6 nominations already received. 

Deadline is 4pm on the 30th of September, Monday 

AOCB:
Discussion concerning potential replacement/refurbishment of Noticeboards. 
An error in the previous Minutes was corrected – Marchmont Hardware is NOT closed.  Lee-Ann continues to run it with her daughter.
.  
Also in the previous minutes the Treasurer’s report said that the new auditors had been appointed but the name was not noted, it is Jim Orr (ex Councillor and current convener of FOMBL).  

Date of next meeting: 23rd October 2019 (Provisional, depends on the elections)


Wednesday 16 October 2019

MSCC - Agenda for 23rd October 2019


Marchmont & Sciennes
Community Council


Meeting on Wed 23rd October 2019 at 7:30pm
St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls, Beaufort Road

This meeting is the first meeting of the Council after the Community Council elections, as a consequence the agenda is much briefer than normal

A G E N D A

1                   Sederunt and apologies
2                   Report of election  (Cllr Cameron Rose)
3                   Appointment of:
a.       Chair
b.       Vice Chair
c.       Secretary
d.       Treasurer
e.       Other posts
4                  Review and looking forward
5                   Urgent issues
a.       Draft Minutes of last meeting, 25th September 2019
b.       Other
c.       Agreement of future meeting dates


All who live or work locally are welcome to attend.
MSCC is online at: https://www.facebook.com/MarchmontSciennesCommunityCouncil

Thursday 26 September 2019

MSCC Minutes June 2019


mscc_logo_crop.jpgMarchmont & Sciennes
Community Council


Meeting on Wed 26th June 2019 at 7:30pm
St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls, Beaufort Road
Minutes of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council
Meeting of Wed 26 June 2019 at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Halls, 
Beaufort Road
Present:  – Stuart Irvin (St. Catherine’s Argyle), Sophia Coyne (Minutes Secretary), Brian Gilmore (Chair), Ann Laing (MSCC), Catherine Jenner, Shane Voss (MSCC), David Scott (Police Scotland), Euan Mackay (Police Scotland), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Cllr. Ian Berry, Alison Service (MSCC) 
Apologies:– Cllr. Mandy Watt, Ian Murray MP, Susie Agnew (MSCC)
Matters arising:
Draft minutes from May have been circulated and amended. Minutes approved. No outstanding actions from May. 

Police Report: 
Officers David Scott and Euan Mackay gave the report. 
Police officers have been conducting patrols of Nicholson Square and the surrounding areas.  There has been alcohol and drug misuse in these neighborhoods. Stair checks have been performed as there are certain tenancies linked to anti-social behavior.  There have been community meetings with residents who are concerned about antisocial behaviour from youth, some of who live in the area.  A former Nicholson Square resident is trying to work with the council on the issues.  House break-ins were reported in the  Southside of Edinburgh and local officers have been working with the University with regard to issues of rough sleeping and drink and drug misuse.  Surgeries are also addressing alcohol and drug abuse issues for this area, particularly with regard to young people, who tend to populate the area.  
Matters arising:
Mike Shields is on holiday. 
FOMBL (Friends of the Meadows & Bruntsfield Links) report see below.  
Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
City Councilor report on topical local issues: 
It is observed that the instances of antisocial behavior reported in Nicholson Square and the surrounding area pose no direct threat presently. There was concern expressed about displacement into the Meadows where substance abusers could congregate.   
It is a difficult issue to tackle.  Discussion concerning possible remedies with job placement for the individuals involved, assistance with rehabilitation from substance abuse, increased housing for those without shelter.  
Other issues discussed include fly-tipping or illegal dumping of rubbish, and the intrusion of hedges onto the pavement area. Private hedges need to be measured particularly and they cannot protrude onto the sidewalk beyond what the allowed measurement. However, overgrown hedges can be reported to the council and they will prune it for a small fee. Brian will pass this one to a resident who had an inquiry about this. 
Election of Secretary: (repeat)
Items for discussion: 
Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment:
Move set to commence between the 5th and the 15th of July. Developments to begin soon. 
Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update 
There was a helpful note passed around to those in the engagement list. 
There was a meeting on the 27th of May, NHS Lothian, Community Council, and AA Community Trust.  The good news is that there was more engagement.  The council gave an undertaking.  A planning committee meeting is scheduled for 2nd October. 
The Grange Association will have another meeting with them in early July when the draft gets the seal of approval.  
Planning (Applications & consultations):
An email was circulated by the Grange Association. There were no applications discussed.  
Items for Information: 

Treasurer's report: 
£515 in the bank.  There has been very little activity.  
There will be a new auditor as of March next year - the name of the auditor is announced.  
There was discussion concerning the Meadow’s Festival Association donation. 
Meetings attended: 
City Vision – Focus Group Report: 
Nigel Ayton attended this meeting and reported. 
FOMBL: 
 There was discussion concerning rubbish collection, street development, need for housing law, and tourist taxes. Further discussion concerning funds raised at the Meadows Festival for the benefit of Edinburgh residents. 
AOCB:
South East Locality – Planning Partnership Representative and other Neighbourhood networks as mentioned in the prior meetings.  
Two items have been circulated with requests for involvement in upcoming elections/meetings – Tim Pogson (from Newington side), there have been no nominations for Morningside yet, Brian has been nominated to vote on behalf of the community council. 
Short term letting – so many in the tenement areas (does not affect the Grange and Marchmont).  Key safes outside demonstrate that short term letting is happening in the places nearby. There was discussion concerning an EU Court case involving the stipulation that the short-term lessor is merely an internet service provider and not a letting agency.    
There was discussion concerning the debate in Scottish Government on zoning policy, restriction/curtailment of the number of flats.  Also, the Scottish government is consulting a survey on short term letting. Alison will provide the link for the survey, and Brian will put the link on the full mailing list. 
With respect to Lee Ann who had operated Marchmont Hardware, sadly, her partner passed away.  Alison will send a card on behalf of the Community council.  
As concerns the planters on Marchmont crescent at the bottom, PTA (Gillespie’s) - everyone is keen to see something done with the planters.  Perhaps it is worth putting a notice up, some soil and some plants, planters are becoming full of rubbish, cigarettes, and beer containers etc.
Reminder that the election for the community council is coming up in September, the papers are not out to apply until the 9th of September. 
Date of next meeting: 

25 of September 2019.   

The meeting closes at 8:17 PM.


Wednesday 18 September 2019

DRAFT Agenda for the September Meeting


Marchmont & Sciennes
Community Council


Meeting on Wed 25th September 2019 at 7:30pm
St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls, Beaufort Road

A G E N D A

 1             Sederunt and apologies
 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 26th June 2019, and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)
 3             Police Report
 4             Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
 5             City Councillor report on topical local issues
 6             Election of Secretary (repeat)
Items for discussion
 7             Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment
                                – Current position
 8             Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update
                                Report on consultation meetings
 9             Graffiti Issues
10           Planning (Applications & consultations)
·         Any others

Items for information
11           Treasurer's report
12           Meetings attended
                                Any?
13           Elections for the Community Council – deadline for nominations 30 September
14           AOCB
15           Date of next meeting: 23rd October 2019 (Provisional, depends on the elections)

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend.
MSCC is online at: https://www.facebook.com/MarchmontSciennesCommunityCouncil

Wednesday 11 September 2019

Community Council Elections


The time for the Community Council elections for the next 4 years is now upon us.

This is a self-nomination process and the timescale for returning a nomination form opened on the 9th September and closes at 4pm on Monday the 30th September.

The process itself is a very easy one, the nomination form can be found on the Council website under 'Community Councils' but I have provided a direct link to Marchont & Sciennes here:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/12722/marchmont_and_sciennes

Basically you require two people to back you, a proposer and a seconder, and all 3 of you must live within the MSCC area.

The completed form can be scanned and returned to Councillor Rose who is our returning officer or the paper version can be returned to Councillor Rose at the Council.

I will bring spare copies to the normal meeting of MSCC on the 25th September.

We are allowed to have 14 members and an election would be held if the were more nominations than that but this has never happened in our history!

I really would encourage you to consider nominating yourself, the process is very easy and I would really expect you to find being a Community Councillor a rewarding and sometime challenging experience.

Brian Gilmore

(current chair of MSCC)

Tuesday 2 July 2019

MSCC Minutes of the May 2019 Meeting


mscc_logo_crop.jpgMarchmont & Sciennes
Community Council


Meeting on Wed 22 May 2019 at 7:30pm (including AGM)
St Catherine's Argyle Church Halls, Beaufort Road


Present:  Brian Gilmore (Chair), Sophia Coyne (Minute Secretary), Alastair McInnes (4/5 Livingston Pl.), Stuart Fraser (Police), Shane Voss (MSCC), Anne Laing (MSCC), Alison Service (MSCC), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Cllr Mandy Watt (Morningside), Gavin Donoghue (University of Edinburgh, Stakeholder Relations ), Anthony Holmes (Thirlestane Lane Association, MSCC), Cllr Cameron Rose (Southside / Newington)

Apologies:  Susie Agnew, Cllr Neil Ross, Mike Shields (Edinburgh Council Parks) 

Matters arising: 

Draft minutes have been circulated and amended. 

Nigel proposes an amendment to the April minutes to correct the record to reflect that the planning application for the RHSC had been passed, but that the Mortuary Chapel Building was excluded. Additionally, the record should be amended to reflect Historic Churches Scotland’s interest in receiving ownership of the chapel building.  

 Police Report: 

Alcohol related incidents in the Meadows, and several break-ins reported.  
Caution issued to make sure things are locked to create a level of protection. 

There was one serious assault reported - the victim was attacked with a bottle in the Meadows.  

There have been reports of cycle theft.  Additionally, there have been telephone scams reported – people phoning up pretending to be the fraud department at the Royal Bank of Scotland.  Caution issued to the community.  

There have been complaints concerning noisy student parties.  

Police have been working with Edinburgh City Council, Castle Rock to resolve neighbour disputes.

Police advise of drug possession arrests in areas neighbouring Marchmont.  

Police have been going around to schools to engage in discussion with pupils about how to behave and respect the community.  

Suspect identified in connection with several break ins.  New doorbell camera technology assisted in identification of suspect.  

Police caution that while drinking alcohol in public is not an offence, unsocial behaviour is.  

Police report that a drunk driver was apprehended.  Speeding drivers have been ticketed.    

A homeless man, known locally as ‘organic Jim’ has been seen in Marchmont and neighbouring areas.  

There have been observations concerning graffiti on bins. Cllr Rose commented that the council has the resources to record the graffiti tags and try to identify perpetrators 

A caution was issued that in repeated unauthorised visits by DCM Builders, the lugging of heavy materials over the wall, in the privately-owned Thirlestane Lane, may result in damage as the wall is not that well-constructed. DCM builders have figured in community council concerns in other areas.

There was a report of an altercation between a builder and a member of the community in his lane.  The building is otherwise accessible but the builders choose to use the lane. 

Police advise that while “trespassing,” as defined in English legislation, does not exist in Scottish law, “being in a building with the intent of theft” is against the law.  

Meadows & Bruntsfield Links: 

Mike Shields – apologies.  

Underbelly scheduled a community meeting which was cancelled due to lack of interest possibly as most concerns have been answered.  A contact number will be provided for any issues or incidents.  

City Councillor report on topical local issues:
Cllr Rose reports working with the local police and with the council senior officer to get a local operation on graffiti as there has been a spike in graffiti incidents in the area.  

Cllr Watt reports concerning activity in Morningside Ward.  There were proposals regarding Braidburn Terrace and Braidburn Crescent, to make traffic one way and to make things less congested.  

Items for AGM: 

Approve Note of last year's AGM - 

Brian has circulated last year’s minutes and they have been approved.  

Matters arising from the AGM minutes - 

None.  

Annual Report - Chair (Brian Gilmore) 

Brian extends thanks to the police, local councillors, Mike Shields, Anne Laing, Alison Service, and for Douglas’ work on Sick Children’s site, Nigel Ayton.  Activities planned include the Christmas tree lighting event in Sciennes, and attending to planning issues with respect to Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Astley Ainsley.  

Annual Report  - Secretary  
None. 

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

Annual Treasurer Report not yet circulated. 

Alison reported on the 2018/19 audited accounts.  The balance sheet shows £515.43 remaining.

Income and expenditure- the main Income is always a grant from the council.   Expenditures include hall hire, minutes secretary, memberships, Christmas tree event, Grange association.  

The year to March 2018 had been a difficult year due to a shortage of funds resulting from earlier outlays in connection with the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.  Savings were made in 2018 to resolve these issues and replenish the funds.  The year to March 2019 had been more secure financially, allowing the restoration of customary subscriptions and services.

A full financial plan for the coming year (2019/20) will be outlined in the next meeting in June. 

The Current Auditor, Gordon McRobert, is stepping down after 9 years of being the MSCC auditor.
Co-option of members  - 

This will be considered after the elections. 

Election of Officers

Nominations as follows:  

Chair: Brian. 

Secretary - to be determined.  

Treasurer – Alison. 

There are no more officers. 

Date of next AGM  - 

Brian proposes that it will be a year from now in May 2020. 

Ordinary meeting dates for 2019-20 - 

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


AOCB  - 

A thank you is given to Brian. 

Elections for community council are coming up this year – nomination papers will be out on the ninth of September.  

Items for discussion: 

Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment 

Apologies from Douglas who sent a note with an update that there are no significant changes since the last meeting. 

Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update

Meeting on Monday 27th of May with NHS Lothian, CEC planning department, and the Astley Ainslie Community Trust (AACT).  

Discussion was had concerning frustration that main players – NHS and the council -have not produced any visible deliverables since Christmas.  There were public events held by AACT in March for gathering ideas and working it up into a vision.  AACT is currently working on a spatial strategy for presentation on Monday 27th May meeting.  A lot of survey work remains to be done.  The meeting on the 27th is the next step.
Cllr Rose asked for the best estimate for the final vacation.  The final patient is not now expected to leave the site until 2025.  However, the NHS has not committed to changing its previously stated timetable for marketing the site, which contemplates an initial approach to the market in 2020.  The site will take years to develop and it is feasible that some parts of the site could be released for redevelopment while patients remain in other parts.  The NHS remains committed to awaiting approval by CEC of the Place Brief for the site prior to any approach to the market.  Hence the Place Brief must be drafted and approved by early 2020.   

Planning matters (Applications & consultations): 

There was discussion concerning application for 48A Lauder Road to create hardstanding in the front garden.  This is a listed building. A previous application for hardstanding in front of the bay window had been refused.  The revised application now includes removal of a tree and the installation of an electric vehicle charging point.  The Grange Association is minded to object to this revised application also, notwithstanding the inclusion of a vehicle charging point.   The Association would be supportive of community wide discussion about on-street placement of electrical vehicle charging points. It is an environmental dilemma to eliminate trees and gardens for private off-street electrical vehicle charging points. It is not yet feasible to connect multiple charging points to street lights without major upgrade of the electrical distribution network. 

Southside Neighbourhood Network  - Report on 1st Meeting

Neighbourhood partnership groups reported to a body called the Edinburgh Partnership. 
Decision to create neighbourhood networks – meeting of the Southside next was held on Monday night which Brian attended. There are going to be 13 of these neighbourhood networks in Edinburgh as a whole reporting to four Locality Community Planning Partnerships.  This matches the old neighbourhood partnerships.  This is space for community groups to improve quality of life in the community.  There are neighbourhood networks for both Southside and Morningside.  The Morningside meeting is coming up next week.  

Attendance at the Southside meeting included 3 out of the 4 ward councillors and a wide-ranging set of community organisations.  Community grant money to be settled at the meetings.  The emphasis of the meetings will be planning.  

Cllr Watt stated that issues to be discussed at the meetings will include community development, community initiatives, and the community grants fund.  Cllr Rose commented on the powers of the council, and legislation dealing with community planning.

Treasurer's report:

Completed as part of the AGM. £515.43 with one unpresented cheque. 

Meetings attended: 

None.

AOCB: 

Short term lets – Edinburgh residents are putting together recommendations and feedback concerning Airbnbs and short term let issues.   

Street and pavement decluttering project - identification and removal of obstructions for pedestrians.  Discussion had concerning Edinburgh’s narrow pavements and obstructions. 

Edinburgh shared use parking upgrade – discussion was had concerning shared use parking, review of parking ticket and resident permit parking, spaces available to permit holders.  

Edinburgh University – community relations.   Discussion was had concerning providing access for the community if there any issues and concerns.  An issue has arisen with respect to the quantity and concentration of student accommodation that has been built.

Date of next meeting: 

26 of June 2019.   

The meeting closes at 8:56 PM.