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

Sunday 27 November 2022

MSCC Minutes for October 2022

 

mscc_logo_crop.jpg

                                       

 

                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

   MARCHMONT & SCIENNES COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2022

7:30 P.M. AT ST. CATHERINE’S ARGYLE

 

ATTENDANCE

 

PRESENT:

Brian Gilmore (Chair, MSCC), Alison Service (MSCC Treasurer), Anthony Holmes, Emma Willson (local resident), Cllr. Neil Ross, Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Susie Agnew (MSCC), Margaret Coughtrie (local resident)

 

APOLOGIES: Anne Laing (MSCC Secretary), Kayleigh Gordon (MSCC Publicity), Liane Phillips (MSCC Publicity), Douglas Rogers (MSCC)

 

IN ATTENDANCE

 Modupe Ojo (Minutes Secretary)

 

DISCUSSIONS

 

The meeting began at 7:33. Brian introduced Modupe, the new Minutes secretary.

Brian apologized for the error of including the presentation by Catherine Henderson from Scottish Water on the agenda for that day’s meeting. He noted that Catherine would be coming for the next meeting (Wednesday, 23 November 2022).

Nigel pointed out that the date on the draft minutes of the previous meeting was wrong and it was noted for amendment.

Alison proposed the adoption of the minutes of meeting and it was seconded by Nigel.

 

 

Police Report:

The Newsletter sent by the Police had been earlier circulated. Brian noted that the Police sent a cover letter with the newsletter stating that the police would not be routinely attending the meetings except if there is a specific request for their presence. The police quarterly newsletter would serve as feedback. Brian noted that the lesson to be learnt from this cover letter is that if anyone thinks there is a need for the police to attend the meeting, the secretary should be informed prior to the meeting so the police can be invited.

 

Scottish Water:

Brian noted that Marchmont Crescent would be closed as a through road for approximately 7 months. Cllr. Ross clarified that the closure would happen in phases and the northern part would be closed first.

Emma Wilson asked about the right person to contact if residents had suggestions about how the Northern end of Marchmont Crescent could be made more attractive. She said that several of the residents there would like to see some sort of street-scaping as it was a lovely corner which could be greatly enhanced with their various ideas. In the resulting discussion Cllr. Ross suggested that since Scottish Water had said they would be prepared to make some financial contribution to the community, they could be approached to make a  monetary contribution  for this proposal. The council could in turn use this contribution for any ideal project in the area. Brian noted that the timing might be the issue and it would be best to work with a concrete suggestion.

It was put to Emma that she and the other residents put together an actual plan of their ideas for improving the area and present it to the MSCC in the November meeting. After that, the MSCC could approach Scottish Water for some financial aid, after which it would be put to the Council for implementation. Now was the time to do it as the whole area is going to be dug up over the next few months.

 

 

 

Meadows & Bruntsfield Links: Including FOMBL report

There is currently no new report on FOMBL. Alison however noted that she would be attending a public meeting on 23rd with a speaker giving a presentation on the history of how Hibs and Hearts used to play matches on the Meadows. FOMBL and various other organisations had been planning something special for Mike Shields’ retirement. However, Mike is planning his own event for sometime in December. She would update the community council when she gets the definite date and the number of representatives from MSCC to attend.

Susie pointed out that the Born Free “Lions and Safari” installation on The Meadows is wonderful and attracting hundreds of people to view it. However, the ground around it is already horribly muddy and there are still 2-3 months to go.  Cllr Ross said he would notify the correct people to hopefully remedy the situation with some plastic ground covering to protect both the grass and the viewers’ boots!

 

 Publicity     

No report.

 

City Councillor report on topical local issues

Cllr. Ross updated that consultation is live on the website for raising the standards of HMOs, and the conditions surrounding granting licences to landlords for interim properties.  One of the initiatives is a best practice guide for landlords because none currently exists, and would encourage better practices by the landlords.  Cllr. Ross said that one area to improve is the requirement that emergency contacts are provided to near neighbours on an annual basis instead of the present 3-year basis as those who are new to the building may not know who to contact.  He encouraged everyone to respond and comment on this consultation.

Margaret Coughtrie asked about cases where letting agents were not known and the apartments were mostly occupied by students who weren’t long-term tenants. Cllr Ross said neighbours should be informed once a year as a condition of licence.

Cllr Ross went on to update the meeting about the new licensing arrangements for Short-Term Lets (STL) in Edinburgh.  The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) is taking advantage of recent Scottish Government legislation that enables local authorities to designate STL Control Areas.  Edinburgh has applied for the entire city to become a STL Control Area.  This means that all STLs must be licensed.  One of the licence conditions is that a property must hold the appropriate planning consent for its use.  If a property is not occupied by its owner but is used solely as a commercial STL, then the planning status of the property must be “Short Term Let”, and not “Residential”.  Therefore, many owners of properties that are currently operated as STLs are applying now for planning permission for change of use, before the deadline of 1 April 2023 for all such existing STLs to have applied if they are to be allowed to continue in business prior to having their STL licence application assessed.  CEC has issued draft changes to its “Guidance for Businesses” that includes criteria by which planning applications for change of use to STL will be assessed.  The proposed changes are open for public consultation until 22 December 2022.

 

Sick Kids site update:

The report from Downing has been circulated. Douglas met  the Home Group and his report has also been circulated.

 

Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment:

No update

 

Condition of pavements:

Alison mentioned that one of the Councillors had been to look into the pavements issue at the junction of Chalmers Crescent and Roseneath Street and liaise accordingly. Brian said it was best to carry this issue over to the next meeting in case Kaleigh and Lianne have an update on it.

 

Proposed defibrillators:

Alison said she went to see the Earl of Marchmont who started the fund for three defibrillators for the area.  Twice now she has left her contact details to be passed to the manager and owner, but hasn’t heard from them. She will try again.

 

Energy/insulation

Alison said she had tried to get someone from Home Energy Scotland to come to speak at the November meeting but they are currently really busy and would not be able to take any speaking engagements. She was sent videos for a presentation but Douglas didn’t think the video’s quality is of a high standard and he is prepared to himself put together a presentation instead.

Resolution: If Douglas agrees, then his presentation will take place in the Jan-23 meeting since Catherine from Scottish Water would be speaking at the meeting in the Nov-22 meeting.

 

Planning applications

Nigel followed up on the comments earlier by Cllr Ross about CEC’s consultation on changes to the Guidance for Businesses that relates to planning applications for change of us to Short Term Let (STL).  The Grange Association is itself consulting its members on its proposed default position that it will object to any planning application for a STL in a shared stair with residential properties or any STL that shares an entrance with a residential property.  This appears consistent with the proposed CEC changes to its guidance.

 

Grange Cemetery update:

The update on this has been circulated. Nigel said it is necessary to send someone on a training course for heavy lifting and handling to be able to supervise the restoration of the gravestones. 

Resolution: Cllr. Ross would look into this.

 

Christmas Tree event:

According to Alison, the electrics in the normal Christmas tree hole outside ScotMid have been dug up by council workers in error. However, a 24-foot Christmas tree would be delivered with its own heavy base as there is no time to fit new electrics before the event so lighting will be fed from the street lamps she thinks.  The A Capella Kids and various JG choirs and bands will all be participating. The Acapella Kids will sing with the community at the tree, but they prefer to do their wee show at the hall where they are heard better.  The charity collection will have to be done at the hall as the council now charges £500 for a permit for a street collection. Cllr Ross found this surprising and said he would check that. (Cllr Ross subsequently reported the charge is for ‘closing’ a street, not having a collection).

 

Treasurer's report:

The report has been circulated. The council has a bank balance of £1972.93.

 

 

Meetings attended:

No meeting attended

 

AOCB:

Anthony inquired about the charging of electric vehicles, especially considering the health and safety aspect to the ad hoc trailing of cables across pavements by vehicle owners using sockets in their own homes. The Thirlestane Lane Assoc own the wall opposite the wee houses and do not allow charging points to be put on the wall. Cables running from houses to cars are a danger.  It was pointed out that there are eight public charging points at the west end of Thirlestane Road just round the corner and they should be used instead. 

 

 

Margaret Cloughtrie said camper vans were parking right in front of her flat and obstructing her view of The Meadows. She wanted to know the rules about camper vans parking and what can be done about this. Cllr. Neil said that there would have to be a change in the law so the best method would be to get on to her MSP. At present caravans and camper vans can park just like cars.

Anthony asked about when the renovations and repairs would be completed at the Warrender Swim Centre, and Cllr. Neil said there are positive indications that it would be done soon.   

 

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 23rd November 2022

Monday 21 November 2022

MSCC - Agenda for 23rd Nov 2022

 

Marchmont & Sciennes

Community Council

 

Meeting on Wed 23rd November 2022 at 7:30pm

To be held at St Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall

 

 

A G E N D A

 

 

 

 1          Sederunt and apologies

 2         An update on the Scottish Water project: presentation by Catherine Henderson

3          Draft Minutes of last meeting 26th October 2022; actions and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

4           Publicity

5           Meadows & Bruntsfield Links: Including FOMBL report

6           City Councillor report on topical local issues

 

 

 

Items for discussion

 7      Christmas event

8              Sick Kids site: update

9              Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment: update

10      Condition of pavements

11     Proposed defibrillator

12           Planning applications

13           Grange Cemetery update

For info:

14           Treasurer's report

15           Meetings attended

16           AOCB

17           Date of next meeting : Wednesday 25thJanuary  2023

 

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend

Thursday 27 October 2022

MSCC Minutes for September 2022

 

mscc_logo_crop.jpgMarchmont & Sciennes

Community Council

 

 

 

Minutes of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

Meeting of Wed 28th September 2022, 7.30pm at St Catherine’s Argyle

 

Present: 

 

Brian Gilmore (Chair, MSCC), Alistair Langmuir (Minute Secretary), Anne Laing (MSCC Secretary), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Alison Service (MSCC Treasurer), Susie Agnew (MSCC), Cllr. Tim Pogson, Cllr. Marie-Clair Munro, Douglas Rogers (MSCC), Kayleigh Gordon (MSCC Publicity), Liane Phillips (MSCC Publicity).

 

Apologies:  Mike Shields (CEC), Cllr. Ben Parker , Anthony Holmes

 

Matters Arising:

 

Minutes from June’s meeting have been circulated. Alison approved the minutes and Susie seconded.

Alison will enquire about a speaker for the November MSCC meeting from Home Energy Scotland.

 

Friends of the Meadows:

History & Information panels – EWH have given a deadline for completion of March 2023.  The water fountain : is expected to be completed in Spring 2023

Trees: Forestry to provide 20 new trees for planting late Autumn. Plus 20 more on Meadows near Sciennes Primary. Sadly at least 5 trees planted at end-21 have died despite tree watering throughout the year. Three young rare Elms have been planted at the Links wildflower meadow.

Wildflower meadows: Unfortunately Council mowers cut the whole of the Leamington Walk wildflower meadow in August; Mike providing wildflower plugs to help make up. Links meadow doing well and a new rope’s been fixed round it.                                          

Benches – a community grant has been applied for to renovate various old wooden benches. Mike Shields has agreed to provide a new bench at the South Links playground.                     Cycle stands – Fombl working on the provision of cycle stands at various points around The Meadows.

 

Police report

 

None. Anne mentioned that the police had circulated a leaflet.

 

Marie Claire raised the issue of the use of nitrous oxide gas canisters by youngsters in the neighbourhood. Neighbours are concerned for their safety and the increasing litter, as the youngsters leave a great number of these canisters on the road. Mari Claire is meeting a police officer soon and will update the group on this matter.

 

Publicity Report

 

No updates.

 

Councillor report (1) Cllr. Tim Pogson

 

Cllr. Pogson commented on a Council meeting last week. The Scottish Parliament will be enacting the Tourist Tax legislation very soon (not specified). There are two concerns. First, that this might mean that grants and budgets to Edinburgh are reduced as it is considered to be supplementary income. Second, that the Council should have capacity to decide on what that income will be spent on. CEC to write to the Parliament to raise these two concerns.

 

Cllr. Pogson also said that the previous Council decided on a motion to promote “Warm and Welcoming Places” project. The aim is to have a network of warm public spaces across the city for people who may be struggling to heat their homes due to fuel poverty. Southside are keen on getting involved. Concerns by members were that fuel poverty should not be allowed or normalised by any means, but most think it is a good idea.

 

Meadows events. Tim reported that Mike Shields attended a meeting with licensing companies. Council are keen to have events in the future, but they must be limited in time and the number of attendees and be managed properly.

 

Scottish Widows Building renovation (A-listed building). The application was submitted and soon will be publicly available in the website. The front section will stay as it is and be used by various small enterprises as offices. The rest will involve partially demolishing the interior of the building to build five new accommodation blocks, two of them affordable. Neighbours are concerned about the height of the new five-storey buildings and raised formal complaints to the Council. Douglas asked about insulation and Tim offered to put him in contact with developers.

 

Astley Ainslie Hospital site: The planning officers said they have not had any communication with NHS, and Tim agreed to liaise. Nothing will happen for several years at the very earliest and in all likelihood it is anticipated that there will be no significant change for some years beyond that’.

 

Councillor report (2) Marie-Clair Munro

Cllr. Munro attended a meeting last Saturday regarding the Midmar Paddock, in Midmar Drive (which is outside the Community Council area). The meeting was very well attended. Developers said they will start the work in three years. One 50-bed care home is planned in the dip, plus 8 special needs self-contained apartments. The rest will be 80 allotments, which have a long waiting list. In the south west corner of the site, at the top of the hill,, two private houses will be built next to the large Cala Home already there. The project also involves redoing paths for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities. It still has to go through the planning process. The developer has threatened that, if the community does not support these proposals, and the proposals are refused by CEC, then it will appeal to the Scottish Government and submit a revised  application for lots of new-build homes plus some affordable housing, relying on the Government’s priority for new housing to gain approval.

 

Transport: ‘Spaces for People’ has been redesignated as “Travelling Safely” and is going through an 18 month-long consultation to determine whether the schemes should remain in place. There are very vocal opinions on both sides. The experimental traffic regulation will stay another 18 months.  The closure of Sciennes Road to motor traffic at the school will remain, and will be reviewed when the works at the Sick Kids site are over.

Anne mentioned that the notices for road closures are inappropriate and confusing, and there have been complaints, but nothing has been done.

 

Cllr. Munro also said that 20 minutes neighbourhood project is working to encourage people to source groceries and other goods within their neighbourhoods. In Morningside, it has to be circulated.

 

 

Sick kids updates

 

Home Group will be building the affordable housing block at the foot of Sylvan Place. Douglas is organising a meeting with them, Cllr Flannery and Anne to establish a good communication link. They will probably start works in May. Some homes will be ‘mid-market range’, while others are classed as ‘affordable housing’.

Anne said the rest of the site has been bought by Square and Crescent, an Edinburgh based developer who specialises in converting Victorian properties. Anne and Douglas will endeavour to establish a communication link with them as well.

 

Condition of pavements

 

Liane reports that there have been some serious falls on the pavement and road at the junction of Roseneath Street and Chalmers Crescent by elderly (and not so elderly) residents due to the extremely poor state of the pavement/road. At least four people have ended up in hospital. The elderly living in the local care home are not confident of using the pavement anymore. Even one of the care workers suffered a fractured shoulder from a fall recently.

The local residents want to write a letter to the Council. In the past, councillors have reported it, and though the pavement was inspected and they said it had deteriorated, nothing has been done. Both Councillors offered to help with contacts and letters.

 

Proposed defibrillator

 

Alison mentioned that the Earl of Marchmont, who started the fund for defibs in the local area, have a link with a youth football group, and are keen to raise enough to supply 2-3 defibrillators, in the Sciennes/Marchmont area. Everyone is keen to know more, and Alison will continue to liaise with the Pub owner and update the MSCC with how it is going.

 

Planning applications

All quiet.

 

Grange cemetery.

 

Report has been circulated. Open Doors Day was a big success with lots of interest.

The Catacombs will be fully open next year, though there is still a lot of work to be done.

Cllr. Marie-Clair reported that dog owners are now obliged by Council regulation to have their pets on leads in all cemeteries.

 

Scottish Water

 

Liane Phillips went to the information gazebo and though helpful, there is a general lack of information, and Scottish Water (SW) was not aware of several key issues.

The major concern explained is that they have found bed-rock bellow Marchmont Crescent, and that they will be drilling and working on that road for sections for at least 6 to 9 months in order to renew and upsize the sewer. The timeline is three month for every section, allowing extra time for problems. Timings have been designed to suit businesses. According to Liane, residents do not have enough information, for the leaflets and plans supplied by SW are not clear or in plain language. They are however, offering free surveys to all properties in Marchmont Crescent which is important as cracks etc can be caused in properties by this work in the Crescent. The MSCC agrees that is important to circulate that information and that further communication with SW is necessary.

Another issue is that SW did not realise Marchmont Crescent was not a through road.

They have promised a donation to the Community for the upheaval caused.

They will suspend parking bays when working, and the machinery will be kept at night in the secure site on the Links.

A concern raised by Alison is that the site is terribly muddy and the surrounding area will be a mudbath.

It was suggested to do a campaign in social media to inform people.

Another issue is that the 41 bus will have to be diverted, and this is very difficult for our elderly residents who depend on it. SW said it is up to the Community Council to liaise with Lothian Buses, but Douglas said that was not right. SW did not know about the university bus either. Cllr Pogson said he would look into this.

Liane is waiting for SW to contact her and will keep us and the community informed via the noticeboards and other areas, including the fact that residents of Marchmont Crescent are entitled to a free survey.

Scottish Water say they have sent an email, but people have not read it, or has not reached them.

Anne proposed the MSCC contact Scottish Water to raise the concern about the lack of information. Douglas thinks that peoples’ complaints help to move things. Lianne and Kayleigh to further this with SW.

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

Monthly report was circulated. The EDC grant has been received (£737) and the balance at end August 2022 stands at £1982.93.

 

Meetings attended.

 

Douglas went to Dynamic Earth. Presentations ‘Warm works’ for insulation and heat pumps to houses. Warm works does the survey. Many people can value from this.

Other matters were hygiene projects, and the net zero will have a huge impact on the city. 

 

 

AOCB

 

Sat 3rd December is the date for the Community Christmas Tree lighting and Carol Singing.

Alison to check if a large tree is coming from the Council this year as the one in situ is very small.

Alison asked for ideas for the guest presenter for this year and for the charity to benefit from the collection.

 

 

AOCB

 

Douglas wants to clarify what are acceptable and non-acceptable changes to buildings. Listed buildings are regulated nationally. Permission have not been granted in the past. People need to know what they need to ask permission for and what not. Householder guidance is a good reference document. To be followed on.

 

Anne: The Breakfast Bothy – police box near Pavilion. It is being run by someone who is seeking to have charitable status. It provides breakfast to homeless and are hoping to start serving soup at lunchtimes. Alison asked how the Community Council can support this venture. Anne answered they want a supply of scarfs and hats and gloves, so maybe posting an appeal in social media would be a good idea.

Once they are a charity, things will be easier regarding funding - but this could take a long time. They also want to have a small area of garden, a community garden, alongside the Police Box..

 

Date of next meeting:  Wednesday 26th October at 7.30pm.