Marchmont and Sciennes Community
Council
Minutes of Meeting held on September
27th, 2023 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall
Present: Brian
Gilmore - MSCC Chair, Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary, Douglas Rogers - MSCC, Susie
Agnew - MSCC, Srahan - Home Group, Callum Bell - Home Group, Cllr. Simita
Kumar, Polly Gates - local resident, Bob Gates - local resident, Margaret
Coughtrie- local resident, Tony Holmes - TLA, Norah Rogers - local resident,
Richard Dietrich - member of public, Katherine Dickie - local resident, Donald
Dickie - local resident
6
Apologies: Alison
Service - MSCC Treasurer, Donald Henderson - MSCC
Attending: Eli
Ferrell - Temporary Minutes Secretary
Meeting
began at 7:36pm
Draft Minutes of 28/06/23
Douglas Rogers movies to approve the minutes.
Matters Arising
There are no other matters arising.
Police Report (last CPT circulated)
A report has been circulated.
Katherine Dickie notes that there have been burglaries in
the area recently. Donald Dickie notes that the police do not communicate with
the neighbourhood watch on these issues. Police resources seem focused on
distributing information on cyber crime.
There was a police representative at the Morningside CC
meeting. Anne Laing will attempt to invite them to the next MSCC meeting.
JR group reporting about Sylvan
Place Road closure and development (Callum Bell, Project Manager; Graham
Gemmell, Home Group)
The substation is not yet demolished, but there will soon be
demolishing of that site so that operations can commence on site. The funding
offer was approved in office, so JR group has accepted the tender. Ground works
should begin at the end of October, as the clearing license expires at midnight
on October 28th. JR Group is currently looking at a 90-week program before
residents can move in due to the complexities of the site, although Anne notes
that this was originally pitched as a shorter project.
It has been deemed more productive to maintain full closure
than partial closure, as full closure will allow for a quicker completion of
the project. Work will happen Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm, and some Saturday work
from 8am-2pm. Douglas Rogers notes that Rillbank Crescent is not being closed
because the diversion signs would be confusing with the Scottish Water
closures.
A tower crane will be put in at the back of the site. At
Douglas’s suggestion, JR group will see if it’s possible for the barriers to be
a foot back from the curb in order to limit the impact on community.
There will be 31 units, divided into general needs and
mid-market rent.
Cllr. Simita Kumar notes there have been complaints about
litter from the site. There will be an effort made to mitigate that issue.
Meadows and Bruntsfield Links
Ongoing issues: A report has been circulated from the 4th of
September.
City Councillor report on local
issues (Simita Kumar, Councillor)
Simita Kumar used to have an office in Mellville. She is a
part-time councillor and works part-time at the NHS. Some cases she’s dealt
with in the past year were focused around roads, homelessness, and installing
toilets in the Meadows. Her remit is focused on rights, responsibilities, and
education for care-experienced children and young people.
Sylvan Place is closed from today through the 90-week
period.
Phase 4 bin reviews: there will be a space for the communal
bins and also a space for controlled parking.
Council offices have identified eight schools that
potentially have RAAC, none of which are in this ward. They have not yet
completed surveys on community centres. Repairs costs will be in the billions,
so the council has reached out to the UK government for assistance. Guidance on
RAAC is on the website if you need more information.
Sciennes Primary School still has a closed road in front.
Council offices has taken legal advice, and this issue is ongoing. Cllr. Kumar
says that parents are concerned that there are still cars coming in while this
area is closed (due to a lack of physical barrier and only flashing lights).
Margaret Coughtrie points out that the notices are confusing, which could be
causing the issue--this will be brought forward to Council Offices.
Publicity
There is no report.
Sick Kids site
A report has been circulated.
Douglas reports the contractors are discussing selling Millerfield
Place in spring of next year. They will put up a notice board with quarterly
updates.
Planning applications
A report has been partially circulated from the Grange
Association, and will be completely circulated after the meeting. Most
applications have been refused.
They accepted an application to increase the numbers of
parking spaces in front of the main hospital from 12 to 18. Douglas points out
this will cause significantly greater traffic.
Bin hub project update
Anne Laing reports Bin hubs in Fingal Place were planned to
be in front of two doors. This caused disruption in the community, so the hub
has been moved.
Richard Dietrich reports there has been no resolution to the
complaints about the bin hubs’ location on Warrender Park Terrace. The new
placement is the same as the placement that was objected to twenty years ago.
If there is a continuation of placement where the community has objected to, he
points out there is perhaps grounds to appeal because the community should have
been consulted on the guidelines for bin placements that the Council set, and
they were not consulted.
There is a report from Richard Dietrich that mixed waste and
recycling was taken by the same rubbish lorry in Warrender Park Terrace.
Update on Sewer Flooding project
A report has been circulated.
Bus Route Update
Brian Gilmore reports bus route number 9 is no longer going
down Bridges/Chamber Street. Following successful complaints, it is now going
down the Mound.
Treasurer’s Report
A report has been
circulated.
Meetings attended
Conservation & Adaption and Energy Efficiency Strategy
meetings were attended by Douglas. Additionally, he has given two talks to
different Communities Councils on Conservation Zone Insulation problems. He is
now attempting to bring together CC representatives to consolidate a
recommendation document for residents.
AOB
Christmas Events: a report has been circulating stating that
everything is on track for the 25th of November.
Sciennes Road litter issues: this was discussed by the
Councillors and the developers.
Short-term lets: Richard Dietrich would like community
support contesting the short-term let in Warrender Park Terrace. Unfortunately,
this kind of support is not the purview of the community council. Any protests
should be directed to the Council.
Community buy-out of St Catherine’s of Argyle: there has
been no more movement on this issue.
Date of next meeting
October 25th, 2023
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