Marchmont
and Sciennes Community Council
Minutes
of Meeting held on June 24th, 2026 at Sciennes Art Hub, 13 Rillbank
Terrace
Present:
Brian
Gilmore, chair; Alison Service, Treasurer.
Anne
Laing, Secretary; Kate McNairney South Meadows Action Group;
Douglas
Roger MSCC , Susie Agnew MSCC, Peter Olech, MSCC Richars Shillock
MSCC, Anthony Holmes NSCC Bethan Christie local resident; Joanna
Storrar Local resident; Margaret Coughtrie local resident;
Lorna Slater MSP Edinburgh Central
Apologies:
Geoff
Parsons, Ian Murray MP, Cllr Steve Burgess, Cllr Ben Parker, Kayleigh
Gordon, Cllr Pauline Flannery (report received after the meeting)
Brian
opens the meeting at 19.32pm and welcomes everyone.
Draft
Minutes of last meeting May 2026. Richard
approves. Peter seconds.
Matters
arising:
Susie
asked Ian Murray MP to pursue the post office further concerning the
delivery office now being in Murrayfield and not Morningside. Ian
Murray subsequently sent a more rigorous letter to the Post Office
but has had no reply yet.
Suzie
last month had asked the MSCC to ask the Grange cemetery if they
could extend the closing time of 5 pm so that it stay open until 7pm
in summer. Alison had written to them but no reply so far.
It
had been agreed to donate £150 to SMAG to help with general
expenses:
Kate
has now given
Alison
the information necessary to process this request.
Talk
by Lorna Slater MSP (Green) for Edinburgh Central
Lorna
Slater MSP (Green) for Edinburgh Central: Gave a talk to the MSCC on
her role within the Government. Her responsibility is Public Service
Reform. She outlined ways in which she can help the CCs ie. local
constituent problems like housing and social care, and Council
liaison. She can put written questions to Parliament and has to hear
back within 20 days, or questions to the Chamber but this is less
reliable. Parliamentary Motions can raise awareness on issues of
concern or celebration. She can help in a facilitating role, ie.
aiding a local campaign/public meeting costs etc. Questions put to
her included the MSCC concern over the recent Planning approval for
an aparthotel in the area despite hundreds of objections – and no
way for us to appeal. Douglas to email her details and she will see
what she can do. It was put to her that changes to the legislation
are needed and certain councillors are and will be liaising with
Lorna on this. The Astley Ainslie site was also discussed and it was
noted that someone from the AA Trust will attend the MSCC September
meeting. Lorna said she will try to meet with that person as well.
Meadows
& Bruntsfield Links:
The
AGM was on June the 19th
with a talk given by the first chairman 25 years ago. Alison outlined
the work being done (wildflower meadows, lots of new trees planted –
needing watering, working with school kids, bench repairs, new
playpark equipment, second table tennis table).
The Hamish Henderson walkway has been approved by Edinburgh Council
and it will go ahead though will take a bit of time for the signage
etc.
The
Meadow’s Festival was 6/7 June. MSCC was with FoMBL in the
information tent – Alison participated.
Anne
asked for a FoMBL info sheet highlighting the need for volunteers for
the MSCC Noticeboard – Alison to provide.
Publicity
: No
report. The Marchmont Hardware Shop is recently re-opened after
repair works and it has been an extremely difficult time for them.
However Kayleigh and Leane say the Noticeboards will be looked at
shortly with a view to upgrading them.
City
Councillor report on topical local issues –
General and for Information from Cllr Flannery, sent by email
By-Election,
date 3 September: timeframe will also include Council Recess, July.
Edinburgh
by Numbers on Council Website: very good background
information:
Edinburgh has the
second highest number of higher education students per 1,000
residents (140) of all major UK cities, behind Manchester (148)
25% of people moving to Scotland from other
countries outside the UK come to live in Edinburgh
Ward
Profile
Population, economy, tourism,
environment, transport, housing
Visitor
Levy starts 26 July: though funds for this year 26/27 will not
reflect a full year’s income because of this start date
Extra
funds from the Visitor Levy for extra policing: no
timeframe yet as to when this
may trickle down: could be something to bear in
mind if sending CC representation to Rachel Lumsden’s quarterly
forum for Ward interest
This forum is
also worth highlighting if there are any local issues, particularly
to do with any anti-social behaviour concerns
People will be
aware of the incident involving a pedestrian and e-bike/scooter at
nearby St Patrick’s Square
Safer
Drug Consumption Facility: consultation
finishes, 25 June, tomorrow if the CC is wanting to contribute a
response to this
Community
Grant Fund structure and model is to change with a
report coming to Culture & Communities Committee Meeting later in
the year, certainly after recess
There is to be a
further consultation process on this
Meadows
Festival was a great success for the local area: particular
shout-out to Marchmont Hardware for their involvement with the Dog
Show – a festival highlight
Inclusion
Officer’s report :
Douglas pointed out that the Local Place Plan is
progressing and pointed out the exhibition stands in the room will be
displayed at the Climate Festival taking place on the Meadows. People
and members of the MSCC are encouraged to add comments.
Sciennes Arts
Hub: Progress is being made with our plans to upgrade this
-Monitor/TV coming soon. Hybrid meetings for MSCC were discussed but
difficulty might be for microphones to pick up those speaking. Maybe
a trial/test could be carried out.
Heat Networks:
Douglas attended the inaugural meeting last week. Lots of problems to
be solved for the hundreds of networks in Edinburgh. Douglas
is currently evaluating local heat networks to determine why they are
so expensive - this research as part of Lothian heat.
Items
for discussion
Planning:
No
contentious new applications affecting our area.
Argyle
Place/Meadows crossing:
the issue had been raised by Bethan Morgan, local resident and was
taken up by a Councillor. MSCC has since received information from
Road Safety that a new system is in place (Pedestrian Crossing
Assessment Framework) and a “request a pedestrian crossing “form
will be completed by Bethan and Anne
Treasurer’s
report:
The
annual P&L and Balance sheet will be presented at the AGM
following this meeting. Alison presented the Forward Financial plan
for the year to end March-27 which shows a surplus of £300.
South
Meadows Action Group :
The
next report comes out tomorrow 25th.
They met last week and have been informed that the Bin Hub locations
were outsourced to a London company! They have asked for a Freedom of
Info request to further this and have started up a TwitterX account
with over 2000 subscribers already.
Meetings
attended:
No other meetings attended
AOCB:
Brian
brought up the concern of the JGHS playing fields being so noisy at
night as kids climb over the walls. The Cllr response was that there
was no night security there. Brian to push this again.
Brian
had heard from a local resident about the shocking state of weeds
on/in the streets and pavements. It was suggested we write to
complain to the Council and maybe they’d get on to it. Anne said
she would check out a group called Better Streets (?) who are active
in our area and Alison said she’d check with the Grange Assoc.
Sale
of Gillies Centre – Suzie urged that we keep an eye on this. Ian
Murray also is monitoring what is happening.
E-Bikes:
There was a lot of concern expressed about E-bikes. Lorna Slater said
she would check on this – ie. security/accidents/speed etc. More
restrictions needed and more enforcement. Cannot be left only to the
Police who are over stretched already but more traffic enforcement by
Council needed.
Grange
Assoc: Anne reported that our previous close contact with Grange
Nigel Ayton has moved out the area. Suggests we need stronger links
with the GA. Alison to contact them to see if they can have a
representative attend our meetings more regularly.
Anthony
Holmes reported that the defibrillator at the Kilgraston church is
currently out of action due to parts to be replaced.
The
date of the next meeting is Wednesday 23rd
Sept 2026.
All
who live or work locally are welcome to attend.
Marchmont
and Sciennes Community Council
Minutes
of the AGM held on June 24th, 2026 at Sciennes Art Hub, 13 Rillbank
Terrace
Sederunt:
as for the meeting above.
Chairman’s
report: Brian
reported that 3 new councillors were now actively working with the
MSCC – and more would be welcomed. He also welcomed Kate McNairney
as the SMAG representative and Douglas Rogers as the newly created
post of Inclusion Officer.
Meetings
had been well attended in the year and had covered many subjects and
projects, not least the installation of the Defibrillator outside The
Optician in Marchmont, the installation at last of the toilet block
on the Meadows, discussions on the Sick Kids development site and the
road closure for Sciennes Primary School, and the opening of the
Sciennes Arts Hub.
He
extended thanks to Anne for all her hard work as Secretary, to Alison
as Treasurer and for organising the popular Christmas event, to
Douglas for the considerable work involved as Inclusion Officer, and
last but by no means least to Kayleigh and Liane for their help in
generating publicity and awareness for the MSCC.
Secretary’s
Report:
Anne reported the good news that the Sylvan Place works were now
completed so no more disruption for the residents. She reported that
the Council City Parks dept were providing plants for the local tubs
and she and Norah (local resident) had done the planting. The ones at
the top of Marchmont Crescent were now being done by local
shopkeepers there using Council plants. She also reported that the
Marchmont/Sciennes sewage works are now completed – we are awaiting
MSCC Noticeboard improvements – a new defibrillator is installed on
the north wall of the Meadows toilet block – Reid Memorial and
Marchmont St Giles churches have merged and are now called Blackford
& Grange Church.
Treasurers’
Report:
Alison presented the P&L and Balance sheet duly signed off by the
Independent Reviewer Jim Orr, showing a surplus for the year of £873
compared to last year’s deficit of £979. The previous year’s
deficit was due to us not receiving the CC grant in the period.
However, we received a double grant in the year to end March-26.
She
proposed that a thank you donation of a plant (£20-25) for Jim Orr’s
garden and this was agreed.
Election
of Officer:
Chair – Brian was proposed by various people and there being no
other proposals accepted the position and was duly elected.
Secretary
– Anne was proposed by various people and there being no other
proposals accepted the position and was duly elected.
Treasurer
– Alison was
proposed by various people and there being no other proposals
accepted the position and was duly elected.
Inclusion
Officer – Douglas was
proposed by various people and there being no other proposals
accepted the position and was duly elected.
Publicity
team: Leane and Kayleigh are willing to continue in the role and this
was duly confirmed
Date
of next AGM:
Wednesday 23rd
June 2027
archmont
& Sciennes
