MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

17^th June 2008 7.00pm at Christ Church Morningside Centre, Holy Corner

M I N U T E S

CHAIR’S WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

            Present

Bridget Stevens                  CHAIR MCC

Robin Morris                      Vice-chair MCC

Frances Hawarden              Treasurer MCC

Rebecca Brooks                 MCC

Jim Geekie                        MCC

Kay Smith                         MCC

John Lennie                       MCC

Ian Doig                            MCC

Silvia Alvarez Ribes             Minutes Secretary

Eileen Hewitt                      City of Edinburgh Council (CEC)

Paul Swan                         SCNP - South Central Neighbourhood                                                                    Partnership Link Officer

Cllr. Gordon Buchan             City of Edinburgh Council

Mr & Mrs Mackie                 Local residents

Frances Morgan                 Local resident

Ian Clement                       Local resident

Inspector Richard Horan       Lothian and Borders Police

PC Alan Hopper                  Lothian and Borders Police

The CHAIR introduced INSPECTOR RICHARD HORAN of Lothian & Borders Police who was attending his first MCC meeting.

The CHAIR also explained that the new seating arrangement for the meeting followed CEC guidelines, i.e. the circular arrangement was intended to make people feel more relaxed and more able to contribute to discussions.

She then introduced EILEEN HEWITT.  Ms HEWITT is the CEC Community Council Liaison Officer.

1.    OPEN DISCUSSION with input from EILEEN HEWITT on two consultations:

First, the Scottish Government Consultation on the Draft Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Draft Code of Conduct for Community Councillors and, secondly, the Review of the Edinburgh Community Council Scheme, both requiring responses before our meeting in September.

The CHAIR explained that the above are proposed revisions of guidelines already in existence. The two are inter-linked as CEC will base its recommendations on the response to the Scottish Government consultation. The deadline for the receipt of comments on the latter will be 1 August 2008 and therefore the main aim of the meeting today is to draft a response to that document.

The CHAIR then explained that there was a little longer for the second consultation (deadline 31 August).  A session had been organised by the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils to discuss the Edinburgh consultation.   This would take place on 23 August at 10am in the City Chambers.   All were welcome to attend.

Ms HEWITT introduced the consultations as follows:

The documents being consulted on cover the rules and regulations governing community councils, things like the purpose of community councils, the rules for election of community councillors, code of conduct, arrangement of meetings and the number of meetings that should be held etc,..

Ms HEWITT explained that there are differences between the Edinburgh Scheme and what is proposed under the National Scheme.    For instance:

l  In the Edinburgh scheme, in addition to elected members, there are nominated members who represent local interest groups whereas the National Review makes no mention of nominated members.  Should they be retained?

l  Under the National Scheme the elections would be held every 4 years whereas they are held every 3 years in the Edinburgh Scheme

l  Ms HEWITT suggested that perhaps a change in the month in which elections are held is needed: spring elections in Edinburgh might clash with other elections, so would it be better to hold elections in the autumn?

Ms HEWITT went on to raise additional points:

l  Should the minimum age for members be 16 or 18?

l  Should political interests be represented?

l  Who should be in charge of administering the Code of Conduct?

The CHAIR then introduced a Questionnaire provided by The Scottish Government to accompany the consultation. The meeting discussed each question and the Chair undertook to collate the results for onward transmission to the Scottish Government (with copy to EILEEN HEWITT).   Our submission will be posted on the MCC website.

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BUSINESS MEETING

2.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllr. Andrew Burns, Mairianna Clyde, Rev. Linda Dunbar, Alison Elwell-Sutton, Cllr. Paul Godzik, Cllr. Mark McInnes, Cllr. Marilyne MacLaren.

3.      Adoption of the minutes of the March 2008 meeting was proposed by JOHN LENNIE and seconded by IAN DOIG.

         Matters arising:

·         Lack of Speed Bumps in Merchiston Avenue – following a complaint from a resident about speeding vehicles, a speed test had been carried out by the police.  PC Hopper admitted that the test had been carried out by an officer wearing a high visibility uniform which would have deterred offenders.  IAN CLEMENT commented that suspension problems in cars caused by speed bumps is a common occurrence and IAN DOIG concurred.

PAUL SWAN read from a report that priority for 20mph zoning was around schools, community centres and local shopping areas.   Mr Swan stated, however, that “the reduction of traffic speeds in residential areas was considered a major priority in achieving the strategic objective of having zero fatalities on the City’s roads.”   Merchiston Avenue was currently number 70 on the list of locations to be the subject of traffic calming.

• CPZ

There were many gaps in the CEC’s survey of residents to ascertain willingness to have parking notices on perimeter fences. Also, some residents who had agreed to these have still not received the promised vouchers.  Mr SWAN said he would pursue this with CEC’s Andrew MacKay.

• Noisy Helicopters

Helicopter flights for tourists are being run from Ingliston. Residents concerned about noise disturbance were asked to note, where possible, the registration number(s) of the helicopter(s) and report them to Environmental Services. Both KAY SMITH and the CHAIR commented that helicopters are now an omnipresent sound on a Saturday.

4.  REPORTS and ISSUES

POLICE

• PC ALAN HOPPER circulated the latest Police Report on criminal activity in the Merchiston area.  He observed that there had been an increase in the number of crimes, but that more than half had been solved.  For instances of vandalism (graffiti, damage to shop windows or to car windscreens), PC HOPPER encouraged residents to report any suspicious conduct.

• KAY SMITH reported that her upper flat in Bryson Rd. had been broken into and noted this had not been included in the police report.   Bryson Road was part of a different beat.    KAY SMITH suggested that police reports from all beats within the MCC area should be available at our meetings.

• In response to a question about the unauthorised removal of door mats, PC HOPPER stated that he did not propose to take the matter further as the individual concerned had undertaken to return the door mats to their owners in due course. Insp. RICHARD HORAN agreed that this was a sensible approach.

• IAN DOIG thanked PC HOPPER for his e-mail alerts.

• In response to a complaint from KAY SMITH, Insp.HORAN said that urinating in the street was definitely an offence and should be reported to the police. 

• IAN DOIG mentioned that the local Neighbourhood Watch Group had visited the Police Control Centre at Bilston and he thought it would be a good idea to organise a similar visit for members of the Community Council.  The CHAIR concurred and offered to organise along with the police. Tours can be organised for 6-8 people at a time.

• KAY SMITH and IAN DOIG asked questions on double parking, including who is responsible for drivers who double park after 6.30pm?  Mr SWAN would clarify this position.

• Insp. HORAN, introducing himself to the meeting, said he was fully in favour of police officers coming to meetings and welcomed comments and suggestions from local residents. His details are to be found at the end of the current police newsletter.

TREASURER – FRANCES HAWARDEN

Mrs HAWARDEN circulated her Treasurer’s report for June.

• Mrs HAWARDEN suggested that as a rule it might be a little unrealistic to expect the annual accounts to have been audited in time for the May AGM each year.  The accounts for the year to 31^st March 2008 had only now been audited.  IAN DOIG had assisted with the preparation of the accounts for audit. 

• The CHAIR thanked both Mrs HAWARDEN and Mr DOIG for their careful attention to MCC’s finances.

PLANNING - JOHN LENNIE

• Cllr GORDON BUCHAN raised the question of attic space and HMOs.

• A decision on the application to convert the Orwell Lodge into flats was still awaited.

LICENSING - ROBIN MORRIS

Mr MORRIS explained the issues related to this section:

• application from SPAR for 24-hour trading in Bruntsfield Place (formerly Scotmid) – granted.

• LICENSING FORUM: after a year it had been decided that re-elections were to be held based on the parliamentary boundaries.  ROBIN MORRIS’S nomination was supported by all present.

• HMO licensing: the CHAIR suggested that, contrary to what the Chair of the Regulatory Committee had stated, residents were very interested in this issue and were unhappy that they had not been consulted about the possible introduction of a quota system, which the Regulatory Committee had unilaterally rejected.   Cllrs  McInnes and MacLaren were pursuing this on behalf of local residents.   

• FRANCES HAWARDEN pointed out that, as we are in an area where many students live, there was likely to be opposition to a quota, but at the very least there should be a public debate.

• JOHN LENNIE expressed his sympathy with people owning and living in property in buildings where most flats were HMOs.   His view on the matter was that ONLY ONE HMO FLAT should be allowed per stair.

TRANSPORT – WILLIAM MYKURA

Mr MYKURA was not present at the meeting.

OTHER

• The CHAIR explained that there was nothing further to report on the proposed partial re-introduction of all-day parking within the CPZ. On the proposal to extend the business permits system, the CHAIR said that she had sent a letter to CEC outlining MCC’s objections.   KAY SMITH brought up the issue of messy front gardens, saying that, increasingly, gardens at the front of rented or partly rented properties are not being kept clean.  Cllr. GORDON BUCHAN suggested that the Neighbourhood Partnership(s) should be contacted about this.  KAY SMITH explained that she had actually contacted them and she “had been shouted at.”  IAN CLEMENT stated that the same can be said regarding messy stairs

The CHAIR suggested that the right thing is for residents to approach one or more of their own ward councillors about this in the first instance. She then offered to sign a letter in the name of MCC which KAY SMITH was willing to draft.  The letter would go to both South Central and South West Neighbourhood Partnerships.  Cllr GORDON BUCHAN said he was willing to lend his support.

5.  AOCB

• The CHAIR reported on money that was available through the SCNP for use on roads-related projects.  She would circulate details and members of MCC were invited to nominate relevant projects.

• The CHAIR said that she would be unable to attend the AGM of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils on 21st June.  ROBIN MORRIS agreed to represent MCC at this meeting.

6.  Next meeting Tuesday 16^th September – Venue to be confirmed

A possible topic for that or a subsequent meeting might be Road Repairs, Speed Bumps and Speed Reduction Measures generally.