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Merchiston Community Council meeting Tuesday November
17th 2009 7pm at Merchiston Tennis and Bowling Club, Polwarth
Terrace. In attendance: Bridget Stevens Chair
MCC Mairianna Clyde Vice-chair
MCC Jenny Mackenzie Minute
taker Cllr Jim Lowrie CEC (SLD) Convener of Planning Cllr Alison Johnstone CEC (Green Party) Cllr Mark McInnes CEC
(Cons) Cllr Paul Godzik CEC
(Lab) Ian Doig MCC James Geekie MCC Kay Smith MCC John Lennie MCC Ian Clement MCC
Eva Tombs MCC Helena Scott MCC Beccy Brooks MCC Alex Orr MCC Ann Craig MCC Helen Zealley MCC William Mykura MCC Ian Bouchier Resident Steven Tait Resident Gura Bergkvist Resident Gina McLaughlin Resident
Brian Horne Resident Alistair Gorrie Resident Irene McKenzie Resident
Bob Tait Resident Iain Mackay Resident Kevin Wood Resident
Steve Pelb Resident Nicu Williams Resident
Ann & Leslie Burgen Residents Chris Bierley Resident Chairman’s welcome Chair welcomed all to the meeting and thanked all those present who had
conveyed their kind thoughts to Frances Hawarden on the death of her husband
Tim. 1. Apologies for Absence Ann Royden MCC
Secretary Frances Hawarden MCC
Treasurer Robin Morris MCC
Licensing Lucy Turnbull MCC
Ed Bewsher MCC Cllr Gordon Buchan CEC
(Cons) Cllr Andrew Burns CEC
(Lab) PC Alan Hopper Lothian
& Borders Police Gavin Corbett MCC Bob Rendall
MCC 3. Minutes of the last meeting
(20th October) and Matters Arising. Correction: Item 1 (Page 6) AOB Add the following title to Kay Smith’s remarks about her campaign
against messy front gardens. ‘Fed up with neglected overgrown front gardens
lowering the amenity of your area? Would
you like your community council to help?
Sign here. Adoption of Minutes proposed by Ian Clement, seconded by Kay Smith. Matters Arising. Re Item 2 (Page 2).
Presentation The Chair said that, when the proposed changes to Harrison Park go out
to public consultation (likely to be in early 2010), the previous month’s
speaker, Christine Donnelly, Development Manager for Waterways Trust Scotland
(WTS) will visit MCC again and a special public meeting will be organized. Re Item 4 (Page 4)
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes Development Proposal for Slateford Road/Flower Colonies. The Chair has still not received a response to her letter to the CEC
Director of Development asking to see a final version of the developer’s plans. Re Item 5 (Page
5) Chair’s Report Disabled access ramp for the North Merchiston Club. The Club does have its own constitution and will be submitting a bid to
the South West Neighbourhood Partnership (SWNP) for funding for a disabled
access ramp. This will make it suitable
for MCC public meetings, which are required by CEC to be fully accessible. Re AOCB (Page 6) First Item Request from Lucy Turnbull that the use of a pro-forma be included on
the agenda for the next meeting. The
Chair noted that this could not be included at this time because Ms Turnbull had
not attended the Agenda Meeting prior to the current MCC meeting, at which
agenda matters for the forthcoming meeting were discussed and agreed. Third item. Lucy Turnbull had asked for consideration of
meeting venues to be raised at the
November Agenda meeting. As mentioned,
Ms Turnbull subsequently did not attend that meeting. The Chair noted that venues for MCC meetings
are organized in June, to cover the period June – May. First vote The Chair noted that Ms Turnbull regards the use by MCC of church halls
as occasional meeting venues as unacceptable because she claims it
discriminates against non-churchgoers. It was pointed out that many CCs meet in
church halls for reasons of cheapness, accessibility and proximity to public
transport, as required by CEC. MCC
arranges its public meetings in a variety of venues in order to cover its
geographical area. The Chair asked
MCC members to indicate by a show of hands if they agreed with Ms Turnbull that
MCC’s use of church halls for 50% of its meetings (the Eric Liddell Centre is
not a church) is unacceptable. Unanimous show of hands that those members present did not agree that
MCC’s use of church halls is unacceptable.
Non-members in the audience were also asked to indicate by a show of
hands if this should be regarded as an issue.
Unanimous show of hands that this is not a relevant issue. Second vote The Chair noted that one member of MCC had requested a speaker on
Humanism/Secularism/Atheism and said that there had been much email
correspondence about this matter. An audience member noted that, if this were
to be the case, then speakers from every other religion/belief would also have
the right to make formal presentations at MCC meetings. Another reminded the meeting that community
councils are described in their constitutions as being apolitical and non
religious and that such presentations were not relevant to the work of CCs. The Chair invited MCC members to vote, with a show of hands, on the
proposal to invite Humanist, Secularist and Atheist Speakers to make
presentations to MCC. The proposal was unanimously opposed by members present. Similarly the proposal was unanimously opposed by non-members present. Third vote It had been suggested by the same member that the MCC website should
carry links to Humanist and Secularist websites. She had pointed out, correctly, that there
are currently links to several churches.
Another member noted that these links form part of an
Area Profile for local residents seeking information about the area. No endorsement of or publicity for any
organization linked to the MCC website could be inferred. It was recalled that in the past an approach
had been made to MCC from a Humanist seeking to include a web link to the Humanist
Society’s page. The Chair had replied
asking for details of any local premises or meetings but had not received a
reply. The Chair asked members to vote
by a show of hands whether they supported a proposal to introduce links to
Humanist websites. The proposal was unanimously opposed by MCC members present. The proposal was also unanimously opposed by a show of hands from non
members. These proposals
having been voted down, the issues of meeting venues, Humanist presentations
and links to Humanist websites are now closed. 3. Update on current Planning and Licensing
Issues. Slateford
Road/Flower Colonies. Cllr Lowrie said that so far there had been no further plans submitted
by developers AMA. He said that when
they were submitted they would be re-advertised in exactly the same way as the
first version had been advertised. He
promised that, if the submission falls within the Christmas period, two extra weeks
will be added to the consultation period on top of the three weeks that are normally allowed. He said he understands that the developers
have made some significant changes to address the concerns of local residents. He noted that the developer has already
conducted pre-application discussions with the Planning Department. Question from the floor: What
would be the criteria for deciding that an ‘old’ application becomes a ‘new’
application? Cllr Lowrie said that the original application would have to be
withdrawn and a new application made.
However, he noted that this has not happened in the case of the AMA
development. The Chair asked that the Planning Department (now responsible for the
issue of Neighbour Notifications where before it had been the developer)
guarantee that notification would be
sent to everyone who had objected to the original plan as well as to all other
residents in the Flower Colonies and the adjacent tenements. As well as to statutory consultees. Cllr
Lowrie gave this assurance. Members of
the Flower Colonies Residents’ Association would like to have a meeting with
CEC Planning officers. Cllr Lowrie agreed
to co-ordinate this and noted that such steps – that is, Planning Officers
facilitating meetings – are included within the new legislation. Boroughmuir Post
Office Residents are invited to comment on the plan to move the Boroughmuir Post
Office from its present site to a former camera shop in One member commented that this is an inappropriate plan. The current site has good pavement width and
good parking facilities. Members felt
that the move to what appeared to be smaller premises might lead to a reduction
in the service provided. The Chair noted
that MCC will not take a view on this and members should respond individually. Merchiston Gardens/Leamington
Terrace. HMO applications In support of many residents of 4. Sub-groups. A revised list of these will follow. 5. Consultations A further extension has been offered for those interested to respond to
a consultation of Gardens & Designed Landscapes: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Council/CEC_have_your_say Three hundred sites could have additional protection. Members noted that, as 6. Reports Chair’s Report - see
attached. Police A brief written report from PC Hopper was read out. EACC representative
Ian Doig MCC had asked the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils to
investigate the extent of concern about neglected front gardens – and to recommend
a solution to the problem. Support has
been received from Cllr Gordon Buchan, who will ask the next Full Council Meeting
what powers CEC can exercise over property owners who neglect their gardens and
building frontages. Hutchison/Chesser
experiences similar difficulties and is also struggling to get adequate support. Ward Councillor
Reports Cllr Mark McInnes The Leamington Terrace HMO application has required much attention. A
notification about clearer signage being needed at the junction of Cllr Johnstone Work in dealing with HMO applications continues to grow. There has been an increasing demand for the
supply of local food and meetings have been attended to develop plans to
support this need. Other Reports Planning: Nothing pending Licensing:. The first meeting of the Licensing Forum has
been attended and a more positive tone to the meeting was noticed than on
previous occasions. Treasurer’s Report On 5th November the balance was £709. The Eric Liddell Centre had agreed to waive
the fee for the September MCC meeting because of the very loud noise from a
junior exercise class above the room.
This was much appreciated. Transport: Nothing to report. Community Engagement
Sub Group: This group
needs to clarify its objectives and have them approved by MCC. Ian Doig reported that a planned meeting to
discuss this had been cancelled. Some members of the group had met informally. AOB and Public
Question Time < Members
noted that there had been a lot of recent email correspondence and the Chair
and Secretary were complimented on their patient and courteous responses. < The
consultation regarding commercial frontages, with particular reference to
ATMs. More guidelines are required and
more expressed views are welcomed. < < 10th
December is the date for the switching on of the Christmas lights outside the
Eric Liddell Centre. It would consist of
choirs singing, pantomime performers, Scottish international rugby legend Scott
Hastings switching on the lights, plus seasonal refreshments donated by local
traders. CEC is providing the lighting
through a community grant endorsed by MCC. < A City
For All Ages: Contact Ian Clement for
any representation required to be presented at a meeting in 10 days’ time. < Vice-chair
Mairianna Clyde noted that members often receive huge amounts of unsolicited
email. These include notifications from
the Scottish Government on consultations, Neighbourhood Partnership and CEC
notifications, as well as announcements from local groups. One
recent debate that has included members had become particularly vitriolic and
it is suggested that a code of good practice should be drawn up for acceptance
by all MCC members. Cyber bullying and
online abuse cannot be tolerated. Another
member noted that one can respond by relegating unwanted messages to Spam. Several members said they were now doing
this. The Chair said that she and the Secretary
would welcome a code of conduct (complementing the CEC Guidelines and Code of
Conduct) to provide specific guidance about online email communication. Some initial points
for guidance are: v public
meetings are the proper place to raise issues that require debate; v it is
important to remain neutral in online communications; v it is not
advisable to raise issues of a contentious nature outwith public meetings; language and content of emails should be
approached with care; v personal
attacks and accusations are not acceptable; v the
Secretary, Chair and Vice-chair should decide which emails are appropriate for
forwarding on to all members; v all members
need to abide by the rules that are drawn up v The
Chair, Secretary, Vice-chair, John Lennie and Eva Tombs to meet and draw up a
proposed online code of conduct for adoption by all members. < A member
of the public complained about the lack of adequate drains maintenance in the
local area, particularly around the foot of < The same
local resident said that < From the
same local resident - many trees are too big and overgrown in |
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