Tollcross Community Council Notice of Meeting and Agenda
26th August 2015 7pm Tollcross Community centre Room 4
Contact Tollcross CC via: tollcrosscc.org.uk @TollcrossCC [email protected]
General Information Tollcross Community Council Councillors: Paul Beswick, Iain Black, Andrew Brough, Roger Colkett, Andrew Devenport, Heather Goodare, Chris McGregor, Nick Munro, Tim Puntis, Liz Summerfield, Ann Wigglesworth.
Tollcross Community Council Office Bearers: Paul Beswick Chair/Planning, Andrew Brough Secretary/EACC, Roger Colkett Licensing/EACC/CCNP, Andrew Davenport SWNP, Heather Goodare Health, Nick Munro Planning, Tim Puntis Treasurer/Publicity, Liz Summerfield SWNP/Media Monitoring, Ann Wigglesworth SCNP.
Co-Opted Members: Richard Allen FCI, Michael Lister EHF, Chris Wigglesworth MABLAG.
Tollcross Councillors: Ward 9 Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart Andrew Burns (Lab) Gavin Corbett (Green) David Key (SNP) Ward 10 Meadows/Morningside Paul Godzik (Lab) Sandy Howat (SNP) Mark Mcinnes (Con) Melanie Main (Green) Ward 11 City Centre Karen Doren (Lab) Jonna Mowat (Con) Alasdair Rankin (SNP).
Tollcross MSP’s: Edinburgh Central Marco Biagi (SNP) Lothian Regional List Sarah Boyack (Lab) Lothian Regional List Gavin Brown (Con) Lothian Regional List Cameron Buchanan (Con) Lothian Regional List Kezia Dugdale (Lab) Lothian Regional List Neil Findlay (Lab) Lothian Regional List Alison Johnstone (Green)
Tollcross MP’s: Edinburgh East Tommy Sheppard (SNP) Edinburgh South West Jonna Cherry (SNP)
Abbreviations: CCNP – City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership. EACC – Edinburgh Association of Community Councils. EHF – Edinburgh Health Forum FCI – Fountainbridge Canal Initiative. MABLAG – Meadows and Bruntsfield Links Advisory Group. SCNP – South Central Neighbourhood Partnership. SWNP – South West Neighbourhood Partnership.
Agenda August 2015
Tollcross Community Council Agenda August 26th 2015 7pm Tollcross Community Education Centre 117 Fountainbridge
1. Welcome & apologies; additional Agenda items.
2. Minutes 10th June 2015 acceptance & Matters arising.
3. Police matters – With PC Simon Wotton, PC Sacha Ponniah.
4. Living Streets: Presentation by David Hunter.
5. Local Matters
a. Liz Summerfield – Local working together with neighbouring CC.
b. CCNP - Local Representation on the Board.
c. BBQ – Signs on the Meadows.
d. Michael Lister – Taking minutes on behalf of Tollcross Community Council.
e. Constitution- Minute and note vote/sign off – 2013 Constitiution.
6. Councillors’ Comments & Questions
7. Planning - PB
8. Licensing - RC
9. Reports in addition to those written.
10. AOCB.
11. Our thanks to Mary Neilson.
Next meeting: September 30th 2015 7pm at Tollcross Community Centre
Contact Tollcross CC via: tollcrosscc.org.uk @TollcrossCC
Apologies to Secretary: [email protected] Minutes June 10th 2015 Draft
Tollcross Community Council Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday 10 June 2015 at 7pm Tollcross Community Education Centre, 117 Fountainbridge
1. Welcome and Apologies: Present: Paul Beswick (Chair), Andrew Brough (Secretary), Tim Puntis (Treasurer), Richard Allen, Iain Black, Roger Colkett, Andrew Devenport, Heather Goodare, Michael Lister, Chris McGregor, Mary Neilson, Liz Summerfield, Ann Wigglesworth, Chris Wigglesworth. Cllr Melanie Main. Police: PC Sacha Ponniah, St Leonards; PC Simon Wotton, Oxgangs. Members of the public: Neil Simpson (Old Town Development Trust), Ann Swap, Andreas Wilhelm Apologies: David Liddle, Nick Munro. Marco Biagi, MSP, Sarah Boyack, MSP. Cllrs Burns, Doren
Paul Beswick welcomed everyone to the meeting and intimated that as there was a busy agenda, the reports that had been previously circulated would not be presented individually, but if there were any points to be raised, they could be discussed briefly. There were no matters that needed discussed.
2. Minutes of Meeting on 13 May 2105: The Minutes were accepted as correct. Matters arising: there were no substantive matters arising. [Ann Wigglesworth wished to congratulate Liz Summerfield and Andy Devenport on another successful Meadows Festival (weather notwithstanding). Liz Summerfield gave a short report on this and was pleased with the overall success of this year’s Festival (weather notwithstanding).]
3. Police matters: PB welcomed PC Ponniah, who gave a short crime report. He said that the few break-ins in the Tollcross area in the past month had concerned business premises rather than domestic; that the plain-clothes Operation RAC was having some effect; and that in relation to drug use (new psycho-active substances) in stairwells, the Police were now working in conjunction with the Council to address these matters. He advised that in the case of drug use taking place in stairwells, the Police will attend if contacted.
PC Wotton reported that cycle thefts continued to be reported and that break-ins tended to concern business rather than domestic premises. Mary Neilson asked about a recent serious incident at High Riggs, but PC Wotton did not have any information about this. Asked about bicycles blocking the doorway to the back garden in a property in Glen Street, PC Wotton said that if they were causing an obstruction to an escape route, then this could be a matter for CEC Environmental Wardens, or for the Police.
Cllr Main said that a new scheme to remove bicycles from stairwells had recently been introduced with the Council working in tandem with the Police. In relation to bicycles in stairwells, Heather Goodare asked if bicycle racks might prove helpful in the situation in Glen St. ACTION: MN to liaise with HG in supplying the third party in Glen St with the appropriate information about bicycle racks.
Liz Summerfield and Richard Allen asked about the recent fire-raising on and near the canal (one houseboat, an attempt on another (the ‘Lochrin Belle’) and arson in the Community Garden), with reference being made to the unsatisfactory manner of the initial response of the police to these incidents. PC Wotton said there was not much in the way of any suspects and that it was an area where there was no CCTV, but enquiries were ongoing and there was increased vigilance in the area. Asked about foot patrols in the area, PC Wotton explained that he was the sole member of police on foot patrol in the Craiglockhart/Fountainbridge area.
Andy Devenport raised an issue about an unacceptable initial police response to an incident that involved a cyclist near to the Meadows during the Meadows Festival. ACTION: PC Ponniah to follow this up.
4. Planning: 4.1 King’s Stables Road proposed development Paul Beswick introduced four representatives from Peveril Securities and Campus Development Management, of whom three gave very brief presentations. Included in the presentations was the assertion that there was no rush to submit a PAN and that the developers wished to have two rounds of consultation and to engage as fully as possible with all interested parties before the PAN is submitted in late September/early October; that what was envisaged was a mixed use development with a particular emphasis on the ‘public realm’ and a car-free site; the development would include an hotel, accommodation for 250 students, with 11 residential units of 1- and 2-bedroom flats; and that a Section 75 agreement would apply (developer’s contribution to be agreed/announced following the successful submission of the PAN.)
Various questions were put to the developers, including the effect on the Castle Terrace car park; access to and traffic on King’s Stables Road; the rationale for including student accommodation where there is a shortage of low-cost housing and the disingenuity of the decision to build student accommodation, thereby obviating the requirement to provide social housing; concerns about further hotel provision and increasing over-concentration of student accommodation; the question of mixed and transient communities; the demographic imbalance; the non-adaptability of student housing and the importance of long-term adaptability and sustainability; the sale of council-owned land which ought to have dictated the provision of housing; the now mythical status of ‘artisan workshops’; and so on.
Again Paul Beswick advised that there would be public exhibitions on 17 and 18 June at 8-20 King’s Stables Road from 3pm-8pm, and again in October. ACTION: ALL COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS TO ATTEND THESE PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
4.2 Development of former car park at Capital Square/Chuckie’s Pend Paul Beswick said that he was to have a meeting with the developers next week and would report back to the meeting about this. He did add that a good pedestrian walkway and cycle path to run from Conference Square into/along Festival Square were proposed in the plan.
5. Local matters: Change of date of TXCC meetings Paul Beswick explained that because of the sometimes very tight deadlines for objections to licensing applications, it might be desirable to move Community Council meetings to the last Wednesday of the month. Following a brief discussion, Tim Puntis moved that we accept this proposal. The proposal was carried unanimously. Next meeting Wednesday 26 August. ACTION: AB to amend website, and any TXCC leaflets can be altered by hand.
6. Councillors’ Comments and Questions: 6.1 Local Development Plan Cllr Main mentioned that the current Local Development Plan has been agreed, and that consultation for the next plan will begin early in the summer. She stressed that it was essential to make representations about any concerns, and to do this at the earliest opportunity. In response to the point from Paul Beswick that all our comments in the past have been ignored, while she acknowledged that this was very frustrating, she reported that a new system was in operation whereby submissions unacceptable to the Council would be sent to the Scottish Government’s Reporter for revision/adjudication and urged us all to make responses/representations at the earliest opportunity. ACTION: Paul Beswick to take forward with regard to a TXCC submission if needed.
6.2 Road Fund Cllr Main explained that CEC had £50 000 per ward to be spent on roads. There would be workshops organised by the various Neighbourhood Partnerships on how to apply for these monies.
Heather Goodare asked if the parking area by the Cricket Pavilion at the Meadows might qualify; Tim Puntis reported again on the dreadful state of Lower Gilmore Place and its unusable pavement and asked the Community Council to make this a priority; Mary Neilson again mentioned the narrowness of the pavement at the bus-stop on Lauriston Place (opposite ECA).
6.3 Catchment review for schools in Edinburgh Cllr Main explained that the catchment area of James Gillespie's School was changing slightly in the local area.
6.4 Andy Devenport referred to a planning meeting he attended last year where, in relation to the attitude of senior officials towards Community Councils, senior planners had said that ‘Community Councils moan, and we just ignore them.’ Cllr Main suggested that he should email her in the first instance with this complaint, and that she would progress the matter. ACTION: AD to email Cllr Main.
7. Licensing: Roger Colkett reported the following applications:
7.1 Late hours applications 1. Concorde 2. Anatolia - Following a general discussion, it was decided that we object to these applications on the grounds of over-provision/over-concentration of food and drink outlets. ACTION RC to make these objections
7.2 On- and off-sale licence Brasserie, Morrison St - There were no substantive objections to this application.
7.3 Late hours catering application Tesco, Fountainbridge - Following a short discussion, particularly about ‘late hours creep’, it was decided to object to this application. ACTION RC to make an objection
7.4 Ann Wigglesworth referred to the Underbelly licence for its venue on the Meadows during the Fringe Festival, but after discussion, it was decided that no objection should be made.
8. Other/Events: 8.1 Edinburgh Health Forum: Heather Goodare referred to the annual report of the EHF, saying that following the demise of the public partnership forums, the EHF has an important role to play in representing patient and carer views to the new Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board (for Health and Social Care). She asked fellow councillors to read the report and said that she would be happy to answer any queries arising from the annual report. She also invited new members to join the forum.
8.2 Canal Festival and TXCC Stall, Saturday 27 June: Andy Devenport gave a short report on the problems currently facing the Canal Festival, where CEC had just recently announced its decision to cut funding for this year’s Festival from £2500 to £1500 (with Scottish Canals cutting its identical grant by the same amount), but said that the Festival would still take place. Volunteers were asked to assist on the TXCC stall, and Ann Wigglesworth suggested a rota to staff the stall from 12noon to 5pm. ACTION: AW to coordinate with TXCC volunteers/arrange rota.
9. Reports: Andy Devenport had attended a meeting of the SWNP. Report to follow.
10. AOCB: 10.1 Heather Goodare circulated copies of the Agenda of the FOMBL AGM with leaflets about barbecues.
10.2 Mary Neilson reported that a Community Firefighter had been invited to speak at the September meeting; and that Tesco in Earl Grey St now had a public noticeboard. 10.3 Communications sub-group – Andrew Brough reminded members of this sub-group that the date of the next meeting was now on 30 June, having been moved from 17 June, and that he would email a reminder to those concerned.
10.4 Tree Lights – meeting at 27 Panmure Place, 11 June at 7pm
10.5 Living Streets – Roger Colkett said he was happy to represent TXCC at the September meeting of this group. An email was sent around by AB with details and people asked to respond to RC if they wish to take part. Roger Colkett to take forward.
11. Presentation to Ann Wigglesworth: At the end of formal business, Paul Beswick took the opportunity to thank Ann for the very many years of sterling service that she has given to TXCC as its Secretary. Ann has very much been the public face of TXCC and has helped to keep it cohesive; indeed TXCC is such a cohesive group that it rejoices in the reputation of being one of the very few Edinburgh CC’s that has never witnessed a big bust-up! Speaking for all of us, Paul wished to offer Ann very many thanks for the huge amount of work that she has done over the years – and for her continuing involvement with TXCC. (Followed by much applause).
Ann made a gracious reply to Paul, and wished Andrew Brough well in his role as Secretary.
Date of next meeting: Wednesday 26 August 2015 at 7pm, Tollcross Community Centre
Reports Ready for 20 MPH Christmas Lights Sub-Group Update on Scaffolding on Earl Grey St & Fountainbridge Public reply to King’s Stables Rd PAN Neighbourhood alcohol & tobacco environments in Scotland Edinburgh Associations of Community Councils Communications Sub-group Audited 2014/2015 Accounts Gavin Corbett Monthly Report Re-provisioning of services on the REH and AAH sites Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative
Ready for 20 MPH 15 June 2015
The meeting, in the Old Council Chamber in the City Chambers was opened by Councillor Lesley Hinds who outlined the process of the implementation of 20mph for most residential and shopping streets in Edinburgh. The main changes will be to signage, with some use of electronic speed measurement and other electronic interventions. Speed bumps will not be used in the rolling out process. The final arrangements for the scheme will be considered by the Council in January 2016 and will be implemented in six phases starting with the City Centre beginning in February 2016. Councillor Hinds stressed that the council will be considering all views. The 2014 consultation of the proposed changes were supported by 60% of respondents.
The main speaker at the meeting was Rod King MBE, founder of the campaign ’20’s Plenty for Us’ speaking on the benefits that 20mph speed limits bring to communities and businesses. Clearly he is fully in favour of 20mph, and made a case for Edinburgh’s plans. He spoke about the successful implementation of such schemes in over half of the 40 largest urban centres in the UK. These include the biggest Local authority (Birmingham) and all of Lancashire.
Part of the evidence of support for 20mph schemes from business he said was the enthusiastic support for 20mph scheme and its implementation in the City of London, where business interests are the interests of the leadership. He demonstrated that political dominance of local authorities is not related to the development of 20mph schemes. The British Social Attitudes survey showed that 73% of those consulted were in favour of 20mph limits in urban areas.
Reduction of accidents is important though not the only reason for slower traffic. Slower speeds allow more thinking time for accidents to be avoided. Cogent for himself he told the meeting was that the distance taken for cars going 20mph to stop should be compared to cars going 30mph. Over that same distance, 30mph cars will still be going at 24mph.
The Council’s own analysis of utility of a 20mph scheme can be found at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/1743/busting_the_myths_around_edinburghs_20mph_roll- out
Tim Puntis
Christmas Tree Lights Switch on Sub-Group
AB chaired a meeting of the newly formed Sub-Group with IB, AD, ML, CMcG, AW in attendance.
With AW having already announced sometime ago that she would be stepping down from organising the annual Lights event after 10 years, the sub-group was set up to take over the running of the event.
The meeting looked at a great many things that are required to be done in setting up and running the event. AW handed over a month by month break down of what needed to be done alongside names of people who have helped in the past from around Tollcross.
AB went though a list of items for this years event, with the most pressing subject being funding required for the event. AW suggested that between £800 - £1,000 was required and we all discussed how that could be achieved.
The sub-group charged ML with going out to ask the local banks, supermarkets and other contacts regarding sponsorship for this event. AB stated that if we could not secure the funded need by the end of September then the event would not take place this year.
We then had a lively debate about the running order, things to include in the event, and a new direction including inviting the local media along to cover the switch on, and seeing if we could get the local Panto at King’s Theatre involved this year.
We will have another sub-group in September and make a decision from there on the feasibility of this year’s event.
Andrew Brough
Update on Scaffolding on Earl Grey St & Fountainbridge
AB asked the City Centre Councillors for an update on the current dreadful scaffold that has been erected for 2.5 years around buildings on Earl Grey Street & Fountainbridge. Cllr Rankin was first to report and provide this interesting update and one below from Cllr Mowat –
Background. The block consists of 25 properties owned by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association (DCHA), with 11 privately owned and 5 Commercial Units.
In early 2013 there was a masonry fall on the Earl Grey Street elevation, prompting CEC to erect a safety crash deck scaffold to protect the public on the pavement below. This action was covered by the Emergency Statutory Notice 13/00266/24_E and all owners are liable to pay for the ongoing cost incurred for the scaffold. Given the public health & safety risks associated with masonry falling DCHA elected to erect further protective scaffold on the Fountainbridge elevation.
Subsequently, DCHA commissioned a report on the condition of the building and the required repairs. This report concluded that due to the serious deterioration the majority of the existing stonework needed replacement. It also concluded that the project will entail extensive roof repairs including renewal of gutters and down pipes.
Works were tendered by DCHA and a contractor appointed with a view to proceed with the project circa Sept 2014 subject to co-operation from all affected owners. Individual owners were expected to bear the estimated cost of around £20,000 per property.
DCHA issued all owners & residents with communications in Jul 2014 detailing the project plan and estimated costs. They have since been trying to work with the owners to enable them to proceed with the project. CEC also wrote to owners on 18 August 2014 updating them on the CEC scaffold in place, associated costs and encouraging them to take forward the works in collaboration with DCHA.
Unfortunately, a number of owners and shopkeepers have been uncooperative with DCHA in reaching an agreement. Around January 2015 DCHA informed the owners that they were now enacting the Tenement (Scotland) Act as a means to progress the works on site and recover the monies from all owners based on title deeds. In May 2015 DCHA commissioned a contractor to carry out a precautionary inspection and remove any dangerous stonework.
Current Position. The Council intend to work with DCHA in partnership on this project. We have identified this project as a pilot for the new Shared Repairs service where we will be involved in the customer advice and liaison role with DCHA and they will directly contract and manage the works. The works required are extensive and will take between 14-16 months to complete. DCHA are looking to be on site in July.
Cllr Mowat respond with details from CEC –
Dear Councillor Mowat
Thank you for your enquiry below on behalf of your constituent Mr Bough. I have spoken to Annette Drysdale about this and she has advised that the company that was repairing the stone went bankrupt and were unable to continue the work. A new scaffolding permit has been applied for by the new contractor and this permit runs until the 10 September 2015.
And Later -
I have another update on this, we just received a permit application for the scaffolding here for another year from the 11 September 2016.
Public reply to King’s Stables Rd PAN
PB writes a letter re: Reference Proposal of Application Notice, World Heritage Site Old Town Conservation Area. Mixed use development including flats, student accommodation, hotel and arts facility. At 6, 8, 13, 15, 18-20, 21, 28 King's Stables Road 2 Lady Wynd Edinburgh EH1 2JY.
15/01936/PAN
Dear Sir/ Madam, Members of Tollcross Community Council attended both the Exhibition and your presentation at our meeting. We would like to make the following comments on the proposal.
We accept that this site is ripe for development but there are two major issues we would like to comment on; the mix of uses and the sensitivity of the site.
1. Mix of uses. We were involved in the preparation of the development brief some years ago and a clear message at that time was that the development should have a large component of housing. We also bought into the idea that central Edinburgh and the World Heritage Site were enhanced by communities living and working within it rather than it being a theme park. Many recent developments and applications in our area have been for hotels, aparthotels and student residences. These uses make no contribution to a settled community for the area. We feel that there is now an over concentration of student residences in this area. In fact there are fourteen residences and one pending application in our area with a total of 3940 places. All the applications stress the nearness of Edinburgh University but most of Edinburgh’s students study at some considerable distance away and residences should be nearer to where student’s classes are.
2. Sensitivity of the area. Not only is the site part of the World Heritage Site but it is adjacent to and very visible from what is probably Scotland’s most important National Monument. Hindsight tells us that the ugly Argyle House should never have been built in this situation, so your question as to whether the massing and scale is appropriate compared to neighbouring buildings is inappropriate. There is only one important neighbouring building and that is the castle. The scale and massing of the proposal are both too large for the site where views from the castle should look down on lesser buildings. And of course the materials to be used must be sensitively chosen for this site.
3. Other Issues. a. There would be some advantage in narrowing King’ Stable Road to benefit pedestrians but not if the reason was to increase the footprint of the development. Maximum permeability of the site should be a priority although some of the suggested new routes appear to be on land not under the control of the developers. A publicly accessible courtyard does sound to be an asset. b. The addition of a café or restaurant would certainly enhance the vitality of King’s Stable Rd. c. We would support the proposed arts facility to be used for studios and workshops. Three developments in our area have suggested similar but none have ever been delivered.
Paul Beswick
‘Neighbourhood alcohol and tobacco environments in Scotland.’ CRESH 25th June
The purpose of this event was to demonstrate a new interactive webmap which ‘allows users to map tobacco and alcohol outlet density, and related health outcomes, for neighbourhoods across Scotland, but because of problems with wi-fi within the City Chambers it was not possible to access the CRESH website. However, several important presentations were given and
The session was attended by about two dozen people, representing various organisations, including Heather Goodare, Roger Colkett and Michael Lister, each from TXCC and the Edinburgh Health Forum.
Jennifer Curran, Alcohol Focus Scotland, spoke about the work of her organisation, with reference to the number of alcohol outlets nationally and alcohol harm experienced by individuals, harm caused to others affected by someone else’s drinking and the wider impact on communities.
She highlighted the particular challenges faced in Edinburgh, which has the highest density of alcohol outlets in Scotland (including one unspecified area of over-provision described as being a ‘serious special concern’): 44 outlets within a radius of a 10minute walk compared with 28 for Glasgow, with the national Scottish average being 16. She also provided information on levels of harm and a cost profile for Edinburgh where (based on 2012 data):
alcohol harm cases accounted for 11% of the Health Service budget; 37% of reported crime; 13% of the Social Care budget; and 39% of productive capacity (ie absence from work), all at a cost of £455 per head of population.
In terms of local action, Alcohol Focus is producing a ‘toolkit’ for community representatives, which it is hoped can be used to help influence local licensing policy (but until public engagement and stakeholder involvement are incorporated into law, then there will be little effect on the licensing policy of the Edinburgh Licensing Board ….)
Dr Niamh Shortt, senior lecturer in Health Geography, University of Edinburgh, spoke about outlet density and health in Scotland and the health gap and health inequalities. There are currently 16 159 alcohol outlets in Scotland, 4 800 of which are off-sales outlets, the remaining 11 359 being on-sales outlets.
The focus of her talk was on the creation of the CRESH Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health website – one feature of which is the flexibility it allows to search for all alcohol outlets; off-sales alcohol outlets; on-sales alcohol outlets; tobacco outlets; alcohol-related deaths; lung cancer/disease deaths; deprivation; by local authority, parliamentary constituency or datazone. Such search facilities will highlight areas of over-provision and density and will prove indispensable for community councils/individuals/stakeholders who wish to make objections to licensing applications. (Whether such data/information will influence decisions is another matter...) Niamh Shortt also talked about the revised Air Weapons and Licensing Act (Scotland) which was being discussed in Parliament today and her hope that some amendments which she had been encouraging some MPSs to table would be incorporated into the legislation.
There followed a brief talk from Brandon Walker from the Serenity Café (8 Jackson Entry, Edinburgh, EH8 8PJ), who talked about his involvement in Photovoice, a photographic project relating to alcohol.
Towards the end of the session, Cllr Chas Booth (Green Party and member of the Edinburgh Licensing Board) appeared. While thanking the speakers, he reminded the meeting that the City of Edinburgh Council will be revising its (triennial) Statement of Licensing Policy in 2016, and that this ought to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to be involved in and to contribute to decision-making policy.
A very short question-and-answer session ensued, with some rather hostile and unfeignedly stupid comments from the floor.
It would be especially helpful if all TXCC councillors and members of EHF could access the CRESH website to see how it works. www.cresh.org.uk/webmap
Michael Lister
Edinburgh Association of Community Councils 25/06/2015
The latest meeting to get EACC up and functioning was dealt a set back with the Secretary resigning after only being elected at the recent AGM. The Chair Eric Dobbie is to issue an appeal for people to stand regarding this post.
The EACC council grant was discussed, with concern that at a meeting with the Council, EACC had been offered £40k over the next three years. A normal years grant would be £900. EACC was to arrange a meeting to see what terms were attached to this 18x grant increase. In this era of cuts, staff being let go etc. it seemed odd for the Council to be offering such a large increase in the grant for EACC. I felt as did others that something was odd and that we should not take this on in the current climate, but the meeting are going back to CEC to see what they can find out.
Communication was a hot topic on how to effectively communication via the 44 CC in Edinburgh. Some discussion was had about email, basecamp (a web based tool) and others. Eventual the EACC website was brought up and between three of us (me, Roger Colkett, and David Bewsey (Colinton CC) to take forward and following discussions after the meeting we have started to make progress on this.
Andrew Brough
Communications Sub-Group Report 30 June
Report from the latest Communications sub-group held on 30th June.
1 AD had researched funding for two pavement notice boards. He told us that the deadlines for the next round of grant applications to the relevant Neighbourhood Partnership grants are not until October (SWNP) and November (CCNP). He also suggested that larger noticeboards should be applied for, viewable from both sides and affording space on one side for a map and local advertising. AD agreed to find accurate costings, both for our previous chosen boards and for the newly proposed type. This would include all the associated costs and income where possible (i.e. insurance). He will circulate the information in advance of the next sub-group meeting by email.
2 Discussion on a proposed newsletter led to the decision by the group to delegate to AD the responsibility to find the cost of a newsletter to his preferred format. That is to include all production costs and delivery costs. AD agreed to circulate the costing and format information in advance of the next sub-group meeting by email.
3 HG drew attention to other local magazines and the possibility of including in them, information and articles about TXCC. The idea met with general approval.
4 TP provided costings for both feather flags (two would £200 + VAT) with finished artwork to the specified .pdf form as yet uncosted. Similarly, he provided costings for two pull-up banners for inside use. Again, the cost would be £200 + VAT, with more cost associated with the production of artwork.
A discussion about the format of the flags and banners followed and a basic design brief decided on. It was further decided that TP should pass this on to Nick and Lucy for an estimate of the artwork cost. The design brief was our the web address and the letters TXCC on the feather flag, and for a background picture of the clock at Tollcross with more extensive text on the pull-up banners. TP agreed to do this as soon as possible.
5 AW asked about A4 posters advertising meetings continuing to go to the usual places. The general agreement of the group was that this could be done until the new noticeboard is in place.
6 The next meeting of the sub-group will be on 15th September at 7.30pm. Generously, HG has agreed to host the meeting again.
Tim Puntis
Audited 2014/2015 Accounts
As promised by TP, last years audited accounts for Tollcross Community Council. If you wish to access the files online for easier viewer or for your own copy please visit: http://tollcrosscc.org.uk/annual- accounts/
See overleaf for accounts.
Objection Letter to 15/02892/PPP Land adjacent to 194 Fountainbridge
Planning letter on behalf of Tollcross CC
Objection to Application for planning permission: 15/02892/PPP Application by Fountain North Ltd (wholly owned by Grosvenor Estates Ltd) at land adjacent to 194 Fountainbridge. Dear sir/madam, I am writing on behalf of Tollcross Community Council who would like to lodge an objection to the above Application. Thus far on this site, Grosvenor have employed such a wonderful period of generous engagement with the community in the shape of the Grove Community Garden, entirely provided by Grosvenor as a goodwill gesture to the local community. Whilst this was always to be a temporary arrangement, it displayed such an enlightened sense of understanding and engagement with local folk, it is particularly disappointing to see the nature of the proposed development on the site.
- We are very disappointed to be faced with a submission at a time when it is known that many Community Councillors/members of the public are on holiday, this feels canny and has often been used by developers in the past as a method for enjoying a reduced number of objection letters
- We are concerned that whilst the application is ostensibly for Planning in Principle, Grosvenor are seeking approval for Building ‘A1’ and various other matters.
- We are particularly worried by the content of the proposals, we feel that the proposed architecture is of extraordinary height and feels ‘monolithic’ in nature. It seems not to appreciate the need for public realm in terms of light and space and seems not to have responded to the concerns of the Edinburgh Urban Design Panel.
- We also feel it has no relationship with the EDI master plan for India Quay and will create architectural dissonance, which is inexcusable in a situation where buildings are being designed to sit in close proximity.
The public and the community of Tollcross has suffered greatly at the hands of developers in the last 10 years with unfulfilled promises of community spaces/new canal basins/low-cost housing. This is a great shame when you consider how closely the community has been involved with the EDI land and the Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative. We hope the committee will understand that objections of this nature are submitted with a hope for a GREATER GOOD for the area.
Nick Munro
Gavin Corbett Green Councillor for Fountainbridge, Monthly report
Casework issues included Gardners Crescent garden area, Stay City flats in Brandfield Street, bins and parking issues
1. I submitted my views / misgivings on the Grosvenor planning application at Springside West. 2. I’ve spent quite a lot of time on the meantime uses at Fountainbridge, following asbestos discovery, now thankfully settled, with continued use of the site permitted. 3. The new park, Fountainbridge Green, has really come on this summer and will be in part use soon.
Gavin Corbett Green Councillor for Fountainbridge - Craiglockhart Meeting of Community Council Reps with NHS Lothian to discuss re-provisioning of services on the REH and AAH sites
Board Room, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, 5.15 pm Thursday 30th July 2015
Present (for CCs) Heather Goodare (HG) Tollcross CC, Alastair Philp (AP) (Marchmont and Sciennes CC), Sue Tritton (ST) Grange Prestonfield CC, Aline Haggart (AH) Morningside CC, Jo Scott (JS) Southside Association, Goff Cantley (GC) Morningside CC Apologies: Tony Harris (TH) Grange Prestonfield CC Helen Zealley (HZ) (For NHS Lothian) Andrew Milne (AM) NHSL, Project Director Major Hub Initiative Jennifer Thwaites (JT), Project Manager, REH Campus Redevelopment
Introduction: This meeting replaced the meeting planned for June 25th. Jo chaired the meeting.
The meeting started with a presentation showing construction work on the site – mainly the erection of steel frames for the buildings in “Phase1”. Building on the orchard will start soon. Work on the former bowling green, so far, has been in stabilising the soil. The work has brought a variety of community benefits including the provision of work experience placements and training opportunities – these will continue. Everything is on target and within budget.
Update on current position. Andrew Milne reported as follows – often in answer to questions: • Myreside Road Entrance: No change to the proposals – it won’t become the main entrance to the site. • Myreside Road traffic lights: The official line is that they are “coming soon”. • Church: A grant has been received for refurbishing the little church – to be used for concerts, art classes, yoga etc. Mainly for inpatient use but could be used for the Community. No longer used as a church – there are several chaplains on site and services are provided in the “Spiritual centre” (in McKinnon House) • McKinnon House and Kennedy Tower: NHS in discussions with Edinburgh University about the tower. McKinnon House will probably be designed with flexible partitions etc. which could be used for lectures etc. and this could replace the Tower facilities – University still to respond. • Balcarres Street pedestrian bridge: This has been considered but the cost is likely to be 7-figures and the benefit to people travelling to the site would be minimal – the distance would only be marginally less that from Morningside Road. NHS is still looking at how people travel through the site. • Hydrotherapy Pool: There is space on site for this – however, there are other suitable pools in the area and no decision has yet been made. • AAH site: Construction of the replacement facilities should start in 2017 and the move completed by 2020. • Sale of AAH site: NHS Lothian will put in a draft Masterplan before marketing – probably mainly housing. Timescale likely to be too late for CEC to consider this as a site for a new primary school. No work has started on this masterplan yet. Confirmed that this is the correct forum for discussions about the AAH site. • Liberton Hospital: Plan is for patients to be closer to home and other hospitals may be more suitable to avoid long travel for relatives etc. • Phase 2 building: Jennifer said this will start in January 2017. Design has just started – First for 1:500 plans and then 1:200. Planning applications expected in early 2016.
Other matters raised by CC reps: • Smoking on site: The Scottish Government has banned smoking on all hospital sites. This means that staff, in particular, are smoking just outside the site, in Morningside Terrace, dropping litter etc. AM said he had a lot of sympathy with the annoyance – Phase1 had originally included “smoking areas” but these had to be removed from the plans. AM would report this concern to his superiors and suggested that it should be raised with the MSP, Jim Eadie. • Buses in Newbattle Terrace: NHS Shuttle buses are speeding in Newbattle Terrace –a 20mph street. AM will report back but said that it is necessary for these buses to use this street – however, they should stick to the speed limit.
Date of the next meeting. Pencilled in for Thursday November 19th 2015 (5 for 5.15pm). Sue Tritton 31st July 2015
Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative Steering Group 28th July 201
Present: Police officer from Balerno, chap from Falkirk and 3 other boat people,1 from Scottish Canals Pat Bowie, Andy Devenport, Andrew Brough, Rosemary Way (Dunedin), Jane Jones, Liz Summerfield
Police officer who attended knows about the boat but not the greenhouse. Pat still has the bus pass dropped on the evening Celine's boat was burned. Gave it to Ally. Some doubt expressed by polis about how far into the boat you have to enter to be considered breaking in. If a boat's untied, (so that it drifts away) what kind of crime is that?
Andy reported frequent vandalism on boats. Apparently youths involved cite lack of trespass law in Scotland – I think this is wrong, you can be done for trespass.
CID are supposed to be dealing with the issue of Celine's boat. Fire service forced entry to get on board to put the fire out, so it looks as if the fire could have started by accident inside. Still no clarification. Pat says the straps on the canopy and the rubber surrounds of the windows were damaged so it could still have been a break in and arson.
Issue of dates – police wouldn't give us a choice of dates when they could DEFINITELY attend FCI meetings – looks as if there's a reluctance to engage.
Ally reported that there still is a community safety team (but it's not the same as before PS) He says there's no guaranteed continuity so officers don't get to know area/locals.
Party flats – Ally says he couldn't find a call about disturbance from Harrison flats. Security has been changed at Leamington Wharf party flats and it's better. People climb on the boats to get to the balconies. It would be good if there were foot patrols to discourage this kind of activity. So the kind of activity boaters don't bother reporting would be better reported to convince the polis the patrols are needed.
It seems you need to know how the polis categorise reports - headings include, damage, public nuisance, noise – we need to know the headings so that we know what to report it as!
SCNP bought bikes for polis to use HERE, but apparently the bikes have gone elsewhere.
Andrew – the council's going to install new CCTV cameras so maybe the canal could be covered too.
Cllr Gordon Monroe is Chair of Canal Devt. Group – he's canals 'champ' so might take action.
Pat: listed action points for the group: report more incidents, research CCTV option
Whose beat is Edinburgh Quay – Ally – any calls go to Wester Hailes for emergency responses. Two officers for each ward. Alan Healy (Sgt).is the contact at WH who replied to my query about having an officer attend June FCI meeting.
Ally says there are 3 sergeants with the different teams (presumably Alan Healy at WH, Elizabeth Duthie at Oxgangs and who at Balerno?)
Pat wants people reporting incidents to be able to use a keyword – canal – so that polis know it's connected to what we've been discussing tonight.
Pat asked can we get an officer to a meeting in about a month. We will schedule it to suit when polis free. (Assuming they're willing to commit to a date, which seems unlikely going on past experience.)
Stan Reeves will be contact for Grove II Community Garden.
Jane asked for advice on security for garden building? Ally proposed lights with movement sensor, mock CCTVs.
Jane – have the police any figures on disturbance from party flats since they were built?
Liz Summerfield
Events September 2015
September 2015
Spotlight on Burke and Hare Fri, 4 September, 14:30 – 15:00 Central Library, 7-9 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EG. Discover original images and documents relating to Edinburgh’s most notorious murderers
South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting of the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership When: Monday, 7 September 2015, 18:00 Where: Business Centre, City Chambers Contact name: Margaret Campbell
Tel: 0131-529 7182 Email: [email protected]
City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership 3rd September - City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting. 19.00 – 21.00 – Venue TBA contact –
With Mary moving out of the TXCC Area, Roger, who was Mary’s deputy has taken over the role of representing us to the NP in the City Centre.
Living Streets: Tollcross Audit Dates as follows: Friday 25 September (10.30 am) Saturday 26 September (10.30 am)
I expect that we will be finished by 12.00 each day (if anyone needs to nip away earlier, I'm sure that won't be a problem). Can you confirm that you would like to take part and specify which date suits you best?
Because quite a few people have expressed an interest, and some people are available only at weekends/evenings, it seems to make sense to split the audit into these two sessions. The results of the Friday and Saturday audits will be combined in a single report though. Following some preliminary discussion with Tollcross Community Council, we propose focussing on Lochrin Place and Home Street. This is partly because there are works (and budgets) already planned for these streets as part of a project to extend the cycle path from the Union Canal to the Meadows.
Council staff have confirmed that the results of the audit will fit in with their timescales for this project, and have said that they would like to discuss the findings onsite after the audit has been completed. So we can be confident that our findings will at least be considered by the council.
David Hunter: 07810 444080 http://www.nfpplanning.com
Contact Tollcross CC via: tollcrosscc.org.uk | Twitter: @TollcrossCC | email: [email protected]