LCCC October 2023 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council AGM, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 16 October 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 No meeting P A P
Alan Dudley A P P P
Charlotte Encombe P P P P
Pierre Forissier P P P P
Nick Gardner X X X A
Sheila Kennedy P P P P
Ian Mowat P P NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Alex Ortiz P X X X
Harald Tobermann X A P P
John Wilkinson P A P P
Non-voting members Bruce Ryan P A P P
Cllr Jack Caldwell P P P P
Cllr James Dalgleish A A P A
Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan A P P X
Cllr Susan Rae X P A X
Ben Macpherson MSP X X X X
Deidre Brock MP X A X X
Number of others attending 11 11 3 7

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

An apology was also received from the police.

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

none

1.c to agree: order of business below

agreed nem con

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 18 September 2023

Approved as-is (proposed P Forissier, seconded H Tobermann, nem con)

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

Row September Item Actor Action Progress
1 3 (row 1) Cllrs Rae and Caldwell Chase CEC gully team about Abbeyhill colonies No action on the ground yet.
Action: Cllr Caldwell to chase this up
2 4.a H Tobermann Ask for police reports to arrive in advance of meetings in progress
3 6.a.i H Tobermann Use the points noted in this item in a letter to CEC in progress
4 6.b LCCC Pressuring CEC about trams issues, potentially via CCTT, including a media campaign in progress
5 6.c Cllr Caldwell Chase up about Rossie Place bins issues
  • Cllr Caldwell: progress has been impeded by parked cars
  • S Kennedy: bins may have been moved from their designated locations because there are no racks. We are waiting on a TRO and hence yellow lines.
6 6.c Cllr Caldwell Chase further about tactile paving
  • Dudley: this paving has been installed in unhelpful locations because Edinburgh Street Design Guidance mandates it being perpendicular to buildings. It should be against the ramps, and there should be more than one strip, to provide a warning.
  • Cllr Caldwell: I will continue to chase the Active Travel team, who have been silent.
7 10 S Kennedy;Cllr Caldwell Forward her email about Alva St and Mayfield to Cllr Caldwell; chase this up with CEC A response has been received from the relevant CEC team. Action: S Kennedy and Cllr Caldwell to work on this informally
8 10 Cllr Caldwell Ascertain how bin-hub locations were decided
  • H Tobermann/Cllr Caldwell: a remote company decided locations, without visiting the area, which were then mandated in a TRO. Hence objections can only be made if traffic is affected. There were subsequent party-political disagreements on other aspects of locations
  • Action: Cllr Caldwell to share a relevant document

Otherwise, this issue is closed

4 Policing Matters

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

  • C Encombe: the October report has only just arrived.
  • Action: H Tobermann to meet with Ben Macpherson MSP over poor police reporting

5 Planning

All points made by P Forrissier unless otherwise noted.

5.a to note: LCCC concerns regarding illuminated sign at 48-50 Iona Street (23/01233/ADV)

  • The application for this was fast-track approved, based on a document stating there would be less illumination than has actually occurred. Because it is disturbing residents it should be switched off or dimmed at night. It should not have been approved originally, and CEC Enforcement and Environment teams should take action.

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

  • Rosslyn Crescent: this has been approved on appeal. It was hard to object to this application on planning ground: the property was sold in good faith to people who said they would make a community asset by then reneged on this.
  • 11 Pilrig St short-term let: a ‘public’ notice was displayed by the owner so that it is difficult to see. This appeal was refused.
    • Action: H Toberman to submit LCCC’s objection.
  • 14 Ashley Place: H Tobermann noted that this will have DMSC planning at which LCCC can appear.
    • Action: C Encombe and J Wilkinson to present LCCC’s in-person deputation

5.c Planning transparency and community disappointment

5.c.i to note: two letters to CEC Planning department (5 October 2023)

  • noted

5.c.ii to note: meeting with David Givan (Chief Planning Officer, Head of Building Standards) and Elaine Campbell (Senior Planner)

  • Action: invitation to be sent as soon as item 5.c.i’s letters were sent
  • Action: P Forissier and H Tobermann to represent LCCC
  • Action: issue from item 5.a above to be added to the agenda
  • Action: P Forissier and H Tobermann to apply for enforcement at the appropriate point

5.d to note: Reporter’s site visit (2pm, 25-10-23) regarding planning permission appeal: 27 Arthur Street Edinburgh EH6 5DA

  • Action: C Encombe to attend, and possibly a resident

5.e to note: LCCC’s trial subscription to ‘Parish Online’ to assist in mapping (planning and wider) issues in our area and in preparation for Cityplan 2040

  • H Tobermann: LCCC has free subscription to this mapping tool for a year. It may replace LCCC’s planning status document.
    • Action: H Tobermann and P Forissier to keep on experimenting

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

  • S Kennedy: LCCC objected to a planning application for a hotel at 248 Leith Walk. Permission has now been refused.
  • C Encombe: there will be a consultation about Ocean Terminal on 18 October, 1pm and 4pm
    • Action: C Encombe to liaise with LHNCC chair about this
  • There was discussion about the recent ‘plethora’ of short-term let licensing applications.

6 Transport and clean streets

All points made by H Tobermann unless otherwise noted

6.a to note: new issues arising from CPZ roll out and enforcement for local residents and businesses in Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) N7 (Leith Walk/Pilrig), N8 (Leith/North Leith), N6 (Abbeyhill)

  • It may be worthwhile bring up issues with D Given (see item 5.c.ii above), because different CEC departments may be having difficulties engaging with each other. For example, what is the point of issuing further parking permits if there is no more space to park?
  • Cllr Caldwell: CEC will now permit Shaws’ residents to apply for parking permits, but a TRO is needed first.
  • S Kennedy: LCCC needs a Transport and clean streets committee chair.
  • J Wilkinson: is anything being done to prevent hotel visitors from parking on Spey St Lane?
    • Cllr Caldwell: LCCC opposed double-yellow lines (DYLs) here in 2018. It is part of the priority parking permit area, which means that people can only park here if they have the right permit. Garages can apply for this permit, but the sign stating this has been removed. The lane is not adopted by CEC, but CEC as the local roads authority can install DYLs.
    • Actions: Cllr Caldwell to supply relevant documentation; LCCC to ascertain for sure if the lane is adopted.

6.b to note: start of Communal Bin Review rollout (‘bin hubs’) phase 3 in area N1: Hillside and Broughton (information sent to resident): from 19-10-23 to mid-2024 roadworks to install infrastructure, TRO, delivery of new bins

  • noted
  • Action: H Tobermann to ascertain why the TRO will be made after work has started

6.c to note: CCTT plans and support for Tram Project – Motion at (CEC 31-08-23) by Councillor Mowat, with amendments by Councillors Caldwell and Bandel

  • This ‘composite’ motion expresses LCCC’s wishes, and was unanimously passed. A relevant paper will come to the November CEC TEC meeting. CCTT will submit a deputation if the paper does not match all of its wishes.
    • Action: B Ryan to ask LHNCC if it will formally rejoin CCTT.
  • Currently it is only possible to raise really urgent matters with the tram operating company.

6.d to note: Low Emission Zone briefing autumn 2023 (CEC, 28 September 2023)

  • Cllr Caldwell: this is only being enforced from 31 May 2024.

6.e to note: ongoing Scottish Water works in Murano Place Impacting on Albert Street)

  • noted

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

  • Defects on Dalmeny St were supposed to be handled by CEC ‘after the festival’, but nothing has been done.
    • P Foressier: there are blocked drains and pollution opposite the park
    • Action: PF to chase up broken promises, using H Tobermann’s correspondence with CEC.

7 Parks and green spaces

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

  • no matters raised

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

  • no matters raised

8 Licensing

8.a to note: LCCC objection to New Civic Notice 504429 (Elm Row)

  • S Kennedy: no confirmation of receipt of LCCC’s objection has been received.
    • C Encombe: EACC is due to complain to CEC about its lack of licensing portal.
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to chase up this specific instance
  • S Kennedy: many STL notices do not say how to make representations.
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to get the relevant CEC manager to make the relevant address prominent
  • There was discussion of how long notices should be displayed, and where notices for STLs in tenements should be displayed: the tenement door or the nearest lamp-post were suggested.
  • There was also discussion of the lack of CEC staff to handle STL applications.

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

  • no matters raised

9 LCCC Governance

9.a to agree: for a working party to promote the 2024 Community Council elections and ‘shadow’ opportunities for the chair and vice chair (including agenda preparation)

  • H Tobermann: the date of the next CC elections is not yet available. However, come those elections, LCCC will need a new chair and vice-chair, and Z Curry may well resign to concentrate on her family matters.
  • B Ryan offered to be on the working party.
  • It was suggested that LCCC advertise via the various Friends of Parks groups.
  • The Spurtle offered space to advertise for new members.

9.b to note: any other LCCC governance issues

  • no matters raised

10 Open Forum (local residents)

  • A resident: there are 72 contiguous broken paving slaps on the tram route near the Pilrig Wheel, yet I saw spare unbroken slabs are being sold off.
  • Another resident: have the locations of the Brunswick St bin-hubs been firmly decided?
    • H Tobermann: no – a TRO is due, so people can object through that process, or email waste@edinburgh.gov.uk.
    • Action: the resident to follow up these options
  • A third resident: the latest trams newsletter says the cycle-paths are due to open shortly. What does this mean?
    • Another resident: the cycle-paths are not yet finished at Allander House.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)

  • S Kennedy:, concerning the roadworks on London Rd, repaving and tarmac at Montrose terrace are very piecemeal. Alva Place is also not looking good. How can people find out what the finished ‘product’ is due to be?
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to obtain plans and share them with LCCC
  • S Kennedy: traffic cones at the junction at the top of Easter Rd are impeding traffic. How can plans be obtained?
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to investigate
  • S Kennedy: the frontage on the Montrose Terrace student accommodation looks very sympathetic to nearby buildings.

12 Bulletin

12.a No signs of a let-up in the demand for quality student accommodation (Scotsman, 16-10-23)

  • noted

13 Future meetings and planned meeting topics/presentations

  • 2023: 20 Nov (no meeting in Dec)
  • 2024: 15 Jan, 19 Feb, 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May (AGM), 17 June (no meeting in July)