LCCC May 2023 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council meeting, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 15 May 2023 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, apologies

Jun(AGM) Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Voting members Zoe Curry NA No meeting NA No meeting NA P No meeting P P A P P
Alan Dudley A P P P A P A P P
Charlotte Encombe A P A P A A P P A
Pierre Forissier P X P P P P P P A
Nick Gardner P A A X P X A X X
Sheila Kennedy P P P P P A P P P
Ian Mowat P P P P P P P P A
Alex Ortiz NA P P A X P A X X
Harald Tobermann P P P A A P P P P
Lucy Watters P X P X A X P A P
John Wilkinson P P P P P P P P P
Non-voting members Bruce Ryan P A P P P P P A P
Cllr Jack Caldwell P P P P P P P P P
Cllr James Dalgleish P P P A A P P A P
Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan A A A A A A X A X
Cllr Susan Rae X X P A A P A P P
Ben Macpherson MSP X X A X X X X X X
Deidre Brock MP A A A A A X X A X
Number of residents/visitors attending 9 4 8 8 8 12 7 6

P = present, A = apology, X = neither present nor sent apology, NA = not applicable

Police Scotland was represented by PCs Sadlik and Clark.

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

none

1.c to agree: order of business below

agreed

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 17 April 2023

Approved as is nem con

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

Item Action Status/discussion
3 (row 6) Cllr Caldwell to follow up enforcement at 11 Pilrig St Cllr Caldwell: currently there is nothing concrete to report. I will continue to probe.
3 (row 7) L Watters to obtain a concrete case of the permit problems in the CPZ L Watters: conversations about this are ongoingAction: LCCC to revisit this at next meeting
5.b P Forissier to circulate documents relevant to AirBnB and the local development plan to LCCC members Held over to next meeting
7.b C Encombe to respond to a resident about dog-fouling in parks Matter closed: S Kennedy has written to this resident: this park isn’t in this area so SK has told her which CC is relevant

4 Policing matters

4.a to note: local (ward) Police Report May 2023.

  • A resident: has the number of accidents increased – there were 2 accidents on Easter Rd today, according to social media. I am concerned that road conditions are becoming more dangerous.
    • Police Scotland takes this topic seriously but we cannot comment on numbers just now.
    • PC Sadlik: The left turn from Leith Walk to London Rd has improved because CEC has made this junction more legible. There are fewer complaints from local communities about this topic.
    • B Ryan: in the April report, there were 38 calls for ‘Road Traffic matters/offences/collisions’. In the May report there were 53 such calls. Some work is needed to follow these trends.
    • PCs Sadlik and Clark: the figures do not necessarily show an upward trend. Police only attend collisions if damage has happened.
    • Cllr Rae: we are awaiting data on collisions on Easter Rd, Leith Walk, Great Junction St, but the majority of collisions seem to be caused by bad driving rather than road conditions. We have asked for traffic-calming measures to be installed on Easter Rd immediately.
    • Cllr Caldwell: an equivalent survey for Dalmeny St has been delayed. CEC is measuring speed and numbers of vehicles. The three recent incidents on Easter ~Rd were caused by high speeds.
    • PC Sadlik: we are not focusing on vaping just now because alcohol is a larger cause of antisocial behaviour. However we are working with trading standards on vapes.

5 LCCC Governance

5.a to note: arrangements for LCCC AGM in June

  • H Toberman: the AGM will comprise presentations of LCCC’s annual report and accounts, and election of office bearers. This will be followed by a normal meeting.
    • Action: I Mowat to prepare accounts, then forward them to H Tobermann
    • Action: C Encombe to prepare annual report, including specific reference to LCCC’s planning workload
    • I Mowat will stand down as treasurer. H Tobermann and C Encombe are willing to continue as vice-chair and chair respectively, for the next year only.
    • S Kennedy: I cannot continue as LCCC’s secretary unless my access to LCCC emails is sorted.
    • Action: B Ryan and S Kennedy to meet ASAP about this (This was done prior to preparation of these minutes.)
    • H Tobermann: I would appreciate a ‘deputy’ for preparation of agendas.

5.b to note: update on LCCC IT migration

Action: B Ryan to arrange to meet H Tobermann and J Caldwell early in June about this.

5.c to agree: Spurtle advertising

  • H Tobermann: I Mowat has suggested part-payment, i.e. to the end of the current accounting period, but I propose to continue this advertising as-is.
  • H Tobermann: the library has not yet invoiced for rent for the second halves of recent meetings (£30 per meeting), so this is liable to be invoiced in the future.

5.d to note: any other LCCC governance issues

none

6 Planning

6.a to note: decision to grant Planning Permission for Land to East of 139 Leith Walk, Edinburgh (22/01563/FUL) at Development Management Sub-Committee hearing 26-4-23

  • H Tobermann: LCCC regrets this ‘defeat’.
    • J Wilkinson: we were ‘outgunned’: the vote was 7:6 against LCCC’s position.
    • Cllr Rae: the convenor noted that the local plan had not been followed but the developers had made a ‘better effort’.
    • Action: H Tobermann and P Forissier to write to the planning convenor about this, after watching video of this meeting.
    • J Wilkinson: removal of the roof has already started.

6.b to note: status of current planning applications May 2023

  • noted
  • There was discussion of 50 Pilrig St, but permission for demolition here has been granted.

6.c to note: requests from Reporter to CEC to provide further information regarding density and sustainable design in the proposed Edinburgh Local Development Plan (for reference: LCCC 2021 representation)

  • H Tobermann: LCCC has been invited to comment on CEC’s position.
    • Action: P Forissier to respond.

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

none

7 Transport and clean streets

7.a to note: issues (if any) arising from phase 1 CPZ roll-out (for reference: briefing and residents’ letter)

  • H Tobermann: there is a soft launch of the CPZ. Traffic wardens are ‘advising’ people.
    • A resident: signs state that enforcement will start on 5 June. People are removing lamp-post notices, so others remain uninformed. There should be leaflets delivered to houses, instead of/rather than lamp-post notices
    • Cllr Caldwell: people in N7 can apply for permits from 5 June; the CPZ will come into operation in this zone on 26 June
    • S Kennedy: people in in zone N6 (Abbeyhill Colonies) were told that they would receive leaflets. Operations in N6 will start once N7 is finished.
    • L Watters: I have been asked by customers if double-yellow lines on Leith Walk will be enforced. In Spey Terrace, some cars parked on double yellow lines are receiving tickets but others are being ignored.
    • S Kennedy: 4 of the Abbeyhill colonies roads have been resurfaced but 2 have not. These roads will have white lines indicating that parking is for residents only. The gutters on Alva Place should be cleaned before such painting is done.
    • Cllrs Rae and Caldwell: inspections have shown that these two roads do not need such attention.
    • Action: Cllr Rae to contact the CEC gully team.
  • H Tobermann: an accident has demolished a car-club parking space. Is this being fixed?
  • H Tobermann: Why are both poles and DYLs needed? I will write to CEC to ask about this.
    • Cllr Caldwell: property owners have refused to allow CEC to put signs on their fences, which may explain the poles.

7.b Trams to Newhaven project

7.b.i to note: general update on progress and next steps

  • H Tobermann: the trams team has nearly achieved the required 17 minute journey-time from York Place to Newhaven, but some tweaks to traffic signals are still needed. Some central poles on Leith Walk apparently do not need street lights. don’t need street-lighting. Of 20 sections of the route, 15 have been handed over to CEC but some of these have ‘carve-outs’ (e.g. Blenheim Place) where work is still ongoing. There are also ~900 localised worksites where fixing of defects is taking place..
    • I remain concerned that some stretches of pavement are too narrow. I have waned Cllr Arthur that he is likely to receive many complaints about this.
    • Routes used as diversions during construction are being damaged by extra traffic. I am waitiong to lern whether the trams team or CEC will take responsibility for repairing these roads.
  • L Watters: planters on Leith Walk are currently just giant ‘ashtrays’. The trams team has promised action but it has not yet happened.
    • Z Curry: CEC hopes that businesses will adopt the planters, but I have advised that this is not acceptable. I will raise this again at a meeting in June. I understand that the planters (and green bus shelters) are a Scottish Government idea.
    • B Ryan: I understand that consultation showed that locals wanted greenery.
    • H Tobermann: maybe so, but maintenance of nice trees etc is not financially viable.
    • H Tobermann: litter-clearing is part of the handover to CEC. Planters are portable, but they are not as bad as the ‘peculiar’ cycle-paths. CEC has ordered the wrong size of litter bins – this should be sorted eventually.
  • H Tobermann: The trams team and the contractors are disagreeing who should install tactile pavement. Eventually, CEC should install such paving.

7.b.ii to note: update on traffic modelling that informed tram design

H Tobermann: CCTT representatives attended a demonstration of traffic modelling, but this was based old/unreliable data, e.g. the current closure of Albert St was not taken into account. There is a monopoly on such modelling in Edinburgh, so Jacobs owns the traffic-modelling data and sells it back to CEC.

7.b.iii to note: tram works issues for local residents

  • A resident: part of Montgomery St, where the logistics hub was, has been left in a very poor state.
    • H Tobermann: areas deep into side-streets are CEC’s responsibility.
    • Cllr Caldwell: I have spoken with the trams team about this. The hub was only removed on Friday so restoration of the road may well be planned. I was told that no resurfacing would happen on this street but some has.
    • H Tobermann: the CEC list of priorities for renovation of roads has not been updated for some time.
    • Cllr Caldwell: Albion Road, Cambridge Avenue and Buchanan St are due for attention soon.

7.b.iv to note: tram works issues for local businesses

  • H Tobermann: The trams team HQ at 165 Leith Walk is due to be demolished soon, so this will come onto LCCC’s workload.
  • L Watters: I am trying to ascertain what will happen to £12,000 from the ‘itison’ voucher scheme.

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

  • S Kennedy: it is welcome that new bins are being emptied frequently but some are still mislocated. (This is on Rossie Place, which will have no road-markings because it’s a private area, similar to the 4 colonies roads previously mentioned.
    • Cllr Dalgleish: councillors will chase such bin-matters.

8 Parks and green spaces

8.a to note: report on Thriving Green Spaces – Leith Parks

  • Z Curry: Leith is a area for a Scottish Government ‘nature network’ scheme, in which 6 Leith parks will receive funding.
    • This may include opening public toilets at Taylor Gardens. People are being sought to adopt parks.
    • Overall this is positive but there is not enough rubbish/recycling provision. There are also concerns about accessibility.
    • A resident: Saughton park was redeveloped some time ago – was this a model for the current scheme?
    • Z Curry: yes – I will try to obtain relevant slides. The pilot is due to start in August, which is when I will be able to pass on LCCC’s responses to planters.
    • Action: Z Curry to forward relevant details to LCCC.

8.b to note: new management committee of Friends of Pilrig Park following AGM on 24 April 2023

  • Action: Cllr Caldwell to help with arrangement of management committee’s first meeting.
  • Action: H Tobermann to share relevant email addresses.

8.c to note: any Parks & Green Spaces matters relevant to LCCC area

  • L Watters: the skatepark at Dalmeny St park is being installed more robustly.
  • Z Curry: there may be plans to remove the skatepark. Lack of lighting in South Fort St is a women’s safety issue.
  • Cllr Dalgleish: funding has approved for installation of better lighting in 12 Edinburgh parks over the next year.
  • Cllr D: South Fort St has been raised but this area is not part of parks funding. I will raise this matter again.

9 Licensing

9.a to note: any Licensing matters relevant to LCCC area

  • Cllr Rae: a 24-hour license was granted today for the former McColls shop on Elm Row. CEC will monitor this.
    • S Kennedy: LCCC wasn’t notified but would have objected if it knew of this application.
    • Cllr Rae: this was an appeal, and the applicant had 7 supporting letters, which led to the 1-year grant.
    • Action: local councillors to check if the notification process can be improved, perhaps engaging with Cllr Mowat.

10 Open Forum (local residents)

  • A resident: cycle-paths are being used very badly. There are bizarre layouts, e.g. at Annandale St.
    • Action: LCCC to tackle this in the future.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)

  • S Kennedy: a shop-owner has asked where a commemorative plaque has gone, and if it can be returned.
    • H Toberman: this plaque will belong to the building owners (Drum)

12 Bulletin

The following items were noted:

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)

13.a.i 2023: 19 June (AGM)

noted