LCCC May 2024 minutes: ordinary meeting

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council ordinary meeting, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 20 May 2024, immediately after AGM

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 P No meeting A A A A A
Alan Dudley A P P P A P P P P P
Charlotte Encombe P P P P P P P P P P
Pierre Forissier P P P P P P P P P P
Nick Gardner X X X A X A X X X X
Sheila Kennedy P P P P A P P P P P
Luci Holland NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA P
Jed Milroy NA NA NA NA NA NA NA P P A
Ian Mowat P P NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Alex Ortiz P X X X X NA NA NA NA NA
Harald Tobermann X A P P P P P P P P
John Wilkinson P A P P P P P A A P
Non-voting members Bruce Ryan P A P P P P P P P P
Cllr Jack Caldwell P P P P P P P P P P
Cllr James Dalgleish A A P A P P P A P A
Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan A P P X A P A A P A
Cllr Susan Rae X P A X P A P P A P
Ben Macpherson MSP X X X X X X X X X X
Deidre Brock MP X A X X X A X A A A
Number of others attending 11 11 3 7 8 7 18 13 11 *9

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

* including PC Lynsey Crawford (until the end of item 4), Alan McIntosh (Broughton Spurtle)

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

  • none

1.c to agree: order of business below

  • none

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 15 April 2024

  • Approved as-is (proposed P Forissier, seconded A Dudley, nem con)

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

Item Actor Action Progress
4.a PCs Ask management if CEC should advertise for volunteers to become special constables Police are now hiring special constables – all are welcome to apply. There are many specials in Leith, obtaining good results
5.a LCCC Keep interested in Powderhall development Ongoing
6.b H Tobermann, P Forissier Finish and submit the bin-hub review request, CCing it to ward councillors Item 6 below
8.a S Kennedy Submit LCCC’s response to alcohol overprovision consultation Not done
9.a B Ryan Run election of LCCC office-bearers at AGM AGM above
9.b LCCC Appoint Engagement Officer at AGM AGM above

4 Policing matters

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

See also report on LCCC website.

  • While the ‘missing person’ datum may seem high, many such reports are ‘concern for’, and so are resolved quickly.
  • The police would like people to report incidents of pavement parking.
  • J Wilkinson: fewer needles are being found in Pilrig Park. What drugs are now being dealt here? Are police aiming to eradicate drug-taking or reduce it to a ‘socially acceptable’ level?
    • PC Crawford: heroin and cannabis. We try to keep it away from the parks as much as possible.
  • We are also trying to keep Montgomery St park free of dogs, because of their excrement.
    • C Encombe: It is a play park.
    • A resident: there are changes afoot around this topic.
  • P Forissier: What has happened to the CCTV camera that was in Dalmeny St – it made a big difference?
    • PC Crawford: it belongs to CEC, and has been deployed elsewhere. I will liaise with CEC about this.

4.b to note: response from Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in reply to LCCC concerns about police resources

  • H Tobermann: the contents of the reply are deplorable.

5 Planning

All points made by P Forissier unless otherwise noted

5.a to note: developer’s appeal dismissed by DPEA Reporter (PPA-230-246514 @ Ashley Place EH6 5PX)

  • permission for general housing was granted some time ago, but the developers then wished to use the site for student accommodation. This was rejected by CEC, but the developers then appealed. This has now been refused. However, the developers applied for a very similar scheme on 7 May.

5.b to note: status of current planning applications (May 2024)

  • An application for building accommodation in the garden of 36 Pilrig St was refused by CEC under delegated powers.

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

  • P Forissier: I was invited to a consultation by CEC planning but could not attend.
  • C Encombe: I will try to attend a CEC peer-review session about national planning framework 4 on 30 June.

6 Transport and clean streets

All points made by H Tobermann unless otherwise noted

6.a Trams to Newhaven: the project is not finished!

6.a.i to note: CCTT deputation to April Transport & Environment Committee regarding the Tram Project ‘close out’ report

  • M Birch (NTBCC) and I delivered this, stressing that the project is not yet finished, that CEC general funds are now being spent, and that not all outstanding issues have been identified. The team responsible was unveiled at this meeting, yet the defects period started some months ago. Therefore fixing issues is urgent. We questioned whether the aims in the final business case were met.
    • The discussions and deputations led to a composite motion which was accepted. It took on board some small points, but bigger ones are outstanding.
    • Cllr Rae: there are parts of Elm Row that should have grass but do not yet. There are many issues with slabs causing accidents, so Cllr Caldwell and I will keep pressuring for fixes.
    • A resident: there has been guerrilla gardening in protest at the ongoing issues.

6.a.ii to note: unfinished works – tactile paving at continuous pavements across side streets remains missing or not correctly installed

  • Such paving was promised during construction, but implemented late and poorly. A Dudley received a poor reply from the head of CEC about this.

6.a.iii to note: reworking works – proposed TRO for a left turn into London Road

  • There are mixed opinions on this, with some people saying that it will cause south-bound congestion.

6.a.iv to note: removing work – tree planters on Leith Walk

  • Planters are being mistreated, but they are a legal obligation (to replace removed trees). CEC does not have needed resources to maintain them.

6.a.v to note: forgotten works – ‘temporary’ barriers at Cambridge/Pilrig and continual fly-tipping

  • This route was opened during tram-works as a diversion, but has been left with heras fencing and bins. There is also fly-tipping, leaving the roads in an unfinished state.

6.b to note: Communal Bin Review Update at upcoming TEC, impacting LCCC area

  • A systematic review was completed, unbeknownst to LCCC. I received an email today about changes in Albert St.
    • Action: HT and P Forissier to check whether these changes will be OK.
    • Cllr Caldwell: there is a separate motion about being more sophisticated about materials and contexts.

6.c to note: ongoing ‘temporary’ Local Traffic Improvement – Programme Proposal and Assessment Criteria

  • C Encombe: I have been speaking with RNIB policy officer about this CE, pointing out such funds are available.
    • Cllr Caldwell: £0·5m is available across Edinburgh. I have already received 6 proposals, which do not ask for tactile paving. I am chasing the trams team separately about tactile paving, because it has been promised by them.
    • Action: Cllr Caldwell to supply assessment criteria.
    • Action: A Dudley to invite RNIB officer to LCCC’s June meeting.
    • Action: LCCC to decide whether it supports any applications to the scheme.

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

  • Action: S Kennedy to reply to a resident about his/her concerns about Cambridge St and Pilrig St.
  • S Kennedy: Alva Place residents are suffering many problems with speeding and large lorries using this area as a rat-run.
    • Actions: SK to write a proposal for action by CEC, H Tobermann to put this onto the next LCCC agenda.
    • Cllr Caldwell: an ‘unsuitable for HGVs’ sign should be in place by mid-May.
  • H Tobermann: I attended a briefing by Jacobs on supported bus-routes – Jacobs is helping CEC prepare invitations to tender. This work includes the 13 route and 2 others, defining routes so that tenders are within budget. There are good precedents for this work from west Edinburgh.

7 Parks and green spaces

7.a to note: Friends of Pilrig Park’s Summer programme

  • There was discussion of how to deal with thistles. Suggestions included sprays, scything and donkeys.

7.b to note: re-opening of Coalie Park, following Phase 1 works

  • Action: H Tobermann to attend (May 22, 1:30).

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

  • A resident: there has been a 4-year project to improve Montgomery St park. The play arrangements are much loved. A children’s committee is to be launched, with children making decisions. This will work on the children protection policy. There is also scything, to remove need for sprays. Friends of MSP AGM is on 11 June (6:30) at Nelson Hall.

8 Licensing

8.a to note: Licence Notice Late Catering 520196 and Civic Notice Street Trader 521548

  • Action: S Kennedy to investigate who might want such late-night catering.
  • Action: S Kennedy to seek more information about the street trader application.

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

  • none raised

9 LCCC governance

9.a to note: Consultation on CEC Budget Engagement 2024 (closes 28-07-24)

  • noted

9.b to note: proposed changes to LCCC’s boundary by CEC and an LCCC member (to include Abbeyhill Colonies, Edina Pl and Bothwell St with CMCC) (deadline 21-05-24)

  • S Kennedy it would make sense for all of Abbeyhill to be in Craigentinny and Meadowbank Community Council if CEC moves the proposed part. It is in the same CPZ as Abbeymount and Abbeyhill, and has the same MP (Tommy Sheppard)
  • Cllr Rae: the colony of artists wants to be in Leith.

9.b.i Votes

  • CEC proposal: 1 in favour, 6 against, 0 abstentions
  • Proposal to suggest that CEC moves all of Abbeyhill: 2 in favour, 4 against, 1 abstention
    • Action: H Tobermann to write to CEC governance, stating that LCCC is against the proposed changes.

9.c to note: outraged lady’s reaction to the state of LCCC’s notice board at a recent Broughton History meeting

  • Action: C Encombe to sort the noticeboard.

9.d to note: any other LCCC governance issues

  • none

10 Open Forum (local residents)

10.a Purpose-built student accommodation

  • A resident: Living Rent believes that there are too many PBSA plans, and that they are hard to oppose. It held a ‘town hall’ meeting about the Dalton’s scrapyard proposals. LR wishes 35% social accommodation in all developments, limited PBSA in Leith, mandatory developer contributions to infrastructure and third-party rights of appeal.
    • J Wilkinson: available flats are being rented by students, because student numbers are very large. Hence more student accommodation is needed.

10.b Meadows to George St

  • J Wilkinson: there are people who are very against the Meadows to George St proposals. I attended the TRO consultation.
  • B Ryan: NTBCC is strenuously against the proposals. I will share any relevant NTBCC materials I am allowed to.

10.c Manderston St bingo hall

  • A resident: developers are now going straight to the Scottish Government because CEC is not determining applications in time. The bingo hall was referred a month ago. How can people learn about progress of this process?
    • A Mcintosh: look at the DPEA website.
    • Cllr Caldwell: Cllr Rae and I will investigate this instance.
    • P Forissier: the determination date was 6 May.

10.d Edinburgh 900 grants

  • A resident: groups can apply for up to £1500 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Edinburgh becoming a royal burgh.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)

  • Leith Gala (8 June): no LCCC members volunteered to staff a combined Leith CCs stall.

12 Bulletin

  • The following were all noted.
    • Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors (Guardian, 29-02-24)
    • Nine people charged in Leith during day of action to target illegal e-bikes and e-scooters (EN, 12-05-24)
    • Electric scooters: ‘Inevitability’ about legal use in Scotland with possible trial, says transport secretary Fiona Hyslop (Scotsman 01-05-24)

13 Future meetings and planned meeting topics/presentations

17 June (then, as agreed at AGM)