MSCC Minutes for November 2020

 

Marchmont & Sciennes

Community Council

 

 

 

Minutes of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

Meeting of Wed 26^th November 2020, 7.30pm by Jitsi Meet.

 

Present:  Brian Gilmore (Chair, MSCC), Elinor O’Donovan (Minute Secretary), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Bob Gates (member of public), Cllr Steve Burgess, Alison Service (MSCC), Susie Agnew (MSCC), Shane Voss (MSCC), Anne Laing (MSCC), Alastair Philp (member of public), Tony Holmes (Thirlestane Lane Association), Liane Phillips (Marchmont Hardware).

 

Apologies:  Adam Stewart.

 

Matters Arising: 

 

Item 7 from the minutes of October’s meeting has been amended to read: “There is a discussion about the (sometimes competing) requirements of different types of road users (Pedestrians, Cyclists, Car users)”.

 

With this amendment, the minutes were approved by Anne, seconded by Nigel.

 

Police Report:  Has been circulated.

 

One of the comments in the police report was regarding groups of young people gathering on Middle Meadow Walk on Friday and Saturday nights.

Action: The police have asked that individuals report these groups if they are seen gathering.

 

Intruder prevention strips have been recommended by the police to deter intruders from climbing over private walls.

 

Meadows and Bruntsfield Links: None.

 

FOMBL Report:

 

 There will be a meeting on Monday 30th which Alison will attend.

 

City Councillor Report on topical local issues:

 

Cllr Steve Burgess:

 

Recently, the Council has largely been concerned with keeping services running in spite of the pandemic. Cllr Burgess believes that the Council has been doing a good job so far, in particular with keeping the schools open. There have been, from time to time, incidences of staff and pupils testing positive for Covid, and some classes have had to isolate, but as of yet no schools have had to close.

 

The next challenge for the Council is the upcoming budget in February. The Council has to save approximately £47 million in the next few years.

 

A budget consultation has just opened in the form of an online survey which will be open to responses until the 10^th. The survey is looking for feedback on how the Council has handled the pandemic, as well as suggestions on areas to make budget savings, and suggestions regarding the climate emergency.

 

Most of Cllr Burgess’ recent correspondence has been with parents regarding schools’ extracurricular activities. Sports and extracurriculars have been put on hold, and parents are concerned about how this will impact their children. These activities have been put on hold by the Education Committee, as their real concern at the moment is limiting contagion in schools. The priority is to keep schools open without taking any unnecessary risks.

 

There have been some negotiations regarding how and when extracurricular activities can take place. The Saturday football club at Sciennes Primary School has been put on hold, but Cllr Burgess recently took a motion to the Education Committee meeting to see if the Council will review this decision regarding extracurricular activities. The committee agreed to review this, and the Council have since clarified that they don’t have a remit in terms of regulating informal football clubs that happen on public spaces on a Saturday.

 

Community hires are still ongoing in school venues but are controlled by Edinburgh Leisure and so are under different governance than activities which happen during school hours.

 

Safe Streets Development:

Regarding the ongoing issue outside Sciennes Primary school: largely driven by the pandemic and the need for parents to drop children off at school, the decision was taken to close the road.

 

Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route:

This temporary traffic regulation order has been suggested as the pavements on Morningside Road have been extended to allow for social distancing by pedestrians. This has caused traffic to merge into one lane which has become detrimental to cyclists. Because of this, the Quiet Route has been approved to go forward for consultation. MSCC has until the 2^nd week of December to put forward its stance on the measures. As this is a limited consultation, and not fully open to the public, individuals can email their local councillors or the transport convenors with comments about the scheme.

 

Action: Individual MSCC members should send their views on the Quiet Route to Brian, who will draft a MSCC response.

 

 

Sick Kids Hospital Site

 

No updates.

 

Astley Ainslie.

 

No updates.

 

Stakeholder Engagement Request

 

No updates.

 

Planning applications

                       

There have been no contentious planning applications. 

 

Tony has been in touch with the Planning Department regarding large signs on Marchmont Road, saying that fir trees are going on sale on Thirlestane Lane in the old garage premises. Tony has asked the Planning Department to find out if there is planning permission and/or a license for the traders to operate there. The Planning Department will look into this within the next 20 days.

 

Treasurer’s report

 

Alison’s report has been circulated.

At the end of October, the balance was £1342.28, with one cheque to be presented: £30 to the Minute Secretary.

 

Forward plan

 

At the end of August, our grant came in at £887.82 for the year, as expected which is to plan until the end of March 2021. However, there will be no expenses except for membership payments and payments to the Minute Secretary.

 

Donations to causes can be decided if and when they arise.

 

In total, £284 will go out, compared to £859.67 last year.  

 

Meetings attended.

 

None.

 

AOCB

 

An email has been circulated regarding local businesses’ plans for Christmas in Marchmont.

 

Liane Phillips:

 

As the Christmas tree lighting ceremony can’t happen this year in person, a few local businesses have been discussing doing an online celebration instead. They have discussed having a virtual tree-lighting, with a trail of local businesses possibly passing an Olympics-style torch.  They plan to use social media to do a 12 Days of Christmas campaign from local businesses, wishing Marchmont locals well with a new video each day. This can also be shared on the MSCC Facebook page.

 

Liane’s daughter has been doing the hardware shop’s social media, and she is willing to take on the role of coordinating the Christmas in Marchmont social media.

 

Action: Alison and Anne will liaise with Liane about her ideas and will pass on relevant information to the MSCC.

 

Date of next meeting:  Wednesday 27^th January at 7.30 – using Jitsi Meet.

 

DRAFT MSCC Agenda for the 27th

 

Marchmont & Sciennes

Community Council

 

 

JITSI Meet Meeting on Wed 27th January 2021 at 7:30pm

 

For JITSI Meet details, see the end of the Agenda

 

A G E N D A

 

 1             Sederunt and apologies

 2            Draft Minutes of last meeting, 25^th November 2020, and matters arising (not otherwise on Agenda)

 3             Police Report

 4             Meadows & Bruntsfield Links

                * Including FOMBL

 5             City Councillor report on topical local issues

Items for discussion

 6             Royal Hospital for Sick Children Redevelopment

                                –  any update?

 7             Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment

                                -  any updates?

 8             Stakeholder Engagement Request

                                Any update?

 9             Planning (Applications & consultations)

·         Any others

 

Items for information

10           Treasurer's report

11           Meetings attended

12           AOCB

 

Date of next meeting: 24th February 2021

 

All who live or work locally are welcome to attend.

MSCC is online at: https://www.facebook.com/MarchmontSciennesCommunityCouncil

 

JITSI Meet Details

 

On Shane’s suggestion, I am trying a new way of connecting us.  This will avoid the necessity to set up 2 meetings.

 

This on operates in a different way (to some extent).  What it does is to set up a virtual ‘Room’, where anyone can come in and join the room. It also persists, basically, for ever.

 

For those of you using a PC (or similar), you can join straight from an Internet Browser. As far as I can establish, those on smart phones will need to download the app. After you have downloaded it, it is then easier to join etc.

 

This room exists from now, so you can test it out when you like and please contact me if you can’t get it working.

 

The Room link:

https://meet.jit.si/MSCCVirtualMeeting

 

The name of the ‘Room’ is MSCCVirtualMeeting  (it is CASE sensitive)

Marchmont at Christmas 2020

 Hello all,

 I am proud to present to you all Marchmont at Christmas 2020. If you could share to as many people as you can. The video is available to view on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube (YT link below) all through Marchmont at Christmas!

 Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

 All the best,

Kayleigh

 https://youtu.be/6MMrJmQgsVM

MSCC October 2020 Minutes

 

Marchmont & Sciennes

Community Council

 

 

 

Minutes of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

Meeting of Wed 28^th October 2020, 7.30pm by Zoom.

 

Present:  – Brian Gilmore (Chair, MSCC), Elinor O’Donovan (Minute Secretary), Nigel Ayton (Grange Association), Michael Riordan (member of public), Cllr Ian Perry, Alison Service (MSCC), Susie Agnew (MSCC), Shane Voss (MSCC), Anne Laing (MSCC), Cllr Mandy Watt, Alastair Philp (member of public).

 

Apologies: – Anthony Holmes, Adam Stewart.

 

Matters Arising: 

 

Anna Nicol has been mistakenly listed on the minutes as Minute Secretary, this will be amended.

 

Draft Minutes from the last meeting, September 2020, were approved by Nigel, seconded by Susie.

 

The actions will be taken under the relevant headings.

 

Police Report:  None

 

Meadows and Bruntsfield Links: None.

 

FOMBL Report:

 

 Alison circulated the report from the meeting of 28th September, outlining the new elections of trustees, and the various projects, tree report etc. Jim Orr is re-elected as convenor.

 

The jawbones will be returned to Edinburgh in early October for storage until re-installed when weather appropriate.

 

 

City Councillor Report on topical local issues:

 

Ian Perry:

 

Throughout lockdown, Council only had one committee (Policy and Sustainability) which managed the city during lockdown. A lot of things had closed down that are now reopening, which means all committees are returning to their different aspects of council again.

 

Budget: We will be facing a deficit of £30-40 million which, unless CEC receives funding, will mean putting up fees or cutting services.

 

Schools: Schools reopened in August and everything has gone roughly to plan so far. Infection has been managed, and no school has had to close. There is a sense of relief that things are somewhat returning to normal.

Previously there had been no extra-curricular activity in schools, but now they are allowed to open up a bit more. Volunteers are still not allowed back into schools to limit the amount of contact.

 

Anne congratulates the Council for a speedy service filling a pothole outside her home. She reported it using the online system and it was fixed within 2 days.

 

Nigel thanks the Council for their interaction with the Grange Association in collecting bags of fallen leaves that had been swept up by the local volunteers. Alison, similarly, congratulates the Grange Association’s volunteers for their hard work collecting leaves.

 

Cllr Mandy Watt shares Ian’s concern about the budget challenges that the council will face, and the lack of options that they seem to have. The council are waiting to see if they will receive funding from the Scottish Government.

 

Items for AGM

 

A1: Last year’s AGM:

 

The minutes have been circulated, and were approved by Anne, seconded by Alison.

 

A2: Matters arising from the AGM Minutes

 

None.

 

A3 Annual Report – Chair

 

In the last year, we managed to hold 6 of the 9 meetings that were scheduled, in spite of the pandemic.

 

In the last year, we have watched the progress of the Sick Kids Hospital site. There should be some movement with this in the next year.

 

The Astley Ainsley site has progressed quite well, although things seems to have slowed down.

 

The City Plan 2030 has also slowed down, due to the pandemic.

 

Thanks to the police for their regular reports at our meetings.

 

Thanks to Mike Shields from the Parks Department for his regular reports, and Alison for attending and reporting on the FOMBL meetings.

 

Thanks to the Edinburgh City Councillors collectively, who come along and inform us about happenings on a Council level.

 

Thanks to Alison as Treasurer, and for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony last year which was very successful.

 

Thanks to our new member Adam, who has taken over surveys and consultations, as well as noticeboards.

 

Thanks also to Anne Laing, for having done the noticeboards successfully for many years.

 

Thanks to Nigel Ayton, for continuing our connection to the Grange Association and keeping us abreast of planning issues.

 

Brian thinks in order for the MSCC to be truly effective, we need a functioning secretary as well as a Chair.

Brian will discuss the secretary position with Adam in the future.

 

A4: Annual Report – Secretary

 

A5: Annual Report and Presentation of Audited Accounts – Treasurer (Alison Service)

 

Jim Orr, convenor of FOMBL, audited the annual accounts.    The audited balance sheet and P&L for the year were circulated by Alison, showing a surplus for the year of £33 and the Bank balance at the end of the financial year was £548.46.

 

The donation of £175.38 to Children 1st does not go through the books, as it had been done in previous years, as the collection buckets are sealed and donated straight to the charity. 

 

A6: Co-option of members

 

This will be postponed to the next meeting.

 

A7: Election of Officers

 

Chairman:

 

Nigel nominates Brian, Alison seconds.

 

Secretary:

None.

 

Treasurer:

 

Nigel nominates Alison, Anne seconds.

 

 

A8       Date of next AGM

 

May 2021, and can be done by Zoom if necessary.  

 

A9       Ordinary meeting dates for 2020-2021

            Proposed: 4^th Wed of each month except no meeting in July, August or December.

 

A10     AOCB 

 

None.

 

 

Items for discussion

 

 6         Stakeholder Engagement Request

 

Adam has been working on this. This will be discussed at a later date.

 

 7         Safer Routes Proposal

 

The Quiet Routes proposal is to have a safe route from Greenbank to the Meadows, down Braid Terrace and along Whitehouse Loan. Part of Whitehouse Loan would be closed to through-traffic, with residents’ access only.

 

This is going to the Transport and Environment Committee on 12^th November. If approved, it will come in under emergency COVID provisions, i.e. Spaces for People Programme.

 

Under the provisions of TTRO (Temporary Traffic Regulation Order), where there is a danger to the public (i.e. COVID), there is a short 7-day period where local councillors and community councils can put forward comments. Other than that there is no full public consultation on this.

 

A few people have been concerned about the impact on residents.

 

Michael is concerned that closing the roads in such a way may be prohibitive to children or adults with disabilities and/or mobility issues accessing schools and their homes in the area and is concerned that this has not been taken into consideration.  

 

Mandy is also concerned that increasing the amount of cyclists by the School for the Blind might be hazardous, as it is more difficult to hear cyclists.

 

There is a discussion about the (sometimes competing) requirements of different types of road users (pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers).

 

 

 8         City Plan 2030

 

Ian Perry: City Plan 2030 is in consultation which will be coming to a close soon.

 

 9         Astley Ainslie Hospital Redevelopment:

 

Nigel: Little to report at the moment. The Council has to draft a Place Brief but are waiting on a Landscape & Heritage report which has to be commissioned by the NHS.

 

Nigel has seen a couple of Place Briefs which have just come out, and remarks about how well-drafted and specific they are which is encouraging.

 

The Astley Ainslie Community Trust are fundraising for a Community Asset Transfer.

 

10        Planning applications

                       

Warrender Baths: Planning permission is being sought for a major refurbishment.

Susie believes it has only been 15 years since Warrender Baths’ last refurbishment.

 

For info:

11        Treasurer's report

 

Alison’s monthly updated monthly financial report was circulated – there were no monies either In or Out so the balance at the end of September 2020 remains at £1352.28.

 

The Forward Financial Plan for the coming year will be presented to members at the November meeting.  The EDC Grant was received in August, and very little expenditure is expected for the rest of this financial year.

 

 

Alison is pleased to have Jim Orr as our new accountant.

 

The forward plan for the coming year is estimated to the end of March. We received the Income Grant, and there will be normal expenditure (i.e. hall hire, and minute secretary) until then.

 

This will be discussed further at the following meeting.

 

12        Meetings attended

 

Alison circulated report about FOMBL meeting.

 

13        AOCB

 

None.

 

Date of next meeting:  Wednesday 25^th November at 7.30 – using Zoom or an alternative.