Merchiston Community Council
21 November 2008 
Speaking up for the people of Merchiston  
Neighbourhood Partnerships

From May 2007, a structure of multi-member wards was introduced. The City of Edinburgh is divided into 17 wards, each of which is represented by either three or four elected members.

Also from May 2007, the City of Edinburgh Council changed the way some city services are delivered so that they become:

  • more local
  • more joined up
  • more flexible to local needs
  • more accountable.
Local affairs are now managed at this local level by Neighbourhood Partnerships. They are responsible for:
  • keeping neighbourhoods clean
  • collecting rubbish
  • street lighting
  • tackling anti-social behaviour
  • local parks
  • repairing roads and pavements
  • caring for homes
Neighbourhood Partnerships can make recommendations about any issues affecting the quality of residents' lives.

They are called Partnerships because not only is the City Council involved, but nominees from community councils, the police, the voluntary sector, the health service and other key bodies sit together with City Councillors on the Partnership's board, taking real decisions with a real budget to implement them. Things are still at an early stage, but sub-groups for a variety of specific topics are being set up and things are moving ahead. Each Partnership will be producing a Local Plan.

Merchiston Community Council overlaps two City Council wards so is represented on two Neighbourhood Partnerships:

Polwarth Gardens across the canal to Fountainbridge and Slateford Road is covered by
  • Ward 9, Craiglockhart/Fountainbridge, which is represented by the following councillors
Ward 9 is part of South West Neighbourhood Partnership.
Graham Kitching is the South West Neighbourhood Manager. You can call him on 0131 527 3801

Christine Doherty is the Partnership and Information Manager and you can call her on 0131 527 3830

The team can be found Here or at
South West Team

10 Westside Plaza
Edinburgh EH14 2ET
0131 527 3800
southwestteam@edinburgh.gov.uk

Agenda and Minutes of Meetings can be found at the NP website


The majority of our constituency from Polwarth Terrace south is covered by
Ward 10 is part of South Central Neighbourhood Partnership,
Susan Bruce is the South Central Neighbourhood Manager. You can call her on 0131 529 7662

Evelyn Kilmurry is the Partnership and Information Manager, and you can call her on 0131 529 5129
.
The team can be found at
South Central Team

40 Captain’s Road
Edinburgh EH17 8QF
0131 529 5151
southteam@edinburgh.gov.uk


Agenda and Minutes of Meetings can be found at the NP website

Next meeting

The next South West Partnership meeting is scheduled for

  • The South West Neighbourhood Partnership will meet in public on Tuesday 11 November 2008 at 7.00pm.
    A confirmed venue for the meeting will be added in due course.
    For further details please contact Christine Doherty by telephone: 0131 527 3830 or by email christine.doherty@edinburgh.gov.uk

The next South Central Partnership meeting is scheduled for

  • The next meeting of the Partnership will take place on Monday 11th August 2008 at 7pm, in the Prestonfield Room at Pollock Halls.

    Staff from the Council and partner agencies will be available from 6pm to 7pm to provide an opportunity to ask questions or raise local issues.

Merchiston Community Council's nominated members on the Neighbourhood partnerships are Ann Royden for South West and Bridget Stevens for South Central.

More information about Neighbourhood Partnerships is available on the City of Edinburgh Council Neighbourhood Partnership website HERE

Meanwhile some useful numbers
Call the Council Contact Centre on 0131 200 2323 for info on Council services.
Call 0131 529 5757 to report stair lighting faults.

Call CLARENCE on 0800 23 23 23 to report road and lighting problems.

Call 0131 529 7050 to report antisocial behaviour and find out how to help end it
Call the Rapid Response Team on 0808 100 33 66 about litter and dumping problems on public land
Call 0131 529 3686 for information on Blocked Drains or Gullies to be precise.