LCCC August 2022 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council meeting, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 15 August 2022 at 7:00pm

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: Alan Dudley, Charlotte Encombe, Alex Ortiz, Sheila Kennedy, Ian Mowat, Harald Tobermann, John Wilkinson
LCCC ex-officio and non-voting members: Cllrs Jack Caldwell, James Dalgleish (both Leith Walk ward)
Others: 4 residents/visitors

1.b Apologies

LCCC voting members: Nick Gardner
LCCC ex-officio and non-voting members: Bruce Ryan (minutes secretary), 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

A Ortiz – item 6.a.ii

1.d to agree: order of business below

not discussed

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 20 June 2022 meeting (and noting AGM draft minutes)

Ordinary meeting minutes approved as-is (proposed J Wilkinson, seconded I Mowat, nem con)
No comments on or objections to the AGM minutes

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

7e – L Watters not present

4 Policing Matters

4.a to note: Police Report April/May/June/July 2022

No police report received

5 LCCC Governance

5.a Loss of established start time for LCCC’s monthly ordinary meetings

5.a.i to note: negative impact of earlier meeting time on Community Councillors and residents

The thin attendance was noted. Several potential attendees has been unable to make the 6pm start, and other actual attendees did not favour the enforced early start.
Cllr Rae: CEC is standardising when its libraries close (i.e. 8pm).

5.a.ii to agree: to write to CEC pointing to the negative impacts on local democratic representation and participation; and requesting a pragmatic solution that enables a 7pm start for future LCCC meetings

agreed

5.b LCCC councillor co-option

A Ortiz: I have been an Edinburgh resident for ~8 years. I was previously on the Gorgie Dalry CC, but moved to this area last year and want to renew my community involvement. I work at a citizen-facing organization. I am a board member on a community group around AIrBnB – my role is liaison between AirBnB and the community.
Decision: A Ortiz was co-opted nem con

5.c to note: update on LCCC engagement via noticeboard, website, twitter and email-list

Action: LCCC to update its nearby noticeboard
Despite what may have been said in the meeting, the following have some control over LCCC’s website
- Administrator (full control): B Ryan, J Caldwell, C Webster
- Editor (can edit any post or page): P Foressier, ‘Leith Central Community Council’
S Kennedy, L Watters, B Ryan can Tweet via @leithcentralcc. (LCCC’s website automatically tweets links to new posts.)
MailChimp is used for sending out notices of meetings.

6 Planning

6.a Short Term Lets

6.a.i to note: Designation of the whole City of Edinburgh Council area as a Short-term Let Control Area

This was noted.

6.a.ii to note: draft LCCC policy on Short Term Lets in our area

S Kennedy: this policy has been through several drafts. All members have been able to comment. Most applications that LCCC is likely to deal with now already exist, and seek registration under the new licensing requirements. Such applications will require the owners to provide relevant information. For such applications, if neighbours request, LCCC would comment on or object to applications. However, LCCC would comment on all new applications.
Cllrs Rae & Caldwell: it is only possible to object to letting of individual rooms through the regulatory process, but not via the planning process. The legislation does not cover such lets.
- S Kennedy: this draft only covers only the planning questions.
- H Tobermann: it is quite possible to game such letting, i.e. let individual rooms on a commercial basis.
It was noted that ‘short-term’ means ‘up to 28’ days in this context.
It was suggested that LCCC should focus on how STLs reduce availability of permanent housing.
There was concern that LCCC does not have the capacity to handle the number of applications it will receive.
- Cllr Caldwell: there are only a few streets in LCCC’s area that have shared-access properties likely to be subject to STL applications. LCCC’s policy could be to oppose such applications, reducing its ‘processing’ tasks.
It was noted that CEC will settle its STL policy in September, and suggested that LCCC should wait for this outcome.
- It was suggested that LCCC respond to the current consultation.
There was discussion of whether LCCC should be involved in ‘vetting’ STLs, and that LCCC should also consider how it responds to HMO applications, because these are likely to increase if CEC adopts its current draft policy.
Action: S Kennedy/H Tobermann to revise the draft in the light of this discussion, for adoption in October.

6.b to note: PAN for purpose-built student accommodation at 14 Ashley Place, Edinburgh, EH6 5PX

It was noted that an owner or developer can submit applications for several uses for the same property.
Action: LCCC members to inform themselves and residents via the above link.

6.c to note: any other Planning matters relevant to LCCC area

A resident: work at Stead’s Place did not meet the planning application. Some has been redone thanks to my intervention but the quality overall remains poor.
J Wilkinson: work has started on the John Lewis site.

7 Transport and clean streets

7.a to note: imminent approval of CPZ Phase 1 Traffic Orders by TEC on 18/8/22

it was noted that LCCC had made a specific objection concerning Spey St Lane, but this was not mentioned in the CEC document. There was discussion of the condition of this road.
It was noted that Abbeyhill will be in the ‘N1’ area, not the ‘N6’ area, and that LCCC’s comments appear not to be in the CEC document. S Kennedy stated that the proposed designation would enable any N1 residents to park in Alva Place (a narrow ‘colony’ street), as stated in LCCC’s objection.
- Cllr Caldwell: I have written an amendment asking for relevant consultations.
Action: I Mowat to ascertain whether LCCC’s comments had been considered.

7.b Update on Trams to Newhaven construction works and final design

H Tobermann: LCCC is part of Community Councils Together on Trams, which meets monthly with Trams Team (TT) leaders. The project is making good progress overall, despite a UK-wide labour shortage and a worldwide concrete shortage. Construction is very likely to finish on schedule (end of 2022), then tests will commence. At this point, most disruptions to residents will attenuate. However, some issues remain:
- CCTT is concerned about proper handover of the new public realm assets to CEC – specifically whether CEC has the capacity to ingest them and then work with them.
- Some areas are sub-optimal, e.g. layout of Elm Row, bus-stop by Leith Police Box. TT considered changing Elm Row but found it would be more cost-effective for CEC to change it later. CCTT wishes CEC to commit to dealing with these areas. CCTT was not permitted to make a deputation to the recent relevant CEC meeting.

7.b.i to note: issues for residents and businesses.

A resident: As CCTT knows, I have concerns about trees.
The same resident: Will CCTT push for adding monitoring of (and relevant action on) noise and vibration to the commitment register? My building is expected to be above a relevant threshold (i.e. likely to suffer).
- HT: I will add this to CCTT’s list.
The same resident: the tram track near Jane St is a ‘drag strip’, with people driving very quickly along it. This is likely to be fatal. Will CCTT push for speed cameras?
- HT: This is basically a policing matter but LCCC doesn’t not currently have good contact with the police.
- Cllr Caldwell: it’s not possible to put speed-bumps on the tram route but I will contact the community police.
J Wilkinson: the left turn from Leith Walk into Brunswick St is poorly designed, leading to dangers.
- Cllr Rae: this street should be controlled so it is not a rat-run.
A resident: we should not have to pay for the snagging process, i.e. pay for contractors to make mistakes, especially in the design process, then pay them again to rectify these.
- HT: I see your point, especially about the positioning of a certain bus-shelter, but work is needed: some under-pavement conditions are a ‘hellhole’.
A resident: people should not be cycling on the Leith Walk cycle-paths while they are closed.
- HT: this is another policing matter.
- Another resident: even when they open, the cycle-paths will still have a terrible design.
- A Dudley: I concur: they are a danger to visually impaired people. They zig-zag, and it’s not clear where the paths begin and end. We have tried to explain this to CEC, but to no avail.
- J Wilkinson: Edinburgh will never be suitable for ‘continental’ cycle infrastructure.

7.c to note: update on communal bin review rollout

J Wilkinson: the bins outside my flat have been emptied regularly. I am impressed with the service.
S Kennedy: the new collection regime has made a large positive difference. However, the roll-out is incomplete, so bins (and cars) are in incorrect places, e.g. on London Rd. No-parking notices have been ineffective, so human intervention is needed.
- H Tobermann: CEC has not yet advised when roll-out is due to complete, including training of operatives and education of residents. LCCC should press for a date. CEC should pressure people to handle their waste responsibly.
- S Kennedy: some of the bins have been placed inappropriately. There are some issues with double-yellow lines.
- A Dudley: making bins different colours for different kinds of waste is of no use to blind people. It is welcome that the non-recyclable waste bin-lids can be opened completely, for other bins, there are only inadequate ‘flaps’.

7.d to note: any other Transport & Clean Streets matters relevant to LCCC area

A resident: when will bins be installed on Haddington Place? There are no public bins in this area.
- H Tobermann: bins will be placed in the indents that have been built along Leith Walk. I am not sure these have been designed well. Meanwhile, it is shocking that no alternative provision has been made. TT should be made aware.

8 Parks and green spaces

8.a to note: permission of (commercial) pop-up skate event in Dalmeny Street Park (29 July 2022 from 2pm until 8:30pm)