LHNCC March 2023 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, on Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 6:30pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. Nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against an item.

1 Introductions and apologies for absence

1.a Present

Jennifer Marlborough	LHNCC	Cllr Katrina Faccenda	Leith ward
Jim Preacher	LHNCC	Foysol Choudhury MSP	Lothian Region
Gerry Rooney	LHNCC	PC Chris Casselden	Police Scotland
Douglas Tharby	LHNCC	Alison Maguire	Turley
Arthur Young	LHNCC	Barrie Cunning	Pentland CommunicationS
Bruce Ryan	minutes secretary	Martin Bellinger	Goodstone
Bill Rodger	Trinity CC	Ewan McLaren	3D Reid
Cllr Chas Booth	Leith ward	~3 residents/visitors

1.b Apologies for absence

Elaine Dick	LHNCC	Ben Macpherson MSP	Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Neil Tulloch	LHNCC	Deidre Brock MP	Edinburgh North and Leith

2 Declaration of interests

none

3 Minutes of February 2023 meeting

Approved subject to ensuring they are correctly dated (proposed J Marlborough, seconded G Rooney)

4 Matters arising, and not in agenda below

none

5 Police report

See report on LHNCC website or text of report in appendix 1. PC Casselden also noted:

Number of calls this month is down from 260 to 215.
Number of calls about thefts has doubled since February – there has been a spate at Ocean Terminal.
Number of calls about missing persons is quite high.
Number of calls about drugs is same as normal.
The investigation into the RV Petrel incident is ongoing.
PC Casselden and colleagues are considering attending HoN’s warm and welcoming coffee mornings.

5.a Q&A

F Choudhury MSP: Ocean Terminal/Ocean Drive shops have been receiving abuse from youths for several months.
- We have spoken with the shopkeepers and obtained video of the incidents. There has always been a youth/antisocial behaviour problem in this area, but no calls have been received about this type of incident for ~3 months. Police are trying to education to combat such issues, but further actions may be taken in incidents recur.
F Choudhury MSP: it is currently Ramadan, so there will be many night-time visitors to the mosque.
J Preacher: what is Police Scotland’s remit on electric scooters?
- There has been no change – we are waiting on guidance about relevant legislation and a CEC report. Much road traffic legislation enables discretion by police, and is about cars, not electric scooters.
J Marlborough: there are many pavement cyclists, and ignorance of traffic signals, often without lights.
- There is no excuse for this – offenders will be challenged but there is a resourcing issue. People could send in videos of such offences. Please advise me of any hotspots of such incidents.

6 Councillor/MSP/MP reports

6.a Cllr Booth

Last night, Leith Links held a Q&A session about roll-out of the controlled parking zone. I have now published CEC officials’ answers to my queries: https://chasbooth1.wordpress.com/2023/03/27/controlled-parking-zone-extension-leith. Enforcement around residents’ parking places will start in summer 2023 but enforcement of double-yellow lines is starting now.
Updates on the Leith Connections project: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cycling-walking-projects-1/leith-connections; Leith Connections newsletter: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnect/
National Planning Framework 4 now presumes against loss of housing, but this did not prevent granting (6 votes to 5) of a short-term let test-case. There is evidence that STLs are increasing rents and adding to poverty.

6.b Cllr Faccenda

I will continue to push back against STLs.
I am working on behalf of CEC tenants about maintenance and upkeep of their flats.

6.c F Choudhury MSP

My colleague will ensure my annual reports are forwarded to LHNCC, and support engagement.

7 Chair, Secretary and Treasurer reports

See appendices 2, 3 and 4.

8 Residents’ queries and issues

A resident: the CPZ consultation process was poor: I received 1 of 3 leaflets that should have been delivered. Reducing car use is beneficial but this scheme will hinder movement, e.g. visits to elderly people, and congest arterial roads.
- Cllr Booth: I will pursue lack of delivery of leaflets. There is evidence that low-traffic neighbourhoods may initially increase peripheral traffic but generally soon decrease peripheral and in-zone traffic, leading to multiple benefits such as increased social interaction. Monitoring for unintended consequences should be undertaken.

9 Planning

9.a Dockside, Ocean Drive

See slides on LHNCC website

M Bellinger: Goodstone is a fund manager that invests on behalf of UK pension funds and similar into residential assets, by buying and developing land for ‘build to rent’ (BTR) developments. It undertakes no development of properties for sale. Its clients seek 25 to 30 year investments so Goodstone has a vested interest as a member of the community in building high-quality developments. BTR investment is now growing in the UK. (It has been predominant in North America and Benelux.) M Bellinger started the first UK BTR business in 2011. Goodstone was created in 2020.
- Dockside is a great asset/location. It is Goodstone’s second asset (acquired in January 2022) but the first to be developed. (The other is in Birmingham.) Work has already started because there is no benefit in delaying work.
- Planning permission for the site (formerly known as Skyliner) was granted in 2020. Our new planning application aims for the best possible development, by improving energy efficiency, sustainability, materials, amenity and landscaping.
A Maguire: slide 2 is about the first consultation event in January. Feedback from this and a second exhibition will inform the full application. There were about 30 attendees.
E McLaren: slide 3 shows the focus on improvements to the landscape, engagement with the waterfront and reduction in car-parking. It is greener [than the previous plans], has more trees, and has better materials. For example, block A (the standalone block on the left of the slide) has a better façade and internal changes, including commercial use of the ground floor. This block will have the most visual impact because most people will arrive at this block. There will be a covered walkway between block A and the other blocks – see precedents at the bottom of the slide. There will be increased cycle parking in the development and a simpler servicing strategy.
- M Bellinger: the other blocks will be built according to the existing planning permission, which anticipated that block A would all be affordable housing. There are three types of change in the new application:
  - architectural improvement: improvements to block A’s design, changed relationships to nearby developments
  - sustainability, green spaces and social impact: there is a 50% improvement on energy performance, more open space, less hard landscaping/more soft landscaping. reprofiling to reliance on cycle parking and green transport. (Parking spaces have been reduced from 70 to 18, half of which will have electric vehicle chargers. There will also be car-club spaces.)
  - improved resident experience: adding 5 floors to block A (40 more residential units = 100 more residents). 25% of block A will be affordable homes, leading to 94 affordable units in the scheme. The top of the block will have an amenity/common space with attractive views.

9.b Q&A/LHNCC comments

J Marlborough: LHNCC is concerned that its comments in the first consultation were ignored. LHNCC concerns include: the proposed height of the buildings; that BTR is a niche market that only houses transients and does not help community development; removal of windows and balconies from the plans, leading to loss of light; management of affordable homes; lack of communal/intergenerational facilities, e.g. children’s playground shown in the original plans; lack of support for 20-minute neighbourhoods and infrastructure that would attract families. LHNCC does like the additional trees but is concerned that these might cut off views from the waterfront.
- BTR tenants age-ranges are from ~30 to late middle age and beyond. The average UK first-time buyer is 38 years old. People need places to live while they are saving up deposits for buying. BTR is not student housing.
- There will be a pedestrian walkway all along the Waterfront (Albert Dock), linking Dockside with nearby developments and adding permeability. This and a play-space will be highlighted in the design and access statements.
- Goodstone does not wish transient residents: vacancies decrease our rental income and departures lead to cleaning/renovation costs.
- There will be shared amenity, e.g. co-working and lounge spaces. These support relationships between residents, so they are more likely to stay and build cohesive communities.
- The architecture/building height matches nearby emergent schemes. It enables improved amenity and landscaping, as well as increasing Goodstone’s rental income. (However, building costs must be paid for.) Goodstone has tried to ‘play the hand it was dealt’ from the original planning consent.
- Non-material variations (removal of balconies) will improve energy efficiency. The balconies on the original plans were only 600mm deep. Instead, there is expenditure on landscaping and internal amenity. Each apartment will have its own heat-pump – this is rare in the UK.
A resident: the development is out of scale with the surroundings: building heights should be reduced towards the city edges. There is no reference to Leith’s sense of place, just plans for blocks that have no architectural merit.
B Ryan: plans do not show which block is which. Will affordable homes be mixed with other types throughout the site?
- Goodstone currently does not intend to use a registered provider to manage affordable homes – Goodstone would manage all the units, so all residents have the same level of service. Pepper-potting of affordable homes will make it difficult for a 3^rd party to take on their management.
- 25% of units in the whole development will be affordable, so there has been an increase in the number of such units. 20% of units will have 3 bedrooms, meeting requirements. The number of dual-aspect units will be maintained. Goodstone is not trying to erode standards.
J Preacher: how will thefts of bikes from cages (common in nearby developments) be prevented?
- CCTV will be deployed within and outwith the buildings, along with a high-tech entry system and controlled access to different parts of the development. There will be onsite concierge, building management and maintenance staff.
- We are very happy to engage with further questions.
J Marlborough (later): I have asked for the current consultation period to be extended.

10 Licensing

No matters were raised.

11 Transport

11.a Controlled parking zone

11.b Trams

J Marlborough: traffic management issues at Ocean Drive have reduced, but box-junctions have not been replaced. I will chase this. The proposed boardwalk will be acceptable if it is open to the public, but should have more grass and less paving.
- There is much tram-related snagging, especially on Leith Walk. The cycle-path surfaces are poor. Hard landscaping will not be completed by the time tram services start. This work will be managed by CEC: contractors have 2 years to rectify snags. Planters are unattractive and not useful. CCTT will meet the trams team to work out what still needs to be done.
- Constitution St and Stevedore Place residents are concerned about tram-bell noises. (The existing route is not close to housing but the new route will be.)

11.c Buses

J Marlborough: removal of bus stops is very unwelcome.

12 Environment

J Marlborough: LHNCC has responded favourably to plans for Coallie Park.

13 Community

D Tharby: I aim to organise a meeting of Leith Neighbourhood Network before the summer.
D Tharby/B Ryan: LeithChooses is organising a conference for actual and potential LC applicants and other stakeholders.
D Tharby: this is the last year of the current locality improvement plan. We look forward to the next one.

13.a Seafield: upcoming events

22 Feb Site Stravaig with CEC/7N including their engineering team
14 Mar Seafield Group Housing Co meeting with Link HA, including Andrew Fournet (Craigentinny & Meadowbank CC) + meeting upcoming 3 Apr 11.00 with Harbour HA (formerly Port of Leith) incl Andrew Fournet.
Transportation meet set-up by Malcolm Fraser for w/c 27 Mar: with e-rail (Gorge Hazel, John McGregor), Lawrence Marshall – Andrew Fournet in attendance if possible
Development Framework Meet 2 22 Mar: main 7N/CEC/SCCC liaison meet
Seafield History: 27Mar 16.00 MF meeting Andy Arthur

14 AOB

G Rooney: car-owners are aggrieved that they pay tax but are ‘criminalised’, while roads are narrowed for cycle-lanes.
- J Preacher: the CPZ is causing much angst on social media, and fights between neighbours. Residents are being targeted.
- D Tharby: there is lack of documentation about a particular road being adopted by CEC.

15 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 25 April 2023

16 Appendix 1: text of police report

16.a Welcome to our LHNCC newsletter for March 2023!

16.a.i Breakdown of calls in north Leith/Newhaven area for March 2023 (approx 215 in total)

stats for period 28/02/23-27/03/23

8 calls relating to public nuisance
4 neighbour disputes
20 calls of theft/housebreaking
9 domestic-related calls
13 calls of other violence
1 incident with hate motivation
5 loud noise/music-related calls
31 concern-for/missing person calls
7 drug-related call

16.b Some notable incidents:

About 0830 hours on 22nd March, emergency services attended the dry dock at North Imperial Dock, Leith Docks after receiving reports that the RV Petrel research vessel had been blown over by the strong winds. A major incident was declared and Police, SFRS, SAS, Royal Navy and Forth Ports attended to assist. Over 50 people were onboard at the time of the incident, with 35 people injured to various degrees. Police cordon was continued for several days to allow investigation by the relevant authorities.
On 28th February, Police officers whilst on roving uniformed came across a suspicious vehicle at Western Harbour Breakwater. Enquiries revealed that it had been reported stolen earlier that night and was bearing false plates. The vehicle was uplifted for examination and the owner notified.
On 28th February, Community officers conducted a stolen property warrant at a private address in Giles Street, following a spate of thefts from taxis across Leith. A number of items believed to be illegal and/or stolen were seized and a male was arrested, charged with 3 Thefts by Opening Lockfast Vehicle (and reported for consideration of 31 further offences) and released on undertaking.
On 17th March, Police were called to Water Of Leith near to Sandport Place for a male who was in the water and could not get out. He was successfully rescued by the Fire Service’s Water Rescue Team with the assistance of Police and SAS. He was treated by attending paramedics and had sustained no injuries or ill-effects.

16.c Some notable actions/events:

On 25th March, we held Emergency Services Day at Victoria Quay in partnership with other emergency services, our partners and third sector colleagues. Over the course of the day (1000hrs to 1500hrs), there were 4500 attendees with over 22 organisations (including emergency services, military, mountain rescue and local charities) providing family fun as well as community safety advice and education. There was no criminality detected at this event.
On 16th March, we visited Busy Bees nursery, David Lloyd Newhaven to introduce ourselves during their “emergency services” month, answer questions about what the Police does and show the children our uniform/kit.
On 16th March, we visited Heart Of Newhaven community centre and met with Judith Crabbe and other project staff for an orientation. We hope to attend their Warm & Welcoming coffee mornings, held twice weekly, in the near future to liaise with members of the community and offer advice.

16.d Plans ahead:

Over the coming weeks, we shall be holding Beat The Boredom to entertain children & youths during school holidays.
We shall also be attending various public events including Hibernian-Motherwell football match (Apr 1st), “Yes Edinburgh Now Is the Time” march (Apr 1st), Hearts-St Mirren football match (Apr 8th), Terminal V dance events (Apr 8th & 9th), Hibernian-Hearts football match (Apr 15th), Hearts-Ross County football match (Apr 22nd), Pedal On Parliament cycling awareness event (Apr 22nd) and Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan (Apr 23rd).

16.e About Us

Local Area Commander: Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal
Leith Community Policing Team based at Leith Police Station: Inspector Colin Fordyce, Sergeant Sam Rose
Your local Community Beat Officer for NL26: Constable Chris Casselden, plus 8 other officers dedicated to community issues in Leith

16.e.i Contact Us:

Phone: 101 for non-emergencies

Email: edinburghcptnortheast@Scotland.pnn.police.uk

Twitter: @PSOSNEEdinburgh

Facebook: EdinburghPoliceDivision

Web: https://www.scotland.police.uk

17 Appendix 2: chair’s report (D Tharby)

This it is that time again.

Quite a month for Leithers, first of all the commencement of ‘trials’ of our much awaited trams to Newhaven route. Monday 4^th in the evening chaos began on Picardy Place and extended over the evening right down to the Kirkgate with buses and other traffic routed away. Never seen quite so many staff with hi- vis jackets at any one time. Things are moving well with our trams and 23^rd June for the official launch looks still the magic (or fearful) date depending upon your perspective.

Saturday 11^th March LHNCC Secretary and myself attended the opening of the repurposed Granton Station. This was an opportunity to share this significant part of a much larger regeneration project for North Edinburgh which although clearly not in our area will have an impact on the whole City with over 3,500 new homes to be built as ‘eco homes’. Joined by Bill Rodger from Trinity CC and meeting with Fred Marenello from Granton and District CC we hope to work collectively on joint concerns for North Edinburgh such as traffic flows and housing developments etc.

Wednesday 22^nd was indeed a dark day for Leith as RV Petrel a vessel in dry dock adjacent to Imperial Dock in Leith toppled from its supports and caused injury to 24 persons at 8.25 a.m. The reason for this catastrophy is as yet not clear but we wish a swift recovery of all those affected.

This Saturday 25^th March is the Emergency Services Open Day at Victoria Quay with displays from all Emergency Services including Lifeboats and Coastguard and the Military and supported by a number of our local charities.

Now back to our business dealings with CEC. On Monday 27^th we will be joining our colleagues at Leith Links Community Council for a special meeting with CEC officials responsible for the Controlled Parking Zone(s) to be established in our respective areas. We have had serious concerns about this and the Low Traffic Neighbourhood since the outset of the proposals back in 2020/2021, we have made our concerns known but much it seems has gone unheeded. Some of this work is already underway with street markings being reapplied or introduced for the first time. The Mandarins based in East Market Street or wherever are making decisions based on flawed or dated information and are unwilling to budge. Watch this space……

Our relocated NHS Vaccination Centre at Ocean Terminal is about to commence yet another round of COVID vac appointments along with Pneumonia vacs (yours truly had his last weekend).

Spring bulbs are a plenty in what green spaces we have such as Taylor Gardens and a special thanks is extended to local residents who undertook the initiative to make this possible.

Easter will soon be upon us, clocks now forward an hour will mean lighter evenings but perhaps in the short term darker mornings.

18 Appendix 3: secretary’s report (J Marlborough)

18.a Planning

The following shows abridged versions of applications and LHNCC’s responses. Full versions will be made available on website or on request. This is first week was first time in 6 years that there has been no planning applications in in our area!

18.a.i Dockside (Skyliner) PAN application Public Consultation 2: 23/2/23 (https://oceandriveedinburgh.co.uk/public-consultation)

Exhibition boards and feedback forms available on above website
Closing date for responses – 16/3/23 to be extended
LHNCC response submitted online.
- Q1: Overall impression
  - Disappointing that some concerns following 1st. Consultations do not appear to have been addressed, especially in relation to BTR
  - National Planning Framework (NPF4) including Local Development Plan (ELDP) and City Plan 2030 information that was implemented on 13/2/23 has not been considered.
  - Continued concerns about Application for Variation regarding omission of balconies and space being internalised within for space/working from home and removal of windows to improve heat retention – what about loss of light! Reduction of height and then increased by 5 additional floors
- Q2 – Elements that appeal
  - - Very few – perhaps covered connecting walkways
    - Reduction in car parking
    - Carbon Neutral proposals
  x
- Q3 – Elements that do not appeal
  - Increased height
  - No mention of affordable homes – according to City Plan 2030 should be 35%. Housing – there should a mix of types and sizes to provide mixed communities
  - Removal of previous Children’s Play ground area
- Q4 – Would you support development
  - Not in current form
- Q5 – Proposed height, scale and proposed Building (Block A)
  - Addition of further 45 BTR Units by increasing
  - Lack of character, prison like, without character and similar to all current developments in Leith
  - Does not attune itself to formation of intergenerational communities
- Comments on landscaping
  - Some improvement to this with additional trees, very close to waterfront edge and may obscure views
  - Boardwalk is acceptable as long as open to public
  - Would like to see more grass rather than paving
- Additional comments
  - Does not really address 20 minute neighbourhoods that require facilities for encouraging small businesses and providing essential ones like, medical, school/nursery/ elderly provisions
  - The site does nothing to show appreciation for the local history and heritage of the area

18.b Transport

18.b.i CCTT – Trams to Newhaven – Meeting Thursday 9 March

Reported issues with traffic management on Ocean Drive and loss of yellow box junction at North Leith Sands

18.b.ii Lothian Buses

EBUG meeting on is on Thursday and we will be following up workshops on Mobility Hubs we have attended and will circulate information on them.

18.b.iii Other topics

CPZ – LLCC & LHNCC joint Public meeting 27/3/23 questions and feedback
Edinburgh City Mobility Plan Workshops (on 3 dates) – I am attending as representative on 19/4/23 and each workshop will cover the same 5 Action Plans:
- Active Travel
- Public Transport
- Road Safety
- Parking
- Air Quality

19 Appendix 4: treasurer’s report (D Tharby)

The current balance in the Bank Account is £644·77 based on the last statement dated 1^st March, 2023.
We have with our Minute production for January at £30·00 outstanding.