LCCC June 2023 minutes: ordinary meeting

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council AGM, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 19 June 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 P
Alan Dudley A
Charlotte Encombe P
Pierre Forissier P
Nick Gardner X
Sheila Kennedy P
Ian Mowat P
Alex Ortiz X
Harald Tobermann P
Lucy Watters X
John Wilkinson P
Non-voting members Bruce Ryan P
Cllr Jack Caldwell P
Cllr James Dalgleish A
Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan A
Cllr Susan Rae X
Ben Macpherson MSP X
Deidre Brock MP X
Number of residents/visitors attending 11

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

Police Scotland sent apologies.

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

1.c to agree: order of business below

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 15 May 2023

Approved as is (proposed Z Curry, seconded J Wilkinson, nem con)

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

Row Item Action Status/notes
1 7.a Cllr Rae to contact CEC gully team about Abbeyhill colonies Held over – Cllr Rae not present
2 7.a H Tobermann to ask CEC why both double-yellow lines and poles are needed for CPZs. not determined
3 7.b.i Z Curry to raise planter issues as appropriate Held over: relevant meeting is tomorrow
4 9.a Cllrs Caldwell, Dalgleish, Rae to monitor for issues relating to licence granted to former McColls shop Held over
5 9.a Cllrs Caldwell, Dalgleish, Rae to check whether the licensing notification process can be improved A licensing consultation is in progress.

4 Policing Matters

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

See report on LCCC website.

  • Police Scotland’s absence was noted.
    • Action: H Tobermann to write to LCCC’s MSP, expressing disappointment at this, and requesting reassurance from Police engaging with LCCC and showing their presence.

4.b to note: 2023/24 Police Scotland Survey (closes 31 Mar 2024)

No discussion

5 Planning

5.a to note: general planning issues: ineffective enforcement at 11 Pilrig Street; 139 Leith Walk decision making

  • Cllr Caldwell: CEC is waiting until the end of the appeal period for Pilrig St, leading to an extra delay (which is now finished).
  • Action: H Tobermann/P Forissier to write to planning convenor. CEC will not be able to reverse the planning decision.

5.b to note: status of current planning applications June 2023

  • P Forissier noted
    • There is one new application, for 79 Dickson St. The original application to build on a shared garden has been superseded by an acceptable application
    • The other items on LCCC’s list are awaiting decisions.
  • Cllr Caldwell: the application for 27 Arthur St was refused due to overprovision of student accommodation. An appeal to the Scottish Government is likely.

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

  • S Kennedy: it is possible to see the number of comments on a certain application, but not their content.
    • P Forissier: there is no CEC policy on whether to publish actual comments
    • Action: H Tobermann/P Forissier to write to planning convenor, asking for transparency around objections, and for giving more weight to CC submissions
  • A resident: a Manderston St garage has been converted to a gym, with zero notification. It is in a conservation area.
    • H Tobermann: change of use is not a conservation area issue, although there should be neighbour notification. Arguably, the change of use will have very little impact on the conservation area.

6 Transport and clean streets

6.a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) roll out in LCCC area (Strategic Review of Parking Project Briefing March 2023, map on p. 3)

6.a.i to note: issues arising from phase 1 on parking, loading and communal bins service: N7 (Leith Walk/Pilrig) and N8 (Leith/North Leith), both live from 26 June 2023

  • H Tobermann: work on areas N7 and N8 should finish by 26 June. At his point, enforcement around parking will start.
    • CEC has not systematically rolled out disabled and car-club parking spaces.
    • A total closure of Dalmeny St has been proposed for a weekend, without consulting or even notifying residents. However, this closure will now not proceed.
    • Parking regulations only cover week-days, so residents may find others parking in ‘their’ streets at weekends.
  • A resident: Shaw’s Terrace residents were advised to apply for permits. However, the CEC portal does not list Shaw’s Terrace, Shaw’s St or Shaw’s Place: residents of these streets are not entitled to parking permits because CEC has not adopted these streets. We fear that nearby residents will park in ‘our’ streets, thus preventing us from parking near our homes.
    • H Tobermann/Cllr Caldwell: CEC has indicated that Shaw’s Place residents will be eligible for parking permits. Some Shaw’s St front doors open onto Dryden St, so residents are asking CEC officials to see this.
    • Cllr Caldwell: Pilrig Gardens is also not adopted: a private maker has been installed here. I am not aware whether similar has been done at Pilrig Glebe or Arthur St Lane.
    • Action: H Tobermann to write to CEC on behalf of the Shaw’s residents.
    • H Tobermann: there will be no parking enforcement on non-adopted streets
  • Cllr Caldwell/C Encombe: there are also challenges around garages, and permits for businesses.

6.a.ii to note: progress of phase 1 N6 (Abbeyhill): lining and signage work to start from 12 June 2023

  • S Kennedy: I have received no response to my request for roll-out details. Marking for poles has been done.
    • Rossie Place and the four eastern Abbeyhill Colonies roads will be private parking areas.
  • Cllr Caldwell: there will be priority parking at Kings Buildings in the South Side, and hence no road markings here.
  • Cllr Caldwell: the CPZ roll-out will be reviewed after 6 months.

6.a.iii to note: plans for phase 2: Easter Road and Bonnington. Following informal consultation 2021, further engagement on design and detail after monitoring of phase 1 impacts

  • H Tobermann: phase 2 will be done after informal consultation around and monitoring of phase 1.

6.b to note: general update on contractual state of Trams to Newhaven project and outlook for next two years and beyond

H Tobermann noted

  • The trams are now taking fare-paying passengers a little earlier than expected.
  • Some work is outstanding at Elm Row, Blenheim Place, Newhaven. Their defects periods will start when work here is complete, anticipated to be by the end of August.
  • On the ‘finished’ parts, there are currently ~600 defects but this may cover many more individual items to be fixed.
    • It is not clear whether this number of defects is normal, although this is a very big project and it has to be expected that there will be some mistakes in construction. The defects list is not available.
    • B Ryan: according to TT, 600 is not a big number of defects for this scale of project.
  • There are full minutes of all but the final CCTT/TT meetings on LCCC’s website.
    • Minuter’s note: the final minutes will be published once they are approved by both CCTT and TT – hopefully soon!
  • There are commitments to install tactile paving.
  • Planters will be left as they are now: they are part of the design, and hence not defects. So CEC needs to fund any changes.
  • Street-sweeping should have commenced: residents should contact CEC about any relevant issues.
  • Litter-bins have been installed poorly. Small ones were installed at first, then replaced with big ones in poor positions.
    • Bins on tram-stop platforms are emptied by Edinburgh Trams.
  • Defects reported to TT before 23 June must be fixed within 5 weeks of that date.
    • P Forissier: there are issues with the bike-racks at the Pilrig Muddle installation.
    • There is also a 2-year defect period: contractors must repair any defects reported in this period. If the contractors do not do this, CEC will – and then bill the contractor. CEC does not currently have staff dedicated to overseeing this.
  • CEC wants to consult on other tram-routes for Edinburgh: LCCC may well object, based on its experiences of this project.
  • There are also design faults, e.g. floating bus-stops lack of bus shelters.
  • CEC will have to fund any relevant changes. LCCC has a list of such issues, and will lobby appropriately.
  • A resident: café tables and chairs are taking up more and more room.
    • Cllr Caldwell: licensing enforcement is taking place. People should contact CEC licensing about any issues.
    • A resident: I have observed enforcement taking place recently.
  • A resident: a temporary sign is obstructing the cycle-lane near Steads Place.
    • B Ryan: TT stated last week that cycle-lanes are not yet open.
  • A resident: cars are performing U-turns on pedestrian crossings.
    • C Encombe: LCCC will revisit this topic in the future.

6.c to note: consultation on Actions to deliver Edinburgh’s City Mobility Plan (closes 9 July)

  • H Tobermann: the mobility plan will bring in far bigger changes than the trams project. People should respond to the consultation. LCCC will not be able to respond due to not meeting until August.

6.d to note: any other Transport and clean streets matters relevant to LCCC area

No matters raised

7 Parks and green spaces

7.a to note: report from Friends of Pilrig Park

J Wilkinson reported

  • Cllr Caldwell chaired a meeting to restart Friends of Pilrig Park. Caroline Pretty is now chair of FoPP.
  • FoPP undertook a walkabout with a CEC parks official, during which it was noted that waste bins are too small. The bins have sensors to detect when they are full.
  • Barbeques are problematic: CEC cannot install bricks to support them, due to insurance liabilities.
  • FoPP has been given soil to fill holes, possibly dug by dogs or foxes, in the top section of the park.
  • Some areas of grass are uncut, because people wish this. However, these areas are liable to dog-fouling.
  • An area of nettles will be left.
  • Path drains will not be dug up to investigate them.
  • There was conversation about installing lights near the mural, and more benches at the play area and picnic area.
  • There will litter-pick on 24 June.
  • The coffee-van has not yet appeared in the park.

7.b to note: any Parks and green spaces matters relevant to LCCC area

  • Z Curry: the ‘thriving green spaces’ meeting is tomorrow: I will report to LCCC on this.
  • S Kennedy: some wild-seed planting was undertaken at Montgomery St Park, but wildlife has now dug dangerous holes in the grass.
    • J Wilkinson: a bylaw forbids dogs in this park.
    • Cllr Caldwell: this was raised at FoMSP AGM recvently.
    • Action: S Kennedy to write appropriate letters.

8 Licensing

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

  • S Kennedy: I have received no notifications.

9 LCCC Governance

9.a to note: update on LCCC IT migration

  • B Ryan: there have been no further changes, apart from enabling people to email the secretary via secretary@leithcentralcc.co.ukrather than secretary1@leithcentralcc.co.uk.
    • LCCC has now been billed for the next year’s provision of email addresses (£197 for 7 email addresses).
    • Action: B Ryan, Cllr Caldwell, H Tobermann to meet to further changes to LCCC’s IT.

9.b to agree: Leith gala stall financial contribution

  • I Mowat: this has now been paid.

9.c to note: sneak preview of online course ‘Living with AI’ is looking for 5 – 10 local participants

  • A resident: the Scottish Government aims for informed debate on AI. The above course is free. It will be launched Scotland-wide in September. It asks for 2 hours per session.

9.d to note: any other LCCC governance issues

  • LCCC’s next meeting is on 21 August 2023.
    • J Wilkinson and B Ryan noted their apologies for this meeting.
  • I Mowat: I will help the new treasurer until bank signatories are changed, and remain on LCCC transport committee.
    • Action: I Mowat/Z Curry to change over bank-account signatories.
    • Action: LCCC to discuss transport committee membership in August
  • C Encombe: L Watters is moving out of LCCC’s area
    • Decision: LCCC to co-opt her as an associate member, providing information on Leith Walk businesses.

10 Open Forum (local residents)

  • A resident: there are now only 1/3 of the original number of bins on Leith Walk, leading to litter problems.
    • Action: H Tobermann to write to LCCC about this.
  • A resident: the Steads Place defibrillator cannot be accessed, even with a code. St John’s Ambulance states this defibrillator is not on its list, and that the NHS will not be aware of it.
  • A resident: it is now very difficult to access the east of Edinburgh from Leith Walk. How can we lobby for improvements?
    • H Tobermann: Albert St has been closed for a long time due to Scottish Water work. SW has not been working with the trams team to mitigate measures.
    • Brunswick St has been blocked: the trams team is minded to close it permanently due to residents’ requests.
    • It is unlikely that the left turn from Leith Walk to London Rd will be reopened in the near future.
    • Part of the raison d’être of the trams is to reduce car-use. It remains to be seen whether this will materialise.
    • C Encombe: there have been many objections to the closure of the left turn from LW to LR, but this was part of the final design. LCC will continue to revisit this.
    • H Tobermann: CEC has stated that it will revisit the Elm Row design, but changes here may cost ~£300,000.
    • A resident: LEZ cameras are photographing cameras coming up Leith Walk.
    • Cllr Caldwell: the CEC team had the wrong map on its website. Photography starts at the bottom of Leith St.
    • A resident: traffic has been displaced to Leith (Duke St etc, where there is gridlock), not reduced.
    • S Kennedy: there are cameras counting cars turning left onto LR, but they do not capture license-plate numbers.
    • A resident: we could ask for traffic monitoring.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)

  • S Kennedy: two cycle-containers have appeared in Rossie Place.
    • Cllr Caldwell: this was approved by CEC transport and environment. Rossie Place is not in the controlled parking Zone, so there was no TRO process.
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to provide links to relevant information.