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Draft Minutes
for Merchiston Community Council Meeting Tuesday 23rd
March 2010 7.30 pm at Polwarth Parish Church Present: MCC Bridget Stevens Chair
Mairianna Clyde Vice-Chair Frances Hawarden Treasurer Ann Royden Secretary Robin Morris Ed Bewsher Beccy Brooks Ian Clement Anne Craig Ian Doig James Geekie John Lennie Helena Scott Kay Smith Eva Tombs Lucy Turnbull. Helen Zealley CEC Ward Councillors Ward 9, Fountainbridge/ Craiglockart Andrew Burns (Labour) Jim Lowrie (Lib Dem) Ward 10, Meadows/Morningside South Neighbourhood
Representatives Susan Bruce South
Neigbourhood Manager Paul Swan Lothian and Borders Police Chief
Superintendent Gillian Imery; Inspector Ian Moffat; CBO Julie Cochrane; CBO Jason
Kemp Residents Edward Warwick Resident, Spylaw Road Steve Pells Resident
Flower Colonies Area Residents’ Association (FCARA) Heather Pells Resident, FCARA Elisabeth Hutchings Merchiston and Polwarth
Neighbourhood Watch Gina McCaugnan Resident, FCARA Bob Bierley Resident, FCARA Helen Brown Resident, Primrose
Terrace Nick Williams Resident, Myrtle
Terrace Jean Stirling Andy Devenport Tollcross Community Council & Canal Society Ross McEwan JUMP Francis Watkins Shandon Local Food Group + several other members of the public Chairman’s Welcome Chair welcomed
everyone and opened the meeting. Presentation on Community Policing Gillian Imery and
Susan Bruce gave a presentation on Community Policing and the Neighbourhood
Action Units. The aim of the
Neighbourhood Action Units, which is being piloted in the South Central
Neighbourhood and will be rolled out elsewhere in September, is to enhance
existing provision. There is to be
increased engagement with the public with the aim of crime prevention rather
than dealing with the symptoms, and the public having a greater say in community
safety. At the moment this community
engagement is via the Environmental Forum (EF) of the South Neighbourhood
Partnership as EFs do cover some aspects of community safety; however, there is
concern that policing could push environmental issues to one side. Susan Bruce stated that EFs provide a way in,
and avoid the setting up of another group, but that other ways of engaging with
the public will be identified and followed up.
Alan Hopper will
continue to be MCC’s community officer and will attend MCC meetings. Business Meeting – Commenced 7.50pm 1.
Apologies
for Absence: Apologies received from: PC Alan Hopper; Alex Orr; Bob Rendall; Cllr Alison Johnson; Cllr Mark McInnes 2.
Minutes of
Previous Meeting on 23rd February Ian Doig was thanked for writing the February minutes. Draft minutes had
been available on the website and had also been circulated by email to MCC
Members and CEC Councillors. The February
minutes were approved. Proposed by
Frances Hawarden, seconded by Mairianna Clyde. 3.
Matters
Arising from Minutes 4, 6 & 8 Mardale Crescent - whole stair of HMO properties. Ed Bewsher reported that he had attended an HMO planning meeting the
purpose of which had been to review the whole building, to find that all the
HMO licences had been granted, some of them previous to the meeting. Some of the licences are for 6 months. Traffic calming Merchiston Ave. This is now 11th on the list of priorities meaning that it
will be tackled in approximately 3 years time, which the residents feel is too
long. The residents have now formed a
committee (represented by Elizabeth Hutchings) and are seeking ways to bring
the issue higher up the list. Cllr
Andrew Burns said that local pressure could help in this aim. It is proposed to make the whole area a 20mph
limit. The police have done a speed
check and found that drivers are keeping within the current 30mph speed
limit. Cllr Lowrie intimated that physical
barriers of some sort – pavement blisters or speed bumps would also be required
with any reduction in the speed limit. Eva Tombs will help the residents. Fun fair Meadows There have been no objections to the various short term festivals
planned to take place on the Meadows.
The MCC default position is that organizers must make good all and any
damage. EACC Nomination Bridget Stevens has put forward the MCC nomination according to the
majority view. 4.
Reports Chair’s Report – distributed seperately Police Report Julie Cochrane
explained that there is no newsletter currently as it is being redesigned. Graffiti is an issue
and she requested that any be reported. The police are working with the council to
clean up graffiti. It was explained that
the police have a database of tags and that 2 youths responsible for several
tags have recently been identified and charged.
As they are over 16 they will go to court and might get community
service. It was also explained that it
is illegal to sell spray paints to youths under 16. Eva
Tombs pointed out that it can be an art-form and enquired if there was an area
where this art-from could be practised such as the underpass. Julie Cochrane said this had been tried, but
that the art itself had been graffiti’d over. It was noted that
Ian Clement has the MCC graffiti clean-up kit provided by the council, but that
CEC itself will immediately remove any obscene or racist graffiti if alerted. Ward Councillors’ Reports Cllr Burns –
reported on the proposed closure of the Gorgie War Memorial, and the new
planning application for the Flower Colonies development. Cllr Lowrie - reported on the new planning
application for the Brewery site, and a planning application for a supermarket
on the old B&Q site. Cllr Godzik –
reported on the HMO application for the Leamington Terrace to be heard on
Friday, and that the upgrade to the canal path has now been completed by
British Waterways. EACC Report Report by Ian Doig
on Policing circulated earlier. Licensing Reports Liquor and public
entertainment No report HMO Ed Bewsher noted his disappointment that only 4 out of 9 councillors
turned up at the last Licensing meeting. As planning permission has already been turned down, there is little
chance of the HMO licence being granted for 41-45 Leamington Terrace. Mairianna raised the question as to why
Planning and HMO licensing could not be merged, since the latter is dependent
on the former. Cllr Lowrie explained
that legislation would be required to change this; however, he will look into
the timing of the meetings. Parking Report Cllrs Lowrie and Burns will follow up as to where the notes are
about the Parking Panel for Merchiston. Planning Another planning application for Orwell Lodge has been submitted. There were access, parking and road safety
issues and a bus stop might have to be moved.
The planning group is to look at it and Ian Doig will be involved
regarding the parking issues. Flower Colonies
Development Bob Bierley reported that there was very little change in the second AMA
plan from the first. FCARA is developing
their own contra plan. The community
(FCARA) hopes to get at least 300 objections submitted to the council and is
giving residents detailed information so they can object on material
grounds. A unanimous vote was held for
MCC to write to CEC to object to the 2nd AMA plan. It was noted that neither CEC nor the
planners have attempted to consult with the community and that CEC is refusing
to meet with FCARA without the developers.
Cllr Lowrie explained that it is regarded as inappropriate for
campaigning groups to meet with CEC without the presence of the developers,
when there is a live planning application in progress. However, Councillors can have meetings with
groups prior to the actual planning meeting.
A letter will be written requesting David Shepherd meet with MCC and
FCARA, and if he can’t, Mairianna Clyde will request a one to one meeting with
him. Transport No report Treasurer’s Report The Treasurer explained the £3420 that has appeared in the MCC account has
come from CEC, and is the for winter lights they put in the trees at Holy
Corner. MCC will be invoiced for the
amount later. Community Engagement
Group Helena Scott reported that the group is working on a plan as to how to
proceed. 5. A.O.C.B. Helena Zealley mentioned the problem of wheelie bins being left obstructing the footpaths. Cllr Lowrie will raise the problem and Council officer Paul Swan will make enquires. It was noted that the Gillsland Rd salt bin had had no salt in it before the snowfall. Cllr Godzik will follow up to ensure that it is filled. SCNP Robin will be representing MCC at the next South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Business meeting. Andy Devenport requested that MCC have a presence at the Canal Festival to be held on 26th June which Ian Rankin will be opening. He also reported on a test underage purchasing at the shops in the Tollcross area, and all passed. Robin Morris wants to make sure that MCC does receive all the literature of Friends of the Meadows, of which MCC is a member. 6.
Next MCC Meeting
AGM 7pm Tuesday 18th May, Eric Liddell Centre The public meeting closed at 9.10pm 7. Short Private MCC meeting Nothing to report regarding the arbitration process. The report from the arbitrator had not been
delivered when MCC were led to expect it. |
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