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MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER AT 7.00PM IN CHRIST CHURCH CENTRE, HOLY CORNER 1.0 CHAIRPERSON'S WELCOME Bridget Stevens welcomed those present, who included Cllrs. Sue Tritton , Sue O'Malley, and George Hunter, Mairianna Clyde, Inspector Tom Galbraith, Alan Howie, Ann Royden, Robin Morris, Beccy Brooks, Desmond Hodges, Alison Elwell-Sutton, Belinda and John Lennie and around 18 members of the general public. 2.0 PRESENTATION BY ALAN HOWIE, CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL, on progress towards Neighbourhood Partnerships Alan Howie spoke to a paper he had circulated, "Local Community Planning in Edinburgh" highlighting the following points with a power point presentation: Local Community Planning is about: Working with communities to identify and solve local problems. Improving services and sharing resources Linking with the wider interests of the city. So why the new partnerships? To engage communities across the city in the decisions made about the public services that affect them. To focus on more local agendas and priorities To improve local service delivery and performance To increase local accountability Roles and responsibilities: The Council has a statutory obligation to initiate, facilitate and maintain a process of community planning Other public agencies must be involved in that process Where are we now? The Edinburgh Partnership has been established for some time. The local Community Planning Scheme for the city was adopted in April 2005 By May 2007, new Neighbourhood partnerships will be introduced Early development work on the new partnership is underway Making it work How can we work in a modern way and avoid an endless stream of meetings? What will success look like and how should we measure it? It's got to be practical. Services for communities Local Community Planning/Neighbourhood Management/Roads Refuse/Regeneration/Anti Social Behaviour/Housing Litter and Street Cleaning/Parks/Libraries Neighbourhood Management Focus on Neighbourhoods Twelve Neighbourhood Partnerships (NP) based on seventeen multi-member wards Each NP will have a neighbourhood manager who is accountable to that NP Neighbourhood Management Phase I Environmental Task Force Housing Management Local Road Services Parks Anti-social behaviour Community Libraries Local Community Planning Customer Services More to come: This is a starting point. More Services for Communities (SfC) services will be delivered locally Other services will have Neighbourhood Managers of their own The SfC Neighbourhood Manager will be responsible for the delivery of SfC services and for co-ordinating other services liaise with other Neighbourhood Managers manage the Community Planning process We need to work together to: Identify what works best locally and ensure its built into the new partnerships managements Identify duplication and what's not working well locally Identify the gaps - what's not being done that should be? Work in Progress Developing constitutional and decision making arrangements Setting out how partnerships will work together and across boundaries Agreeing how to measure success Strengthening local links and building on what works After he had answered various questions from the floor regarding many of the proposals, Alan Howie was thanked by Bridget for his excellent presentation. She reminded those present that they were encouraged to send comments in writing on the proposals put forward. These should be sent to: Alan Howie, Local Community Planning Manager Services for Communities 23/25 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3BH - Tel 0131 529 2269 Bridget would be writing on behalf of MCC. BUSINESS MEETING 3.0 Apologies for Absence Cllr Lorna Shiels, P.C. Alan Hopper, Frances Hawarden, Cllr Donald Wilson, Colin Young, B. Cohen 4.0 Minutes of Last Meeting held on 17th October 2006 were circulated Moved for adoption by Alison Elwell-Sutton and seconded by Cllr. Hunter. 5.0 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising 6.0 REPORTS 6.1 Police Report Inspector Tom Galbraith circulated copies of "Community & Neighbourhood Watch News" and spoke on two of the articles it contained : the breaking in to domestic/business premises and the rising theft of bicycles. He reminded the meeting that advice was available on security in the home . He advised also that: boundaries had changed there would be a move from Howdenhall to St Leonard's there would be more on-the-spot personnel from April 2007 and there had been a 20% reduction in bicycle theft There was some discussion concerning the grading system used by the Force Communication Centre (FCC) in answering telephone calls. Bridget Stevens reported some recent improvements in the FCC service. It was noted that The South Edinburgh Crime Prevention Panel are looking for members. 6.2 Planning /Licensing Report Pitsligo Road Telephone Exchange: the plans for the site have been approved 6b Merchiston Park: an application to demolish the existing bungalow had been submitted on its own. MCC would write to object in principle. Redholme House Hotel: the application to convert the Redholme House Hotel to a hostel had been withdrawn Ettrick Hotel (Festival Inns): there has been a long history of disturbances. Local residents had complained to the MCC on numerous occasions. Bridget Stevens and Robin Morris had attended the last Licensing Board meeting to object to the latest application for a permanent extension to the hotel's opening hours. Their representations had been rudely swept aside by the lawyer representing Festival Inns. MCC will send a letter strongly protesting at this treatment. Copies will be sent to the chairman of the Licensing Board and the Chief Executive of Edinburgh Council. 6.3 Treasurer's Report A report had been circulated. In the absence of our treasurer, Frances Hawarden, Ian Doig offered his comments. A small deficit was projected. This was based on similar expenses being incurred in the coming year. However, there was the prospect of some reduction compared to last year. It was noted that the Minute Secretary is waiving any remuneration. 6.4 Meetings attended by the chair since October 2006 A written report was circulated summarising these. 7.00 WEB SITE Ann Royden advised that a re-design would normally cost in the region of £1,500. It was thought that a colleague of William Mykura might be available to provide this for a lower figure. Ann is in touch with the current designer who is looking to redesign and requests were made of members for suggestions of what they would like to see on the site. 8.00 ANY OTHER BUSINESS Desmond Hodges spoke on the meeting held on 15th November by the Canal Society. A possible Fun Day to take place next Summer is being considered and the assistance of the MCC in that event would be welcomed. Ian Clement spoke of major changes in New Primary Care due to start from April 2007. He offered to compose a paragraph about it for inclusion on the MCC Web Site. Robin Morris referred to a letter on the Council's City Housing Strategy. Gwen Hamer and Geoff Middlecote had expressed interest in the work of the MCC. It was explained that there was currently a full complement of Community Councillors, but that these individuals’ involvement in MCC activities would be welcomed nevertheless. 9.00 Date of Next Meeting 16th January 2007 - Eric Liddell Centre |
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