LCCC October 2024 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council AGM, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 21 October 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

Name

2023

2024

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May (AGM)

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Voting members

Alan Dudley

No meeting

Avril Ewing

Charlotte Encombe

Pierre Forissier

Luci Holland

Sheila Kennedy

Jed Milroy

Simon Preston

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

Tracey Gilbert MP

Others

Numbers attending

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

Police Scotland also sent apologies.

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 16 September 2024

Approved as-is (proposed A Dudley, seconded J Wilkinson, nem con)

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

Item	Actor	Action	Progress
3	P Forissier, C Encombe	Pursue return of CCTV to Dalmeny St	held over
3, 5.a	Cllr Caldwell	Follow up on Pilrig Park concerns, including needles (also on stairwells), lighting	complete – see item 7.a
3	S Kennedy	Notify CEC about co-options	in progress*
5.a	H Tobermann	Write to Scottish and UK Governments, urging action on drugs problems	complete
5.d	P Forissier	to visit the Standwell St steps, then make an informed inquiry to the developer	held over
6.a	Cllr Dalgleish	Share report on student numbers, if allowed	complete**
7.a	H Tobermann	Write to CEC about concerns about potential Leith St/Calton Square traffic issues	see item 5.c
7.b	H Tobermann	Try to obtain details about forthcoming closure of Annandale St junction	see item 5.b
9.b	C Encombe	Attend doors open days	complete
10	C Encombe	Keep the LCCC noticeboard up to date – and make posters	complete
11.a	Cllr Caldwell	Engage with CEC parks team over issues around skateboard events in Dalmeny St park, chase up what is happening with skateparks being developed in better locations elsewhere, seek better notifications about parks events	complete***
11.c	H Tobermann	Push tactile pavement issues with the trams team, and find whether contractors are due to work on them	see item 5.b.iv
11.c	A Dudley	Contact RNIB about tactile pavement issues, and possibly Equality & Human Rights Commission	see Item 5

* Action: B Ryan to send to S Kennedy and H Toberman the minute noting A Dudley’s co-option. (done 2024_10_26)

Action: H Toberman to use this to castigate CEC

Action: B Ryan to remove N Gardner to from list of current members, due to absence for more than 6 months. (done 2024_10_26)

** Cllr Dalgleish is not permitted to share the report. He notes that LCCC could submit an FOI request.

*** Cllr Caldwell has liaised with P Forissier and CEC parks about better notifications of events. Park rangers didn’t visit on the day. There will be an update to the ‘thriving green spaces’ project in the near future.

4 Policing matters

4.a to note: local (ward) Police report October 2024

See https://drive.google.com/file/d/18rSSiyi_i9CQIVNJ4zfR63Ej2r0_EF6G/view

5 Transport and clean streets

5.a Communal bin review

5.a.i to note: Communal bin review workshop 16 September 2024 (papers)

Cllr Caldwell: I attended this event, which sprang from motions to TEC. There will be report in November on impact of bins on amenity. I have liaised with relevant LCCC members.

5.a.ii to note: upcoming online workshop 23 October, 2pm-4pm (via MS Teams- contact anne.christie@edinburgh.gov.uk for a link)

Cllr Caldwell: I recommend that LCCC representatives attend this. The relevant CEC official is Michael Richardson. Who is well informed about the issues. CEC will review existing contentious placements – this process may include site visits.

5.b Trams to Newhaven: the project is not finished

H Tobermann: there is a hiatus due to the overall project lead (Hannah Ross) not replaced, leaving only Rob Armstrong and Chris Wilson. As an example of the impact of this lack of resource, RA had stated that the contractor (SFN) would deal with the defects for which it is responsible but SFN appears not to have done so. I recently learnt that SFN plans to use 165 Leith Walk to store materials for further work on the trams. I fear that either defects will not be fixed, or they will be fixed by CEC, which will then be unable to obtain reimbursement from SFN. It is not clear which of CEC and SFN is working on the different defects.
I have met CEC’s new transport convenor – he seems competent. I will try to meet with the trams team more regularly.

5.b.i to note: CCTT campaign regarding the long-delayed tram Road Safety Audit

h Tobermann: CCTT send a deputation to CEC, and made a press release about the 3^rd RSA, which was obtained after a lengthy FOI process. (RSAs 1 and 2 are during design stages; RSA 4 is done a year after operation starts.) CEC/SFN propose to fix ~40 of the 140 items. This pressure has resulted in a motion to CEC for the trams team to report on progress some time. Meanwhile road safety issues are with us.

5.b.ii to note: update on resumed liaison CCTT/TTN team

See above.

5.b.iii to note: TTN plans for (removal of most) planters during autumn 2024

C Encombe: LCCC is horrified by the plan to give planters to local shopkeepers, instead of getting rid of them completely, because these planters may well end up neglected. It is not known where the other planters will go.
- Cllr Rae: some schools (e.g. Drummond Community) wish to obtain planters – in general there is a clamour for them.

5.b.iv to note: TTN update on tactile paving 7 October 2024 (all continuous footways now have tactile paving as per ESDG guidance, with ‘stick down tactiles’ at Jane Street, Dalmeny Street and Lorne Street still to be removed) and wider continuous Footways discussion

A Dudley: Cllr Caldwell has raised this with the new TEC convenor, who then met with relevant organisations and CEC officers. An accessible streets commission has been created – I will attend its meeting on 26 November. There has also been a survey about tactile and continuous pavements in central Edinburgh – this may be repeated on Leith Walk.
- H Tobermann: the trams team has reported that all tactile paving has now been installed.
- Cllr Caldwell: the issue is that Edinburgh Street Design Guidance mandates installation of tactile paving in poor places. There are issues with signage: it is not clear that motorists should give way. Current traffic levels are being monitored.
- A Dudley: tactile paving on the building line (as required by ESDG) does not indicate that a hazard has been reached. Tactile paving on ‘ramps’ (where kerbs were) destroys continuity of paving, so that motorist do not stop.
- There was discussion of motorists’ knowledge of the highway code, education and related matters.

5.c Traffic impact of ‘Calton Square’ office building refurbishment (59 Leith Street, 24/03604/FUL)

5.c.i to note: joint email with Edinburgh Bus Users Group to Transport Convenor, further to LCCC’s earlier planning objection

H Tobermann: we wish to avoid closure of traffic lanes and bus diversions, as happened during construction of St James.

5.c.ii to agree: a joint approach with neighbouring Community Councils and ward councillors to CEC’s leader, noting his intervention in a comparable case, and pressing for strong measures to minimise any impact on public transport along the Leith Walk corridor (to and from Waterloo Place)

It was noted that the relevant planning application has not yet been approved.
Cllr Rae: many relevant CEC councillors may be unaware – I suggest that Cllr Day organises a meeting.
The joint approach was agreed nem con.

5.d to note: incorrect parking enforcement: as revealed in a recent TEC report, ‘the online reporting form is well used’ and ‘all reported locations are visited, and enforcement action is carried out (when appropriate)’

A resident: reports via this form do not result in parking attendants immediately visiting the locus. Instead, complainers are called ~1 week later, asking if the problem is still there.
- Action: H Toberman to pursue this, CCing CEC councillors.

5.e to note: any other Transport and clean streets matters relevant to LCCC area

none

6 Planning

6.a to note: upcoming PAN ‘Demolition of existing buildings and erection of mixed use development comprising student accommodation (sui generis) and employment space (class 4)’ @ 56-58 Bangor Road; first public consultation event on 13 November 2024 at The Biscuit Factory EH6 5NP (15:00 – 19:00)

It was noted that this site is not near any colleges etc, and suggested that there is no practical way to oppose at this point.

6.b to note: imminent adoption of modified City Plan 2030

H Tobermann: unfortunately, this does not contain strong measures against student accommodation, as in item 6.c.i.

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

6.c.i 14 Ashley Place/student accommodation

Cllr Caldwell: the Court of Session has overturned the Scottish Government reporter/DPEA recommendation to refuse planning permission, which was based on public transport links supposedly being insufficient and the site not being near to educational institutions. (See email from Scottish Government, and links therein, in appendix 1.) Hence the DPEA must reconsider the case from scratch. Hence I greatly fear this opening the floodgates for even more PBSA developments.
- H Tobermann: this results in part from only developers being able to appeal to the DPEA against local authority refusals. My experience is that SG reporters are experienced, competent people, so this court action is surprising.
- Concerning student accommodation, Cllr Dalgliesh has been unable to release data. (See item 3, row 6.) The Scottish Statistics Authority has announced a delay in releasing small area population estimates, so student numbers are not known from this.
- A resident: at a recent PAN event, the developer was bullish about Edinburgh’s overseas student numbers remaining high, even if they are likely to decrease elsewhere.

7 Parks and green spaces

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

FOPP’s chair reported:

Feedback has been mixed on the significant amount of undergrowth clearance undertaken by CEC. There was some concern about focus on areas that are not of concern. This results from work being done in two phases to avoid simply moving problems elsewhere, especially to areas used by children. FoPP hopes to get the Greenspace Trust etc to be involved – the current state is not the final state. (There was then some discussion by LCCC about what should happen.)
GST and PC Crawford have now obtained funding to enhance the Millenium Wood. There will be a consultation on this.
I will follow up H Tobermann’s request that CEC trims overhanging trees on the pavement side.
Bulb-planting with local schools will take place soon.

7.a.i to note: update/s regarding (absence of) protocol for procedures of obtaining and returning sharps boxes and woodland clearance in Pilrig Park

J Milroy has obtained 1 sharps bin.
- Action: H Tobermann to report in November on any response to his letter to LCCC’s MP.
- Action: B Ryan to check what is happening at Napier to design park-friendly sharps bins. (email sent 2024_10_26)

7.b to note: update from Friends of Montgomery Street Park

S Preston reported:

FoMSP’s Halloween event is on Saturday 26 October.
FoMSP has held a volunteer day has happened. CEC provided topsoil and grass seed, so holes have been filled. Also, a wildlife cage was built, there was work on the pond, graffiti was removed, and bulbs and a hedge were planted.
Despite a 2018 community consultation finding that the helter-skelter should remain, CEC is unable to provide insurance, and so is storing it. It is hoped that the helter-skelter can go into a museum. Action: cllrs to promote requests for help.
There is much controversy over dogs in MSP. All of MSP was made dog-free in 1999 because it is a play-park. However, during COVID dog-owners started using it and scaring off others. Dog-owners have now noticed that the dog-ban expired in 2023, so that the ‘no-dog’ signs are illegal. CEC recently confirmed this, and that the signs would be painted over. However, signs have been vandalised, and FoMSP has been left in a difficult position.
- Cllr Raw: CEC plans to reinstate the ‘no-dog’ rule.
- S Kennedy: MSP is clean, despite dogs having always been there. The problem is irresponsible dog-owners.
FoMSP’s magazine is about to be published

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

none

8 Licensing

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

none

9 LCCC governance

9.a to note: MS Teams meeting (22 October 2024 6-7:30pm) regarding ‘Promotion of Community Councils’ prior to Community Council elections in February 2025

Action: L Holland to attend this meeting.

9.b to note: approved CEC motion at Policy and Sustainability Committee to ‘provide political groups with budget estimates for providing Community Councils with hybrid meeting equipment and training on how to use it as part of the 2025/26 budget’ 20/10

H Tobermann: CEC should provide email addresses, web-space and a banking facilities for all of its CCs
- A resident/H Tobermann: another CCs suggests that £1400 per CC is insufficient, and would be better spent on admin support. Other CCs are dubious about hybrid meetings due to lack of WIFI at their meeting venues.
- Action: H Tobermann to write to CEC about this to

9.c to note: opportunity to shadow Acting Vice Chair’s agenda-making activity

noted

9.d to note: any other LCCC governance issues

C Encombe has created posters advertising posters, and will add QR codes. The noticeboard needs new Perspex.

10 Open forum (local residents)

A resident: the offending ‘woodpile’ has been removed. This was on the site behind 165 Leith Walk, and resulted from a developer dumping timber from stripping out Smiths Place.

11 AOCB (LCCC members)

S Kennedy: the transient visitor levy consultation is in progress. Drop-ins are on 2 Nov 2024 (11 to 15), 14 Nov (15 to 19).

12 Future meetings and planned meeting topics/presentations

2024: 18 November; 2025: 20 January, 17 February, 17 March, 21 April, 19 May (AGM), 16 June

Appendix 1: email from Scottish Government about 14 Ashley Place

(Redactions made by LCCC minutes secretary)

Sent: 18 October 2024 15:40
To: Jack Caldwell <Cllr.Jack.Caldwell@edinburgh.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: What is going on at 14 Ashley Place?

Dear Councillor Caldwell

Thank you for your query. The decision to dismiss the original appeal PPA-230-2465 was challenged in the Court of Session by the applicant. The court quashed the decision of that reporter and sent the case back to the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division to assess and determine the matter afresh. A different reporter has been assigned to the case. He has all the existing documentation and submissions from the original appeal PPA-230-2465 before him and will take those into account. Before he does that he is inviting the parties who made submissions on the original appeal to respond to the procedure notice which I sent out on 15 October 2024 to the appellant, the relevant planning officer at City of Edinburgh Council (Jay Skinner) and all those parties who submitted representations to the original appeal PPA-230-2465.

A copy of the procedure notice can be viewed via this link: http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Document.aspx?id=1041475 plus clarification wording issued on 16 October 2024 http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Document.aspx?id=1041809 which was also circulated to all those parties who submitted representations to the original appeal PPA-230-2465.

Please let me know if you require any further clarification.

Regards

<name, role email address and phone number redacted>