Approved Firrhill Community Council ‘Nec Aspera Terrent’ (Undaunted by Adversity) Minute of the Meeting held on Monday, 26 October 2015 At Lochan View Community Business Centre, 12 Firrhill Neuk Attendance and Apologies: Members: H Levy; J Napier; L Linn; S Duffy; J Burt. Ex-officio Members: Cllr Aitken; PC Sonja Kaiser & PC Steve McGill (Oxgangs Police station). Visitors: L McGurk; S Campbell (Residents) Apologies: P Wright; F Gosney; P Valentine; Cllr J Rust; Cllr R Lewis; L McGurk; W Allen. Non Attendance: G Duncan. The Chair, H Levy, welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance. Minutes of Previous Meeting: The draft minutes for meeting held on 28 September 2015 were reviewed. There being no corrections the minutes were moved for approval by LL, seconded by FG and agreed. Matters Arising: Landscaping in front of Pavilion Following on from a complaint about the state of the landscaped area in front of the Pavilion building, Cllr Lewis was going to discuss alternate options with relevant manager to seek a viable solution to the maintenance problems at this location. In the absence of Cllr Lewis this matter is deferred Action: Secretary to write to Cllr Lewis for an update. Complaint regarding a dangerous dog The Chair gave a verbal report on the meeting that took place in the Pentland Community Centre on the 29th September, which she described as being an eye-opener as to the extent of the problem. The meeting had been arranged by local councillors to enable residents affected by the aggressive actions of their neighbour to raise their complaint to the appropriate authorities and seek a solution. As a consequence of that meeting a “Dog Control Notice” has been issued to the dog owner. Recent reports indicate the owner is complying with the notice. Action: To continue to monitor the situation. Police Report The Chair welcomed the two police officers to the meeting and invited them to give their report on police activities within the Firrhill Community Council area for the last reporting period. Unfortunately, we were informed at the end of the report Police Scotland has introduced a policy of only providing verbal reports to community councils and therefore no written report is available for recording in the minutes. Page 1 of 11 http://www.firrhillcommunitycouncil.btck.co.uk/ Items noted were Colinton PS; neighbour dispute; housebreakings (sheds/garages); assault in Oxgangs Bank (a male was arrested); theft in Oxgangs Green and a hate crime. Public attendance at the Police surgery in the library has increased. A reminder that people should be aware of receiving bargains – the old adage – if something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Discussion on home security with a recommendation that if installing lighting outside your property, you should consider a “dusk to dawn” lighting system. Police provide a lot of information in regard to doorstep crime and home security on their website. If you do not have internet access at home then use the library. Community Policing Team Ward 8 comprises 3 Beats, PF56 (Fairmilehead, Buckstone, Swanston), PF57 (Oxgangs, Firrhill), and PF58 (Colinton, Bonaly) with two Council Funded Officers, PC 4179E Graeme Howie and PC11550 Sonja Kaiser. The Community Policing Team leader for the wider area is Inspector Liz Duthie. The CPT consists of 5 teams of community-facing police Constables led by a Sergeant, and the emphasis will be on community working in a bid to solve local issues. Should you wish to contact the Community Policing Team, you can do so by email at [email protected] or by telephoning the new national non-emergency number 101. You can also follow them on twitter @PentlandsPolice. If there is anything in particular that you wish to bring to their attention, please get in touch. Partnership working requires participation. Police Surgery: Wednesdays between 1700 and 1800 hours at Oxgangs Library. Warning about doorstep callers: don't sign up with, or give money to, anyone who cold-calls, i.e., anyone you haven't arranged to call. Say NO and report them to Police Scotland Tel: 101 or the City Council's Trading Standards Tel: 0131-529 3030. To pass on information about crime anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out their secure, encrypted online Giving Information Form. MSP/Councillors Reports Councillors Aitken Aldi Development The legal processes have nearly concluded. Solicitors from Aldi and CEC are discussing the section 69 for the crossing and the community safety aspects of the Stopping Up order have been addressed. Street Bin I received complaints about street litter bins in Colinton Mains which were overflowing. I have asked that the bins be monitored and emptied on a regular basis and the frequency increased as required. Planters at Oxgangs Broadway The Area Board members agreed to fund a project to improve the planters at Oxgangs Broadway. It will include new, hardier plants and it is hoped that the shopkeepers and community members will eventually take over the maintenance once the plants are established. Page 2 of 11 Minutes of Firrhill Community Council Meeting 26 October 2015 Hope Triangle Health Group An apple harvest and bulb planting event was organised during the schools October break. This was well attended and enjoyed by the children. The group is holding a Fuel Talk by Home Energy Scotland about practical energy saving advice and advice and guidance regarding heating and energy saving tips in Pentland Community Centre on Thursday 5th November 10-12pm Bus Shelters I’ve received complaints about the positioning of the new shelters and the height of the seats in some of them. The new shelter outside Oxgangs Library offers no protection from the elements and I have asked that this be reviewed. Schools Firrhill HS: attended the presentation of the Sportscotland Gold Sports Award. Braidburn School: attended The Children & Families Achievement Awards and Braidburn were highly commended in the Effective Learning Category for their “Symbolising the Environment” project. Picture symbols were used throughout the school in order to increase the pupils’ communication skills, understanding of their environment and order of events in their day. Parking : Once again, problem parking at roads near Pentland and Oxgangs PS has been brought to my attention. I will organise visits with our Roads Officer and Police officers. Community Safety Reports of incidents locally have been made which have been investigated by Police and Community Safety Officers. I will discuss these with Inspector Duthie at my regular meetings with her. Community Safety Action Group The next meeting is on Monday 2nd November. If you have any issues you wish to be raised, please contact your representative, Pauline Valentine. Colinton Mains Community Centre AGM The Management Committee held the AGM on Friday 2nd October. The business was followed by an excellent and joyous performance of gospel songs by representatives of the Celestine Gospel Singers who meet in the Centre on Sundays. Issues Raised at the Meeting Oxgangs Street – tyre over lamp post Oxgangs Bank – railings damaged causing a hazard Colinton Road – rubble from wall damaged in fatal road accident causing obstruction to people using pavement. This area is close to Firrhill High School Action: Cllr Aitken to raise with relevant council officers PNP Reports Health and Wellbeing: 8th Oct No attendance from the community council, information obtained from draft minutes of meeting, which is available on the Pentland NP website. Page 3 of 11 Minutes of Firrhill Community Council Meeting 26 October 2015 Domestic Abuse It was reported the work done by our Chair (HL) before she moved had been successful, there were now information points in libraries and the practitioner meeting well attended. There had been a discussion of a wider community meeting however that may wait until there is significant interest from the community. Local Community Plan The Group to consider what it wants to focus on in future and whether there should be separate workstreams between the two wards. LOOPs is a project that covers both areas, but whether there was interest in focusing on dementia and Alzheimer’s in ward 2 and healthy living around Firrhill. It was recognised that areas in Ward 8 are different, Oxgangs is different from Colinton/ Fairmilehead so it is logical to do things differently. The following were agreed as areas to focus on, Dementia friendly communities – Lead TBC Social isolation – Lead Allister McKillop Health Fairs – Lead Norma McGeever and Allister McKillop Scheduled Dates of Future Meetings 21 January 2016 – Currie Library 5 May 2016 – Oxgangs Library Action: Report noted Health and Social Care Integration Consultation Meeting: 13th Oct No information. South West Area Board: 15th Oct NEP’s Projects for 2015/16 Update An update of the work on the 2015/16 NEP’s projects covering a selection as follows; 1248 – Hutchinson Medway, fencing 1253 – Calder Gardens, sheltered housing fencing 1054 – Firrhill Drive, fencing (minus gates) JN asked if the cost of gates had been included in the original estimate and if the residents have been consulted? Advised that the gate cost had been requested, however there were issues with public access as a number of residents have mobility issues and one tenant requires access for a motorised electric vehicle. Three projects up for consideration; 1323 - Dumbryden Gardens, replace damaged and dead trees with more mature hardy variety (Rowan). Introduce irrigation process to promote root growth 1324 - Murrayburn Park, replace damaged and dead trees with more mature hardy variety (Rowan). Introduce irrigation process to promote root growth 1325 - Oxgangs Broadway, repair planters and restock with hardy plants. At present there was a £28K underspend from the 2015/16 NEP’s budget, the three projects under consideration would come in at between £8,800 - £10,600.