Fairmilehead Community Council Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 2 September 2014 in Fairmilehead Parish Church Present: Dennis Williams (Chair); Norman Tinlin (Secretary); Fiona Simon (Treasurer); Colin Anderson; Johanna Carrie; Barbara Dick (Buckstone Association); Alison Elfick, Carol Lonie (Buckstone Youth); Audrey Ryan (Winton Woods); Tom Strathdee Ex Officio: Councillor Elaine Aitken; 10 members of the public Apologies: Joyce and Bruce Beveridge; Douglass Grossart; Councillors Lewis & Rust; Ian Murray MP; PC Kenny Welsh 1. Police Report PC Welsh was on leave and there was no police presence at the meeting although a list of meeting dates had been submitted to Sgt Mackenzie. Concern was expressed about the lack of attendance particularly due to the recent break-ins in the area. Councillor Aitken said she had been invited to a TAC meeting and would raise the issue there. The Secretary said he would contact the local Inspector and ask for a copy of the report for the minutes. Reports for June, July and August were subsequently provided and they are attached as an appendix. 2. Minute Of Meeting Held On 3 June 2014 These were approved by the meeting. 3. Matters Arising: a) Scottish Water Site The Secretary circulated a copy of a report which had been provided by Gavin Pope of CALA. Fairmilehead Community Council Update - September 2014 General 1. The payment to the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the proposed play park improvements at Buckstone Circle has been made. At this stage it has not been confirmed when the works will be undertaken. 2. Both CALA and David Wilson have confirmed they will provide a storage container to Buckstone Primary. Dates for having the container delivered and works done is to be confirmed by CALA / David Wilson Homes. 3. To date 88 plots within the site have been reserved, or better. The first clients within both developments have now taken occupation. 4. The date for the construction of the pathway connecting the site to Buckstone Howe is dependent on the completion of plots adjacent to the pathway. The units surrounding this area are currently programmed for completion in March 2015. The actual date will therefore follow on from this and be driven by both health and safety requirements and also discussion with the school regarding the most appropriate time for works to be undertaken. It is currently envisaged this will be summer 2015. 5. Future sales releases are on‐going and will progress in line with sales achieved. 6. David Wilson Homes have lodged an application to amend some of the plots to the boundary shared with the Scottish Water office building. The amendment includes changing four detached units for one detached and eight terraced properties. The attached plan highlights the area of change. Planning 1. Clearance of Conditions completed with the exception of those relating to on‐going monitoring. Transport 1. Yellow lining on Buckstone Terrace is not yet complete. Works to be fully completed once the Traffic Regulation Order from CEC has been achieved. As part of this process CEC will conclude a report with a recommendation for/against the works. We are hopeful these works will be recommended within the coming month to allow lining to be completed. 2. With regards to the signalised junction, per the previous Consortium update, CALA and David Wilson Homes have written to CEC in support of the proposed pedestrian crossing, further to that we have, in line with CEC policy lodged the relevant applications to allow CEC to progress using the contribution. This contribution was paid to CEC in December 2013. We understand survey works are being consulted on before a decision is made by CEC. The Secretary reported that he had contacted the Case Officer requesting an update on the application which had been submitted to allow approval for the diversion of funding to allow the pedestrian crossing to be installed. The response was that there has a problem in getting approval for a recommendation to approve this application but the matter was progressing. Colin Anderson drew the meetings attention to an application by David Wilson Homes to amend the house styles on plots 132-135 including 5 additional units. (Details can be found at: https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa- web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N9MSDZEWJ5E00 ) The proposal was to change 4 bed houses to town houses. There had been no prior notification of the application and he was having a meeting the following week with Mansour Ali of DWH. It was hoped that regular contact would be maintained. If the application was approved there would be a requirement under S75 for an additional educational contribution. b) HRA Land at Oxgangs/Aldi Proposals The Chair declared an interest in this item and took no part in the discussion. The Secretary invited Linda Williams to update the meeting. Mrs Williams said that it was intended to hold an exhibition held once Aldi have lodged their plans. This would put the other side of the arguments and facts to the public. She also stated that Aldi now owned the whole of the land. It was proposed that there would be 87 parking spaces including the existing library spaces and Aldi expected to have 40,000 customers per week. It was proposed by Johanna Carrie, and agreed by the meeting, that the Community Council request statutory consultee status once the application is lodged. c) Swanston Golf Course Pods The Secretary reported that this application had been withdrawn with a view to resubmitting following further consideration of the proposal. 4. Correspondence a) CEC – Liquor licence applications for July, August and September. None in area although attention was drawn to one in respect of 55-63 Dundee Street, Napier University. This was right next to where the new Boroughmuir School was being built. After discussion it was decided that the Secretary lodge an objection to the grant of the licence. b) CEC – Census information now available for Edinburgh in various different categries. The information for the Community Council area can be found at: c) http://www.fairmileheadcc.org.uk/Facts_and_Figures.htm d) Scottish Government – Easy read version of Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum e) CEC Waste Services – Information on new recycling service (Speaker attending November meeting) f) Criminal Justice service – Information on Community Payback orders g) Tea in the Park – Saturday 6 September 2014 h) Cllr Lewis – Information re Unearthing the pottery secrets of Portobello i) Cllr Lewis – Information on Pupils all aboard for writing competition j) Zero Waste Scotland - Community Action Fund- Applications invited k) Fairmilehead Church – Invoice for £48 for advert in magazine (Payment approved) l) Invest in Edinburgh magazine July to September 2014 edition m) Working Capital magazine – June 2014 edition n) Natural Scotland – Information event – Braid hills hotel, 25 September. o) Health Link newspaper Summer 2014 edition 5. Councillors’ Reports Councillor Aitken reported on the following: Licence application for Napier University, Dundee Street – concerns of parents TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders) - Pentland and Buckstone Terrace Parking round schools Anne Frank Exhibition at Firrhill High School Local Development Plan Traffic Island Braid Road Walkabout on Buckstone with disabled resident and Roads Officer identifying locations needing dropped kerbs In response to a question the extension to yellow line at the foot of Buckstone Road was being progressed. Councillor Rust In the absence of Councillor Rust copies of his report were circulated. Boroughmuir High School A preferred contractor has been appointed to build the new Boroughmuir High School. The City of Edinburgh Council approved the awarding of the contract to O’Hare and McGovern at a meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee. Work on the project is expected to start in October with completion due by summer 2016. The school will be built in Fountainbridge on a site 500m away from the current Viewforth building. Road Markings at Swanston Road/Oxgangs Road I have requested refreshing of road markings at the Swanston Road/Oxgangs Road junction. This includes both the box markings and ‘give way’ markings. Traffic Calming in Pentland Gardens I passed to officials for assessment a request regarding traffic calming at Pentland Gardens. There are no plans to take this forward at present, but Pentland Gardens is a street included within the proposed 20mph coverage. Aldi Planning So far the missives have been concluded for the Aldi site where the social care centre and church used to be. Aldi are yet to lodge a planning application. James Harbison has informed me that they are still in the process. At this time, they are considering improving links between the library and the Broadway centre, especially for disabled access. They have also been working closely with highway officers to develop plans that limit the traffic impact on the area. Councillor Lewis Councillor Lewis supplied the following report: REMIT City Art Centre – New exhibitions I was delighted to open the new exhibitions at the City Art Centre earlier this month. Linked to Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games – ‘Where do I end and you begin’ looks takes its title from a work by Indian artist, Shilpa Gupta, the exhibition invites perspectives from across the Commonwealth to explore and interrogate the ideas, ideals and myths which underpin notions of community, common-wealth, and the commons. Other exhibitions include Urban/Suburban and A-Z: an alphabetical tour of Scottish art. Please take the opportunity to visit these exhibitions. Further details are available on the City Art Centre web- site. Custom House, Leith The Council at its meeting on 21st August 2014 agreed to purchase Custom House, Leith. This was a one-off opportunity to purchase a property of historical significance for Leith and Edinburgh.