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LHNCC April 2023 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, on Tuesday 25 April 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 Bill Rodger Trinity CC
Gerry Rooney LHNCC Annick Gaillard NTBCC
Douglas Tharby LHNCC Cllr Katrina Faccenda Leith ward
Arthur Young LHNCC ~2 residents/visitors  
Bruce Ryan minutes secretary    

1.b Apologies for absence

Elaine Dick LHNCC Cllr Chas Booth Leith ward
Don Giles LHNCC Cllr Adam McVey Leith ward
Jim Preacher 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 March 2023 meeting

Adopted as-is (proposed A Young, seconded G Rooney)

4 Matters arising, and not covered in agenda below

none

5 Police report

See text as PDF on LHNCC website\

  • It was suggested that schools provide water-safety training, and that a Scottish Parliament Bill may be introduced to tackle Scotland’s poor water-safety record.
    • Action: Cllr Faccenda to find out more about national throw-line initiative
  • Action: B Ryan to put ‘beat the cycle’ information on LHNCC website
  • It was noted that some CCs receive verbal reports rather than the details received by LHNCC from PC Casselden.

6 Councillor/MSP/MP reports

6.a Cllr Faccenda

  • There has been much recent work on controlled parking. Issues include some very poor workmanship, errant single yellow lines, lack of engagement with business about access needs. The TROs have been passed, so responses to queries tend to be based on ‘this is what has been decided’. I am trying to get better answers about some of the concerns. In the meantime, the scheme feels as though it is being ‘done to, not with’ people.
    • It is unclear that leaflets are reaching people.
      • G Rooney: leaflets delivered to apartment blocks may be left in foyers and treated as junk mail. It would be better to [also] deliver such information by email.
      • B Rodger: Trinity CC residents are also not receiving planning notifications and bin-hub information.
      • J Marlborough: some leaflets have read ‘if you can’t contact us online, email us!’
    • I have been pushing for restoration of road-markings.
    • The extra money for cleaning away graffiti is city-wide. Graffiti can be reported directly to CEC if it is on council property or is racist and/or otherwise offensive.
    • There will be a tidy-up in the Pier Place area and other greens spaces for which Forth Ports is responsible.
    • CEC has commissioned a report on food hubs. These are market places for local producers. The hubs also promote healthy eating, commensality and sustainability. NB the hubs are not food banks or charities. I am trying to get CEC to support the hubs.
      • D Tharby: I commend organisations such as Edinburgh Community Food and teaching of simple cooking in schools.

6.a.i Q&A

  • A Young: please fix the history/information plinths. Please add more of these.
  • A Young: has the been an increase in test cases for short-term lets?
    • Cllr Faccenda: CEC has very recently adopted a new robust framework based on recent legislation. This is likely to mean that STLs are more likely to be rejected. There has also been a lot of publicity.
  • J Marlborough: some bus-stops are now too far apart. The trams team says this is due to Lothian Buses, but LB denies this.
    • Cllr Faccenda: the criterion is not the stop-to-stop distance but how far people need to travel to get to a bus stop.
      I will follow this up. Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group is also working on this and on dangerous junctions.
  • There was discussion of the space and knowledge needed for food gardening, in response to the point about food hubs.

7 Chair’s, Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports

7.a Chair

See also report in appendix 2

  • B Rodger: Cllr Day will speak to Trinity CC in June about green issues in North Edinburgh.
  • D Tharby: the consultation on the new building for Trinity Academy closes on 9 June. It is here on ConsultationHub.
    • Cllr Faccenda: CEC is now using a new type of financing, avoiding the ongoing debts from private finance initiatives.

7.b Secretary

See reports in appendix 3

  • Mill Lane GP Practice has applied to reduce its area, and there is no sign of new practices to cover the many new builds. If the area-reduction does happen, it is possible that those who are registered in ‘removed’ areas may remain registered but will not be able to get home visits.

7.c Treasurer

  • Current balance £595·97, including £1·59 interest.
  • Outstanding: £30·00 for minutes secretary

7.d Engagement officer

8 Residents’ queries and issues

  • A resident: bins are being double-parked near Sainsbury’s in North Leith, leading to collection issues.
    • B Rodger: bins have taken much time and attention from CEC. The consultation on the new system was poor and not timely. There may be issues about effects on the conservation area. Compromises have been achieved in some cases.
    • A 0aillard: it is useful to hear about this because communal bins roll-out was stopped in the World Heritage area.

9 Planning

See also report in appendix 4

  • J Marlborough: it is welcome that the St Johns’s Place application has been refused and withdrawn.
  • J Marlborough: I attended a very interested workshop on the city mobility plan, which included trying to fit things into streets. There is lots of demand but limited space. People are cynical about the effects of consultations.

10 Licensing

  • D Tharby: CEC licensing is consulting on its strategy.
    • A Gaillard: I was challenged as to whether I was representative of the NTBCC area. If café (etc) tables and chairs are taken inside when the outlet is closing, this is covered by licensing. Static tables and chairs require planning permission.
    • A Gaillard: Is there much concern about fitting double glazing in listed buildings in this area?
    • B Rodger: ~70% of Trinity CC area is in a conservation area.

11 Transport

See also report in appendix 4. All points made by J Marlborough unless otherwise noted.

11.a Trams

  • Tram trials are ongoing. There have been complaints about nocturnal noise from these trials, and about trams being due to ring bells from 4am to midnight in narrow streets. Such bell-ringing is a health and safety requirement.
    • I met with the trams team today to see animated modelling of how junctions etc will work. Some queries were raised, e.g. about the Foot of Leith Walk. Trams will have priority, leading to concerns about blockages of emergency vehicles.
    • Cllr Faccenda: I have only received 1 email about tram noises.
  • There are concerns about the Newhaven to Lindsay Rd section following closure of exit and entry to North Leith Sands at Melrose Drive section of the tram route: there are terrible junctions, and bus-stops have been removed. There is lack of street lighting along the route.
  • Hard landscaping will not be finished before the trams are open for service.

11.b Buses

  • There are ongoing issues with Lothian Buses. There are concerns about effects on elderly and disabled people, and ‘floating’ bus stops.

11.c Leith connections/Low-traffic neighbourhood

  • There was a combined meeting last night with Leith Links CC. CEC seems to be very determined to deliver a certain plan, despite objections. Responses to these say why they are being ignored. There have been only ~500 responses to the consultation, despite Leith’s population being over 20,000. Some LC work will involve digging up trams-work. Some bus stops will be moved into narrow streets, thus concentrating more emissions.

12 Environment

  • J Marlborough: SOSLeith wrote to SEPA in January 2023 about sewage discharges into the Water of Leith. SEPA has now responded that ‘faecal indicator organisms are not used to define water quality in rivers’. and hence there is not a breach of license. SOSLeith has now contacted Environmental Rights Scotland to help make a formal complaint.

13 Community

LeithChooses is holding an awayday on 3 May to ascertain how it could do participatory budgeting better.

14 AOB

  • B Rodger: there is a drop-in session on rebuilding Trinity Academy on 15 May.
  • B Rodger: EACC is meeting this Thursday.
  • B Rodger: there will be an event about expanding and connecting district heating schemes on 31 May.
  • A resident: when will cruise ships start arriving in Leith Harbour?
  • Action: J Marlborough to find out and then respond to the resident

15 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 23 May 2023

16 Appendix 1: text of police report

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

Breakdown of calls in north Leith/Newhaven area for April 2023 (approx 240 in total*): stats for period 28/03/23-22/04/23

  • 9 calls relating to public nuisance
  • 10 neighbour disputes
  • 15 calls of theft/housebreaking
  • 10 domestic-related calls
  • 18 calls of other violence
  • no incidents with hate motivation
  • 15 loud noise/music-related calls
  • 27 concern-for/missing person calls
  • 5 drug-related call

16.b Some notable incidents

  • Since 22nd March, Community officers have assisted with locus protection at RV Petrel within Leith docks, whilst investigation by the relevant authorities continues into the initial circumstances of the boat being blown from its stands by high winds.
  • On 13th April, Community officers from across the city met at The Shore to participate in RNLI training of the emergency services to increase water safety awareness and rescue techniques. This included teaching the participants how to hold training sessions for their own colleagues and other businesses. There was national news interest with film crews from BBC & STV in attendance. This initiative will continue into the next phase, with local community officers speaking to local business owners, organising a “water watch” group, obtaining funding for throw-lines to be distributed to participating businesses, and arranging the group training.
  • On 18th April, Forth Ports contacted Police to report offensive graffiti to the disused lighthouse at Newhaven harbour and Victoria swing-bridge at some time during the previous month. Community officers provided security, prevention and removal advice to Forth Ports.

16.c Plans ahead

  • We shall be holding information and signposting sessions as part of Beat The Cycle (see next page).
  • We shall also be attending various public events including Scottish Conservative Party Conference (29th Apr), Beyoncé music concert (20th May) and General Assembly Of The Church (22nd May).

16.d Beat The Cycle #letsthrive: Upcoming events at Leith Theatre organised by Places For People & Leith Community Policing Team

11th April 2023 to 19th May 2023 / 4.30pm till 6.00pm

  • Free advice on any & every subject
  • Free clothes & toys
  • Free hot food
  • Free food boxes
  • Free fitness classes
  • Wed 26th April – wellbeing advice & signposting for adults how to deal with stress and anxiety, advice for LGBTQIA community members from LGBT Wellbeing service, and a fitness session from Hibernian FC!
  • Thu 4th May – employability advice & job confidence, with access to large firms looking for staff who can give solid advice and guidance on entering a well-paid career
  • Wed 10th May – how to feed a family on a budget, locations of local food banks, how to grow vegetables, how to make your money last longer
  • Mon 15th May – education for older teens and adults
  • Fri 19th May – Beat The Burnout fitness session and silent disco **LIMITED SPACES SO BOOK AHEAD**

For more info and updates, visit www.placesforpeople.co.uk/about-us/community/community-projects/beat-the-cycle

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:

17 Appendix 2: chair’s report

Spring bulbs now over, summer around the corner but there are still some really cold evenings and nightimes so I hope that our community is still coping with those larger energy bills.

No so much to report on this month. Our ‘wee ship’ in the harbour is still lying at an angle and is much more obvious to see than perhaps most people realise.

The trams are now a regular sight as part of what we expect is driver training in preparation of the June launch. There is an issue with traffic at the Foot of the Walk where signage I believe needs to improve to avoid confusion.

The Easter weekend now passed there were only a couple of events that I attended prior to this meeting. I will comment on our joint meeting with Leith Links at our own meeting as reports have to be written and submitted in time to be circulated by our Secretary Jennifer.

On Monday 17th April I attended by Zoom the monthly meeting of Trinity Community Council which centred around the plans to develop Trinity Academy. This will be the eventual destination for most of the pupils currently attending Victoria Primary School so is naturally of interest to us at LHNCC. Over the evening some quite imaginative plans and artist impressions were unveiled and were generally well received. It is quite interesting to see just what a modern twenty first century Scottish High School can look like and is a far cry from the institutions that many of us can remember only too well. I fear that we were treated as older children with limited facilities outside the classroom to think and prepare for an adult world where today the emphasis is upon young adults with adult like spaces and a much wider range of activities and interests catered for in preparation for the future of work, further education and what might be loosely described as ‘social integration’. I cannot think of any example from my school days where this seemed to be the objective other than to pass exams.

Arthur Young as the Lead on Licensing and myself over the past three years or so have been presenting the report to members at our meetings and while there is nothing like the activity that there is on Planning it is still a significant part of our CC work. You may remember that we attended a meeting of the Licensing Board and we have kept in touch with developments in Licensing over the period.

On Thursday 20th April I was able to attend the second of three open Consultations by the Board on the terms of its Statement of Licensing Policy which will hopefully be published later in the year. This was attended by a number of representatives of Community Councils and Neighbourhood Groups across the City as well as City Councillors and Deputy Clerks of The Licensing Board. Discussion covered a variety of topics around opening hours, access to licensed premises by children and young persons, overprovision of on and offsales as well as the inevitable ‘temporary’ licensing covering our many festivals and sporting events. Wider comment was also on proximity to residential properties of licensed premises and the availability of public transport particularly late at night. I will keep us updated on the progress of this, while perhaps it is not of particular problem here in LHNCC area historically or indeed at present, with the coming of the trams and greater access to the City centre then there may be some issues for us in the future.

This is our first visit to Heart of Newhaven Community and I hope that it will work for us as part of our hopeful return to ‘in person’ meetings where we can do so.

Stay well, stay warm as temperatures can vary quite a bit in this windy City. Don’t forget to have your Covid jab when invited to do so.

Douglas J Tharby, Chair

18 Seafield report

Since the last LHNCC meeting there have been two further meetings of the steering group (of which the four community councils form part) and a sounding board.

The first steering group meeting on 29 March agreed the initial approach to public consultation. The flyer promoting two meetings, in Restalrig and Portobello is attached to this report, with a request that this be circulated as widely as possible.

In addition, the master planners are making presentations to obtain feedback from senior school children in the area, including at Leith Academy.

At the sounding board on 12 April, it was agreed that Council officers approach several nominees for independent chair to gauge interest for this voluntary post. The master planners continue to investigate priority issues for infrastructure development including sea defences, road realignment and low carbon energy solutions.

Malcolm Fraser, the four community councils’ advisor is leading on a potential community affordable housing company and transport initiatives including possible use of the railway line.

A further steering group meeting was held on 19 April and it was agreed that the stage 2 consultation take place at an open event to be held on the promenade at King’s Place on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, sometime around the end of May/beginning of June. So, fingers crossed for the weather.

Neil Tulloch, 21/4/23

19 Appendix 4: secretary’s report – agenda Items 9, 10 & 12: 25 April 2023

19.a 9. Planning applications and responses

This is an abridged version but full documents will be made available on website or on request.

19.a.i Coalie Park (23/00467/FUL)

  • Application approved 17 April 2023

19.a.ii Seafield Report

19.b Consultations

19.b.i Delivering City Mobility Plan

19.b.ii Essential Users Permit (EUP) Holders

19.b.iii Conservation and Adaptation

19.c Transport

19.c.i CCTT – Trams to Newhaven – Meeting Thursday 13 April

  • Discussed areas including placement of litter bins, lighting poles and tram testing at night and use of bells and planters in Leith Walk
  • Agreed to have meeting to discuss Traffic Models – 25 April 2923 10.30am
  • Reported continuing issues with traffic management on Ocean Drive and loss of yellow box junction at North Leith Sands

19.c.ii Lothian Buses

  • Attended CEC City Mobility Plan 2001-2030 workshop on behalf of EBUG and LHNCC. Action Plan Priorities discussion groups covering Making our Streets Accessible for Everyone, Parking, Public Transport, Improving Our Junctions and Crossings, Air Quality.
  • Concerns expressed regarding accessibility for elderly and disabled with regard to removal of bus stops and floating bus stops. Interesting activity using models relating to positioning of street/traffic/pedestrian/cycling/junctions/parking addressing challenges of limited street space.
  • Inclined to focus on City Centre including ongoing design projects – Victoria St, Cockburn St, Waverley Bridge, George St, Lothian Road

19.c.iii Leith Connections and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN)

  • LLCC & LHNCC joint Public meeting 24/4/23 questions and feedback

Members of the local community are welcome to attend. Please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent a link for the meeting, nearer the time. (Please do this BEFORE 12.00 on 24 April, as ‘last minute’ requests are difficult to fulfil.)

Jennifer Marlborough, Secretary

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