LCCC March 2024 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council ordinary meeting, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 18 March 2024 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

No meeting

Alan Dudley

Charlotte Encombe

Pierre Foressier

Nick Gardner

Sheila Kennedy

Jed Milroy

Ian Mowat

Alex Ortiz

Harald Tobermann

John Wilkinson

Non-voting members

Bruce Ryan

Cllr Jack Caldwell

Cllr James Dalgleish

Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan

Cllr Susan Rae

Ben Macpherson MSP

Deidre Brock MP

Number of others attending

13*

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

* Including Alan McIntosh (Broughton Spurtle), PC Lynsey Crawford and Sgt Chris Casselden (Police Scotland)

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

item 5.a: C Encombe and H Tobermann live close to the relevant property

1.c to agree: order of business below

agreed

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 19 February 2024

Approved as-is (proposed P Forressier, seconded C Encombe)

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

Item	Actor	Action	Progress
4.c	H Tobermann	Write to Ben Macpherson MSP about more useful subdivision of crime data	in progress
5.c	P Foressier	Submit objection to proposed work at 36 Pilrig St	See item 5.a below
5.d	P Foressier	Ask for information about the differences between restaurants and takeaways in planning use-classes	· Restaurants are class 3.· Cold food outlets are class 1 (shop). · Any sale of hot food requires sui generis permission.
5.f.i	LCCC	Join the proposed planning network group	complete
6.a.ii	H Tobermann	Ask CEC about parking restrictions/enforcement at Elm Row	See item 6.a.ii below
6.c	P Foressier	Write to CEC supporting Wellington St residents’ bin-concerns.	In progress
6.e.i	H Tobermann	Submit an FOI request for the Powderhall ‘railway to cycle-path’ report	See item 7.b below
7.c	Cllr Caldwell	Ask FoMSP if it wishes to be represented on LCCC	Closed: FoMSP would welcome such representation, and LCCC attending its meetings
9.a	LCCC members	Read the potential new member’s CV, and make a co-option decision in March	See item 9.a below
9.c	Cllr Caldwell	Review LCCC’s Facebook use and posting-access.	Closed: cllr Caldwell still has access, but has not done so since resigning from LCCC. Other admins are sought, then Cllr Caldwell will delete his access.
10	Cllr Caldwell	Keep LCCC informed about responses around tram-stop public announcement noise issues	Closed: tannoy announcements are now every 30 minutes instead of every 15. Cllr Caldwell is seeking a meeting because this is still an issue.
11	C Encombe	Respond to CEC libraries consultation on behalf of LCCC	complete

Cllr Caldwell was formally thanked by LCCC for his untiring good work on bin-hubs.

4 Policing matters

4.a to note: local (ward) Police Report March 2024

noted
- (page 3, column 1) The Drummond Community High School head says that matters are improving.
  - A resident: there have been issues about parking nearby.
  - A McIntosh: youth issues here seem to have markedly increased since the start of 2024.
- (page 2) ‘robbery’ includes an element of violence; ‘theft’ and ‘housebreaking’ do not.
  - J Milroy: please can you separate out theft and housebreaking statistics?
- (page 6) there are various Neighbourhood Watch schemes in LCCC’s area.
- B Ryan: please can the Police Scotland representatives ask their city centre colleagues to report to CCs there?
- It is unlikely that incidences of violence are increasing but they are being reported more. Hence police aim to reassure.

4.b to note: verbal report on Community Policing Experience Shift

H Tobermann
- At the initial briefing, 11 of the 12 community team officers were present. This is an unusually high proprtion because officers may be abstracted to cover other events or take time off in lieu because officers cannot be paid for overtime.
- Calls attended ranged from youth-nuisance, attacks on shop staff, a mental health issue (which took a long time) and a welfare check for a French navy vessel.
- It is very clear that Police Scotland is under-resourced. Other services should be dealing with mental health issues, not the police. Lack of resource is also seen in the lack of in-car technology to check vehicle registrations or to obtain photos of suspects. Instead, phone conversations are needed, taking extra time. Similarly, police PDAs lack keyboards, increasing the time needed for reporting.
  - PC Crawford: many of the ‘concern for persons’ calls in the report are about mental health issues.
Action: LCCC to ask for more resources for police.

5 Planning

All points made by P Foressier unless otherwise noted.

5.a to ratify: LCCC’s objection to new annexe to existing guest house @ 36 Pilrig Street (23/07203/FUL)

This self-contained building would have 16 beds, thus doubling the existing premises’ capacity. The application is very deficient, lacking several basic, mandatory data.

5.b to note: application for PBSA in converted former Capital Cinema, Manderston St has been submitted (and is being validated); developer’s consultation report here

The application has not yet been lodged. LCCC will continue to monitor this.

5.c to note: status of current planning applications (March 2024)

noted

5.d to note: ‘Investing in Planning’ consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system (closes 31-03-24)

H Tobermann: it is welcome that local authority planning departments might be better resourced, so that (for example) deficient applications (such as item 5.a) would not be accepted, and better planning decisions would be made, leading to reduced issues and hence reduced financial and societal costs.
- P Foressier: there is lack of review of junior planning officers’ work by senior colleagues, because they work at home.
- C Encombe: this consultation’s questions are incomprehensible.

5.e to note: CEC’s ‘Responsible Construction Working Group’

noted: CEC planning had asked CCs to report the main problems they face with planning. The largest issue turns out to be lack of communication: e.g. lack of information about how long contractors’ prefabs would be on Iona St. These had not been mentioned in the planning application. Night-work was also a major problem, as was lack of information on site-management, and issues with enforcement.
- CEC planning will share a preliminary report.
- There will be a further meeting on 25 March.

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

no matters raised.

6 Transport and clean streets

All points made by H Tobermann unless otherwise noted.

6.a The Trams to Newhaven (TTN) Project is not finished

6.a.i to note: outstanding issues notified to CEC officers and councillors

CEC’s transport and environment committee (TEC) will consider a ‘close-out’ report in April, to attempt to show that the project is finished. The report will in part stem from motions by Cllrs Caldwell and Mowat (city centre ward) calling for full reporting. CEC has also responded at length to Lord Hardy’s report, hence using resources.
- Hence CCTT has written to ward councillors and TEC members, asking them to check the report covers all it should.
- Cllr Caldwell: there are other relevant motions, e.g. about planters, pavement parking, that the report should cover.
- Cllr Caldwell: TROs for ‘tidying’ the work are due soon. CCs’ input on these would be welcome.

6.a.ii to note: March 2024 update Elm Row bus stop, cycleway and parking changes

It is planned to move the two cycle-lanes on Elm row to be side by side. Elm Row currently has no parking restrictions. The same applies to Pilrig St by the church. This work should be done by the end of June.
- WELM rep: we will write to Cllr Arthur and the trams project about reviewing delivery and loading issues in this area. There are relevant Scottish Government guidelines which are being breached. I will share these with LCCC.
- A resident: the current plans are very likely to annoy Elm Row shopkeepers, because it will become a cycling zone.
- Cllr Caldwell: I have met with CEC’s director of place about post-tram processes. The circulation report needs to be in line with the close-out report, and residents need time to engage with such reports.
- H Tobermann: ETROs should be used to find out what works, then better solutions can be implemented.
- J Milroy: delivery vehicles are using the cycleway all along Leith Walk.
  - Cllr Caldwell: please report instances to CEC to inform CEC of the scale of the problem, and to get enforcement.
  - J Milroy: I can organise a poster campaign with QR codes for reporting instances.
  - A resident: some loading bays are not wide enough for delivery vehicles without pavement-parking.

6.a.iii to note: finalisation of last bin hub location in relation to TTN in early April

An ETRO is anticipated.

6.b to note: outstanding issues in Dalmeny Street

CEC promised to deal with these 5 years ago, but has not despite two attempts.
- P Foressier: problems have been exacerbated by contractors leaving their equipment in the area.

6.c to note: Place based Investment Program (deadline 31 March 2024)

LCCC and others can ask their councillors to apply for such funding.

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: reported plans for tourist levy and festival performances in Pilrig Park

C Encombe: it would not be welcome to have festival activities in this park.
- Friends of Pilrig park (FOPP) rep: FOPP is concerned about this. While improvements funded by the visitor levy might be welcome, but Pilrig park is a ‘community’ park (i.e. serving local needs), not a ‘premier’ park (i.e. serving national and international visitors). This park serves a very large local population, who need access to green spaces. Hence, making some or all of it commercial would lead to much concern. There are no formal proposals to change the park’s status, and any such proposals would need consultation.
- C Encombe: several years ago, staged performances hindered children’s use of the park.
- Cllr Rae: no plans have been discussed with local cllrs. Performance use is not appropriate because of community needs and because the fields are too boggy for such use.
- A McIntosh: this may have been suggested because the park is close to the city centre and on good transport links.
- A resident: the park does not have public toilets.

7.b to note: FOI request regarding unused Powderhall railway line (to be reused as a green active travel corridor)

H Tobermann: I made this request because momentum has been lost on this idea, despite local councillors’ motions.

7.c to note: reported violent attack at or near Pilrig Park at the end of February

H Tobermann: When I accompanied police (item 4.b above), most incidents were on Pilrig St. I suspect much of this was due to drug activities. The substation area here is often used for drug activities, as is the bus-stop. There is also a hotspot at Rosslyn Crescent. These may be due to higher population density leading to more customers. Police should act on this.

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

FoPP rep: FoPP was resurrected ~1 year ago. It is establishing links with the community and other stakeholders, and focussing on problem areas. PC Crawford has been very supportive, as has ELGT – both acting on antisocial behaviour (i.e. drug activity) by removing hiding-places. FoPP missed out on some funding. It is edging paths to attract footfall. There will be monthly clean-ups, and a community picnic in June. FoPP is consulting with the community on what they want. FoPP’s next meeting is its AGM (21 May, 6:30, McDonald Rd library).
- C Encombe: b oth fields need to be drained properly. FoPP could ask clubs that use the park to support funding bids.
- Decision: LCCC will support such funding bids. LCCC commends FoPP’s work.

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

S Kennedy: LCCC has not replied to a Leith Walk resident who has offered to take over a planter.
- H Tobermann: Trams to Newhaven are responsible: it just dumped the planters in the area, and is now trying to leave their maintenance to CEC parks.
- There was discussion of who has responsibility for the planters (not LCCC!), who could devolve this responsibility to local groups (and hence contractual needs), and the planters’ need for ongoing maintenance.
- Action: S Kennedy to forward the relevant email (asking who would permit this) to LCCC office bearers and Cllr caldwell.

8 Licensing

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

no matters raised

9 LCCC governance

9.a to agree: the co-option of Jed Milroy as member

agreed nem con.
- J Milroy: I have contact with people who could help with LCCC’s social media and attraction of new members.
C Encombe: LCCC still needs further members. Volunteers will be very welcome!

9.b to note: Community Council Scheme and Boundary Review 2023 Phase 2 closes 3 May 2024 (questions )

Action: C Encombe and B Ryan to respond to this consultation.

9.c to note: upcoming LCCC email set up renewal and financial impact (£264 pa)

B Ryan: I have changed LCCC’s email provision from WordPress/Titan to Ionos, saving LCCC around £100. LCCC office-bearers need to update the email settings on their devices – details have been sent to their personal addresses.
- P Forressier/H Tobermann: it is not welcome that so much voluntary time is spent on such matters, to save relatively small amounts of money. (Note: LCCC’s grant is around £1000 per year.) Local Authorities should provide CC email and other IT.
- B Ryan: CCs rely on volunteers to run their IT, leading to many CC websites being very poor. I have been working with a Scotland-wide body to investigate a turn-key solutions for CC websites. It may be that email can be added to this. However, my strong impression is that Scotland’s local and hyperlocal democracies are seriously underfunded.
- C Encombe: CCs also need social media support, and funding for this.

9.d to note: upcoming vacancy of LCCC chair and vice chair (May 2024)

noted

9.e to note: any other LCCC governance issues

S Kennedy: why does LCCC have a vice chair? Other CCs do not.
- A resident: there are other Edinburgh CCs that do have vice chairs.
- H Tobermann: vice chairs stand in when chairs are absent. Vice-chairs may also be chairs’ successors.
H Tobermann: many fake identities have joined LCCC’s mailing list in the last few months. These should be weeded out.
- B Ryan: I have not recently had time to weed out fake identities.

10 Open forum (local residents)[1]

A resident: could this item be earlier in the agenda?
- H Tobermann: if LCCC is notified in advance, items can be added to the main agenda.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)[2]

No matters raised

12 Bulletin

12.a Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors (Guardian, 29-02-24)

13 Future meetings and planned meeting topics/presentations

13.a 2024: 15 April, 20 May (AGM), 17 June (no meeting in July)

noted

[1] This agenda point allows members of the public to raise issues of public interest; during online meetings, please raise your virtual hand.

[2] This agenda point allows LCCC members to raise issues not covered by the agenda