LCCC June 2022 minutes: ordinary meeting 

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council AGM, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 20 June 2022, immediately after the AGM.

Actions and decisions are red italic. nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

1 Welcome, introductions, attendance, apologies

1.a Present

  • LCCC voting members: Pierre Forissier, Nick Gardner, Sheila Kennedy, Ian Mowat, Harald Tobermann, Lucy Watters, John Wilkinson
  • LCCC ex-officio and non-voting members: Bruce Ryan (minutes secretary), Cllrs Jack Caldwell, James Dalgleish (both Leith Walk ward)
  • Others: David Robertson (CEC), John Lancaster (Smith Scott Mullan architects), Deba Awogbemi (Cruden), Neil Johnstone (Edinburgh Evening News), Richard Price (NTBCC), 4 residents/visitors

1.b Apologies

  • LCCC voting members: Alan Dudley, Charlotte Encombe
  • LCCC ex-officio and non-voting members: Amy McNeese-Mechan (Leith Walk ward), Deidre Brock MP (Edinburgh North and Leith)

1.c to note: declarations of interest in any items on the agenda

  • Cllr Cadwell is now a member of CEC’s licensing committee. (See item 10)

1.d to agree: order of business below

agreed

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 16 May 2022

These were approved as-is (proposed S Kennedy, seconded P Forissier, nem con)

3 Matters arising from previous minutes (and not included on agenda below)

3.a Cllr Caldwell – May item 6.a (final point)

  • Cllrs Caldwell and Dalgleish will meet with trams team tomorrow about the Leith Walk cycle lane.
  • A resident: inconsiderate cycling is still an issue. The police have advised me to wear a high-visibility jacket.

4 Policing matters

4.a Police report April/May/June 2022

Police Scotland had not submitted a report, and did not attend this meeting

5 Presentation: pre-application consultation on residential development at Powderhall site by Smith Scott Mullan (architects), City of Edinburgh Council (developer) and Cruden Building (design & construct) – papers here

Slides available on LCCC website and on consultation website

  • Slide 1 is an introduction to the development
  • Slide 2: the site is the former waste-transfer station. The history of the site is shown on this slide.
  • Slide 3: plans focus on creation of a 20-minute neighbourhood, so take into account matters within a radius of 800 metres. This radius includes much green space such as Pilrig Park and St Mark’s Park.
  • Slide 4: contextual analyses, e.g. of nearby building styles. These are very mixed.
  • Slide 5: the plans fit with the relevant place brief
    • Area 3 is the stables block, scheduled to open 2023
    • Area 2 is the nursery and housing. Work on this will start in 2023.
    • Area 1 – the subject of this presentation – would consist of affordable aspects, i.e. blocks 1, 2 and 3, and relevant infrastructure, would be owned and managed by CEC. Blocks 4 and 5 are being designed but would then sold to a private developer.
  • Slide 6: this is quite a challenging site.
    • The design would take account of the Water of Leith, and would include a green corridor through the site.
    • There would be an active frontage on St Mark’s path (shown in yellow, already approved).
    • There would also be an east-west link (shown in blue. There is potential for future links to Lochend and Meadowbank.
    • There would be a civic square (shown in red).
    • The plans also take into account biodiversity, daylight, energy-efficient homes, encouragement of public transport.
  • Slides 7-8: details of the proposed development, and the relationships with areas 1 and 2.
    • Darker purple = higher buildings (up to 6 storeys). This stems from daylight analyses.
    • Blocks 1–3 (45% of the development) would be affordable housing: 20% social housing, 25% mid-market rent.
    • Blocks 4 and 5 (55% of the development) would be serviced blocks.
    • In total, there would be 245 new homes. 38% would have 1 bedroom, 42% 2 bedrooms, 20% 3 bedrooms. At least 3 would be wheelchair-accessible.
    • Following the place brief and the city mobility plan, the development would have no parking. There would be 1-way vehicular access to the site: this would be curved to slow traffic. Pedestrians would have priority. There would be full access for emergency vehicles. The anticipated east-west link is currently owned by Network Rail.
    • There would be an underground refuse system.
    • There would be flat (green or blue) roofs, apart from block 1, so that fits with the stables block.
  • Slide 9: landscaping, play spaces etc
  • Slide 10: sustainability measures

5.a Q&A

H Tobermann noted that this is a pre-application consultation, so designs may well change. While the development is outwith LCCC’s area, it would have an impact on that area.

  • Developers: the consultation website (https://orbitconsultations.scot/powderhallresidential) is open to mid-July.
  • H Tobermann: is the site in the tram contribution zone?
    • TBC
  • P Forissier: are the private blocks (4 and 5) to be developed after or simultaneously with blocks 1–3?
    • This is TBC. CEC will do some development work for blocks 4-5 as it works on blocks 1–3?
  • P Forissier: please comment on segregation/tenure-blindness
    • This application for planning permission in principle is to lock in materials, heights, heating methods, roofing ideas so that it will be hard to change these strategies in the full planning application. Hence we aim for affordable housing to be indistinguishable from commercial housing.
    • P Forissier: can this be locked in?
    • In a previous development, the affordable housing looked better than the commercial housing. CEC will find a developer that realises its vision for blocks 4 and 5.
  • P Forissier: why will CEC not develop the whole site itself?
    • This is due to viability and the site’s value. The site was held by CEC’s general fund, but had to be bought with the housing resource fund.
    • P Forissier: Why are blocks being handed over so that a private developer profits from them?
    • Some of the purchase price will come back to CEC but it cannot afford the full development.
    • H Tobermann: there was a route for this but local authorities find it difficult to be commercially minded.
  • L Watters: please comment on this, and other nearby developments, having zero parking. Where can people park?
    • Modal shift is needed. The development will provide cycle-storage within a 20-minute neighbourhood that has good public transport.
  • N Gardner: please outline the timescale. It is likely that the area is contaminated from its industrial past.
    • The full planning application is due in August. It would take about 1 year to get all consents, so work would start in mid-2023. Completion would take about 2 years. CEC would like the affordable and commercial homes to become available at the same time.
    • H Toberman: we hope the developers will work on decontamination and the area’s archaeology.
  • N Gardner: who will maintain the green spaces?
    • There will be a deed of condition so residents will pay factors to do this, apart from in the areas adopted by CEC.
  • A resident: the plans show many northwest and northeast aspects.
    • Almost all flats will have dual aspects so will get some sunlight.
  • B Ryan: will disabled visitors be able to access the flats that are not ‘wheelchair-accessible’?
    • Yes
  • J Wilkinson: how will the homes be heated?
    • Air source heat pump, solar power

5.b LCCC’s initial response

  • H Tobermann: it appears that LCCC members broadly approve of what has been presented.
    • J Wilkinson: I welcome the zero parking but I fear people will simply park elsewhere.
    • H Tobermann: work on the controlled parking zone is slow, so this is currently only an aspiration.

6 Planning

6.a Bingo Hall (former Capitol Cinema in Manderston Street) and joint deputation to Planning Committee led by LCCC

  • H Toberman: this is has now been included in the conservation area extension, largely thanks to P Forissier.
    • A resident: many others were involved in this success, including Cllr Caldwell.

6.b The need to develop LCCC’s policy on Short Term Lets in our area

  • Decision: this matter is remitted to LCCC’s planning committee, which will build on S Kennedy’s work and report to LCCC in August.

6.c Status of current planning applications in LCCC area (June 22)

  • This was noted.
    • P Forissier: LCCC’s policy is to object if developments would breach guidelines (and keep silent otherwise). The application keeping us busy is 139 Leith Walk. Many people have helped with this. Some documents are missing from this application. The Cockburn Association has also objected to this application.

6.d Any other Planning matters relevant to LCCC area

  • H Tobermann: LCCC should compile data on failures of planning processes, then then engage with CEC.
    • P Forissier: Dickson St is a relevant example.

7 LCCC governance

7.a Potential costs and fire safety arrangements for future LCCC meetings in Nelson Hall

  • H Tobermann: CEC staff are only paid to be present at this venue until 8pm. LCCC may be charged extra if they stay on.

7.b IT governance arrangements (admin access, fallback and costs)

  • Cllr Caldwell has handed over LCCC’s digital matters to P Forissier
  • LCCC’s online passwords are safely kept on a Google document accessible to relevant members.
  • The costs for ongoing use of Teams etc were noted in the AGM.

7.c Interim IT and editorial arrangements (email, website and twitter)

  • Responsibility for these is now with LCCC’s new engagement officer (Lucy Watters).

7.d LCCC noticeboard and monthly meeting arrangements

  • Action: P Forissier to pass the noticeboard key to L Watters
  • Meeting arrangements were agreed in the AGM. See also item 13a below.

7.e Report (verbal) from joint CC stall at Leith Gala Day 11 June 2022

  • J Wilkinson: this event seemed very successful.
    • P Forrissier: it helped that the three Leith CCs had a joint presence.
    • Action: L Watters to investigate co-option of fresh LCCC members, e.g. via Leith Walk police box

8 Transport and clean Streets

8.a Update on Trams to Newhaven construction works and final design (verbal)

8.a.i Issues for residents

  • H Tobermann: a local resident suffered a cycling accident near Annandale St due to a pothole and the need to be extra-vigilant about layout changes. The trams team and CEC seem to be passing the buck to each other.
  • A resident: a lip on the cyclepath, to aid drainage and blind folk is causing cycling accidents.
    • H Tobermann: this area conforms to British Standards, according to the trams team.
    • Action: Cllrs Dalgleish and Caldwell to visit the area, and engage with the trams team

8.a.ii Issues for businesses

  • L Watters: the Albert St logistics hub is to close due to reduced need, but businesses are still meant to use them. The lip mentioned in item 8ai above causing problems for businesses, but the trams team is ignoring this. (That is, LCCC has anecdotal evidence of between 5 and 15 cases.)
    • H Toberman: the new CEC transport convenor has asking LCCC for opinions on the logistics hubs, e.g. whether they should become permanent My reply was ‘not in their current state, but if they are improved, they could contribute to 20-minute neighbourhoods’.
    • L Watters: there are too few parking places, so that delivery lorries will hold up normal traffic and trams

8.b Update on communal bin arrangements along the tram route

  • H Tobermann: the link is to a response from E Manfroi. I believe there are not enough bin-hubs on Leith Walk.

8.c Update on Pilrig Cable Wheels

  • H Tobermann: the display is likely to go on Iona St.

8.d Some progress on Powderhall Green Corridor(?): consultation closes 17 July 2022

  • H Tobermann: some minor work is taking place near Easter Rd to make the area more pedestrian friendly.

8.e Communal bin review rollout to Pilrig, Leith Easter Road

This was noted.

  • L Watters: all recycling is being put in the same bin. Eventually there should be separate bins for different materials.
    • H Toberman: I have asked CEC if it is wise to roll out the new scheme when there are still issues in the pilot area.
    • I Mowat: there has been some progress in Bonnington.
  • Action: Cllr Caldwell to meet with CEC’s transport and environment convenor on this matter.
    • Action: others to inform Cllr Caldwell of issues they encounter

8.f Update on complaints about complete and partial road closures at West Norton Place and Iona Street

  • Cllr Caldwell: Cllr Rae was told that for a permit is in place for up to 10 September 2023. The developers were changed £173 for the first month, then £72 for each succeeding 28-day period. This permit was given under a Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 Other councils have charges up to £280 per month for such permits.
    • Local Authorities cannot refuse to issue such permits, but Cllrs Caldwell and Rae are exploring options around ‘reasonable periods’. This instance does not appear to be reasonable.
    • P Forissier: the portakabins are right in front of people’s windows. How can objections be made?
    • Cllr Caldwell: this is not (currently) possible, but we are looking into how the requests are assessed. They must be handled within 10 days of the application, which does not permit real consultation.
    • H Tobermann: the Scottish Government should be able to legislate on this matter. The developers have created a temporary building, as Underbelly did. An application was needed in that instance, so should be needed here.
    • P Foressier: how can enforcement be made?
    • Cllr Caldwell: Issues can be reported to CEC’s roads occupation team.

8.g Lack of transparency regarding roll-out of public electric vehicle charging points on already busy and often poorly maintained pavements and roads

  • Action: LCCC’s transport committee to pursue this

8.h Proposal to ‘stop up’ public roadway around Bonnington Road

  • H Tobermann: this proposal would take away public land. It is reminiscent of happenings near Shrub Place, where land ownership changed mysteriously. The sale documents should be published, at the very least.

8.i to note: Dryden Street building site cement discharge into public street and gullies

  • H Tobermann: the developer is discharging cement, which is flowing down Dryden St. CEC denies responsibility, and has advised that LCCC should contact SEPA.

8.j Any other transport and clean streets matters relevant to LCCC area

  • S Kennedy: I have verified that the water issue on Elgin St reported in a previous meeting is current
    • Action: LCCC to pursue this

9 Parks and green spaces

9.a Permission for Milan’s Multicultural Event in Pilrig Park on 21 August 2022 (instead of Leith Links) has not been granted by CEC

  • H Tobermann: this clashes with football arrangements. A workaround should be found

9.b Any other parks and green spaces matters relevant to LCCC area

None

10 Licensing

10.a Any licensing matters relevant to LCCC area

None

11 Open forum (local residents)

none

12 AOCB (LCCC members)

None

13 Future ordinary meetings (usually 3rd Monday of the month) and meeting topics/presentations

13.a to note: future meetings on 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm (except July and December):

  • 2022: 15 August, 19 September. 17 October, 21 November
  • 2023: 16 January, 20 February, 20 March, 17 April, 15 May (AGM), 19 June