Marchmont
and Sciennes Community Council
Minutes
of Meeting held on June 26th, 2024 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church
Hall
Present:
Brian Gilmore -
Chair, Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary, Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer,
Douglas Rogers - MSCC, Lianne Phillips - MSCC Publicity, Kayleigh
Gordon - MSCC Publicity, Cllr. Tim Pogson, Richard Robinson - local
resident, Cathy McDonald - local resident, Kate McNairney - local
resident (SMAG)
Apologies:
Susie Agnew -
MSCC, Anthony Holmes - Thirlestane Lane Association,
Cllr
Ben Parker (recieved after meeting)
Attending:
Nora
Flynn-McIver - Minutes Secretary
Meeting
began at 7:33pm
Draft
Minutes of 22/05/24
Alison
moves to pass, Anne seconds. The minutes are approved.
Matters
Arising
Cllr.
Tim Pogson got an answer about whether or not planning permission is
necessary for bin hubs. The answer is no - a TRO is necessary
instead.
Anne
attended the Meadows Festival, there were two names added to the
Google Group list. The people from Southside and Anne agreed that
this might have been a waste of time, as they got very little
attention at the event.
Police
Report
None.
FOMBL
Report
The
FOMBL project update has been circulated. There is a proposed siting
of the new Meadows toilet block, which has been circulated as well.
Some members of FOMBL are concerned about the proposed placement of
the toilets being at the bottom of Middle Meadow Walk, more people
want it either where the temporary toilets are, across from the
pavilion, or on the North end. The Council cited trees and roots as
issues with that area. Alison also brought up that bollards of sorts
should be put up to stop cars from parking in the bike lane if the
toilets are placed in the Council’s proposed area. The MSCC members
are of a consensus that there is a concern and that they will express
this concern. A local resident notes that the men’s toilets on the
east side of the Meadows are closed and asks whether the toilets are
going to remain open. Cllr. Pogson will inquire about why the toilets
are closed.
City
Councillor report on local issues
Tomorrow
is the last Council meeting before the summer recess. Consultations
currently live: Council budget-setting process (closes on the 28th of
July), 2040 city planning as to how the Council should engage with
citizens and the city (open until the end of August). The process on
solving the bin hub issue is ongoing, there was a meeting last
Monday. A local resident notes that nearly 50 people showed up to
that meeting with complaints about the lack of community/resident
consultation. Alison volunteered to write to Cllr. Watt and get
updates on the bin hub situation. The proposal for amenity on the bin
hub requirements was not passed, but there will be a workshop. Cllr.
Pogson will look into what the recommendations are. The application
to put a student accommodation on Causewayside was refused, the
developers can apply to Scottish government to appeal. A conversation
was brought up about the proportion of students who live in Edinburgh
and the amount of student accommodation that is necessary because
student accommodation is the majority of what comes through the
planning process. Cllr. Pogson notes that the Council is attempting
to introduce regulations that would disrupt the control that student
accommodation has over the market. The road closure outside of
Sciennes school is progressing as the closure has been made
permanent, and the process has moved forward to what exactly this
will look like in the long term. The school hopes to have the new
arrangements in place by the next term, which is possibly ambitious.
A local resident asked how much money would be freed up if the tram
project was abandoned - Cllr. Pogson clarified that all of this
project is aspirational, there is no money currently stored away for
it. Douglas Rogers notes that he and the MSCC at large would like to
be a part of the conversations about the school road closure.
Publicity
Anne
noted that she has been doing the notice boards and that the smaller
boards are a very difficult surface to use for a notice board, and
wants to know whether these surfaces can be replaced with cork.
Lianne will give Alison a quote to replace them, and will also take
some time to remove the graffiti from the notice boards.
Update
on progress of buildings replacing old Sick Kids site
IQ
Students owns the entirety of the Sick Kids site but they seem to be
impossible to contact, Douglas has attempted to contact them in
multiple ways to no avail. Douglas requested that Cllr. Pogson
attempt to contact them directly. Someone has approached Douglas
about using the community space in this area for art therapy. There
are no updates at all on the Mortuary Chapel.
JR
Builders has contacted anyone affected by their building site and
answered any questions. They had an accident last week that is now
being investigated.
AGM
Approve
Note of last year’s AGM
The
date was incorrect. Alison moves to pass, Anne seconds. The minutes
pass.
Matters
arising from the AGM minutes
None.
Annual
Report - Chair (Brian Gilmore)
Many
issues have come up. Sick Kids site shows complexity. The bin hub
situation is progressing but has been an issue for a year at this
point. Climate change and the effect on housing has been addressed
multiple times. The number 41/9 bus got successfully rerouted. St
Catherine’s Argyle church is being sold. There have been many
reports from FOMBL. Thanks to Anne, Alison, Nora, Douglas, Nigel
Ayton and all members of the MSCC and local residents. The Christmas
tree event was of particular note.
Annual
Report - Secretary (Anne Laing)
Communications
have continued with the developers of the Sick Kids site - Downing
completed the work
on
the Student accommodation which became available at the end of the
year. Square and Crescent are developing the original hospital
building and the Victorian villa properties and hoping to have
properties for sale on Millerfield place this year. JR builders are
developing the site on Sylvan Place for affordable/social housing,
hopefully will be done by Spring 2025. There has been extensive work
on the sewer system. There has been much dissatisfaction about the
bin hub situation. Anne has been working on the notice boards and
gives thanks to the publicity team for helping with this.
Annual
Report and presentation of audited accounts - Treasurer (Alison
Service)
The
financial situation is stable, main expenses are the minutes
secretary, certain memberships, and the rental of the room. The
Christmas tree event was a great success, thanks to the
German-speaking church for providing their hall free for this event,
and for all of the shops that provide prizes. Thanks to the
independent reviewer, Jim Orr,
for looking through accounts. There is a deficit of £3.11
this year, there is £1144 in the bank at the moment. Most of the
MSCC money comes from a city council grant.
Election
of Officers
Douglas
Rogers nominates Brian Gilmore for Chair, Anne seconds. Brian is
elected.
Brian
Gilmore nominates Anne Laing for Secretary, Alison seconds. Anne is
elected.
Douglas
Rogers nominates Alison Service for Treasurer, Anne seconds. Alison
is elected.
Date
of next AGM
Cllr.
Pogson will check on dates of election for Community Councillors. The
provisional date will be the 25th of June, 2025.
Ordinary
meeting dates for 2024-25
Alison
proposes the 4th Wednesday of every month, excluding December, July,
and August.
AGM
AOCB
None.
Planning
applications
Planning
applications have been circulated. The Rajas building is currently up
for sale.
Treasurer’s
Report
£1240
in the bank.
Meetings
attended
Alison
attended the FOMBL trustee meeting and their AGM is this week. JR
Builders has given £700 for a table tennis table and FOMBL is
applying for a grant for the remainder of the money.
AOCB
Anne
asked about the defibrillator at the Earl of Marchmont pub, Lianne
will check with the current manager about this.
The
St. Catherine’s Argyle and Marchmont St Giles union is still in
doubt so no decision about the future as yet.
There
is an LHES consultation to put heating pipes in the streets to
provide heat to people’s homes. There is also a Clean Heat
Edinburgh movement for a heat network from furnaces. There will be a
presentation from the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum to the forum of
Edinburgh Community Councils tomorrow night, Douglas will circulate
details.
Douglas
has been looking into doing a study on making a block within
Marchmont net zero and this idea is getting some traction. This is in
early stages - there will be a community consultation on this.
Anne
has been looking after the planters on Marchmont Crescent with Nora,
Douglas’ wife. These look nice, and Anne thanks the Council for
providing the plants.
There
is a blocked drain, Cllr. Pogson suggests getting in touch with local
Councillors.
Date
of next meeting
Wednesday,
25th September 2024
archmont
& Sciennes
