MSCC - Minutes for October 2025

 

Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on October 22nd, 2025 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall

 

Present

Brian Gilmore - Chair, MSCC

Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer

Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary

Kate McNairney - SMAG 

Geoff Parson - MSCC

Peter Olech - MSCC

Cllr Neil Ross

Anthony Holmes - MSCC

Kayleigh Gordon - MSCC Publicity

 

Apologies

Douglas Rogers - MSCC Inclusion Officer

Richard Shillock

Susie Agnew

Liane Phillip

 

Attending

Eli Ferrell - Minutes Secretary

 

Meeting began at 19:31pm

 

A G E N D A

Sederunt and apologies

Brian welcomes everyone to the meeting. Sederunt and apologies as above.

 

Draft Minutes of last meeting September 2025

Geoff moves to approve the minutes. Alison seconds.

 

Actions and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

The local PO distribution office on Strathearn Rd will close on 27th October despite many petitions.

 

MSCC will get a photograph of the defibrillator and put it up on the noticeboards. There has been a short publicity piece on Channel 8 Lothian TV mentioning the defibrillator’s successful installation.

 

The pink electric bikes plan to go from 50 units to 370 units in the near future, and it is important to keep an eye on how they plan to develop their service in Edinburgh. They geolocate an area where they can be parked, and they cannot be parked outside of that area.

 

Police Report

No report provided.

 

Meadows & Bruntsfield Links (report attached)

AGM was on 26th September with a talk by local historian Andy Arthur on the history of the walkways.  The landscaping continues. A large group of volunteers from the university (the Dirty Weekenders) helped enormously with the wildflower area by the links. 

 

Publicity

Publicity plans to get in touch with Edinburgh Live and the Edinburgh Minute about interest for a piece on the defibrillator. 

 

The defibrillator is not as noticeable at night as it is during the day. However, the hope is that people will know it’s there due to its visibility during the day.

 

Tony suggested that any posters for the noticeboards could include information  about the other defibrillators in the area.

 

City Councillor report on topical local issues

Cllr Neil Ross reports that there were intended to be temporary gas repair works near the petrol station on Comiston Road, but those works have now been classified as an emergency and that road has been shut down entirely. 

 

The bin hub team is still working through their summer review. They are progressing with it according to the new bin hub criteria. Their report should be published before the January MSCC meeting. They are developing a list of bin hubs that require addressing. It could be as large as 200-300

 

There is no update about the double yellow lines change request (intended for a variety of locations). Cllr Ross will follow up on that request.

 

Obliterated (but still legally existent) double yellow lines should be written about to your Cllr.

 

Inclusion Officer’s report

Douglas messaged to remind everyone that he is giving a talk at the Civic Forum on the 30th of October (link sent).

 

Planning (report attached)

As long as you do not live in a listed area, there is no need to apply for permission to change your windows on the side or the rear of the house, or to apply for permission to change your front windows as long as they are the same type of window. 

 

No additional comments. 

 

Treasurer’s report (attached)

£1938 in the bank, mainly because MSCC has been given the 2024 annual grant which was not paid out last year. Nisbets cups have been purchased for Christmas, and cork for the noticeboards has been purchased as well.

 

The new bank account with Virgin Banking has been obtained. Nothing has been transferred yet, but much of it will be imminently. The old account will not be closed until Douglas is no longer using it.

 

SMAG report

SMAG is preparing a newsletter for November to highlight their progress.

 

Meetings attended

Alison attended the AGM for FoMBL. 

 

Plans for Xmas

Susie Agnew  is going to be the master of ceremonies for the Christmas event. 

 

Peter nominates Children 1st Scotland. The vote is unanimous. Children 1st Scotland will be the Christmas charity.

 

AOCB

Sciennes Road ETRO 25/24

The proposal is currently that pedestrians and cyclists will be excluded from that passageway during school hours, although pedestrians have not previously been part of the exclusion during past conversations. There is concern that this could cause serious difficulty and confusion , particularly for the elderly people who live in the area. 

 

MSCC wishes to object to this. MSCC is happy for the pavement on the North side to be completely closed, but the South side should remain open. Cyclists can be excluded, but pedestrians should not be excluded at any time.

 

Enforcement will be difficult since it’s during only certain hours of the day. 

 

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 26th November 2025

 

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend