LHNCC October 2023 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, held at Custom House, on Tuesday 24 October at 6:30pm

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

1 Introductions and attendance

Frank Geoghégán-Quinn	LHNCC	Douglas Tharby	LHNCC	Cllr Adam Nols-McVey	Leith ward
Don Giles	LHNCC	Bruce Ryan	minutes secretary	5 residents/visitors
Jim Preacher	LHNCC	Jim Scanlon	Leith Links CC
Jason Ran	LHNCC	Cllr Katrina Faccenda	Leith ward

2 Apologies for absence

Elaine Dick	LHNCC	Cllr Chas Booth	Leith ward	Ben Macpherson MSP	Edinburgh Northern & Leith
Neil Tulloch	LHNCC			Deidre Brock MP	Edinburgh North & Leith

3 Declarations of interest

none

4 Minutes of September 26^th LHNCC meeting

Approved subject to J Preacher’s apologies being recorded (proposed N Tulloch via email, seconded D Tharby, nem con)

5 Formal approval of August LHNCC minutes

(LHCCC’s September meeting was not quorate.)

Approved subject to J Preacher’s apologies being recorded (proposed N Tulloch via email, seconded A Young, nem con)

6 Matters arising

Item	actor	action	status
June 8.c	Cllr Faccenda	Pursue issue around pavement at electricity substation	KF to pursue further
September 6	B Ryan	forward queries to Acting Sgt Casselden	done, Sgt has replied
September 7.c	D Tharby	Ensure that LHNCC comments on Ocean Point 2 plans	See item 10.a.iv below

7 Election of new members

Jason Ran is a sociology lecturer and registered social worker. He teaches policy, and is a journal editor.
Frank Geoghégán-Quinn has worked in administration and customer services. He is interested in transport and housing, is a member of a community trade union and of Living Rent, and is on the board of a social enterprise.
Decision: both were co-opeted nem con
Action: B Ryan to give them LHNCC email addresses if/when he can, add them to the members’ mailing list and website
Action: D Tharby to inform CEC of their co-option.

8 Residents’ Issues advised to LHNCC prior to the meeting

none

9 Police report

See report on LHNCC website for which Acting Sergeant Casselden was thanked.

The seasonality of break-in levels was noted
J Scanlon reported attending a shift with community police officers. In this 12-hour shift, ~100 calls were received, so triage was needed.
- Action: J Scanlon to put LHNCC in contact with relevant police.

10 Standing reports

10.a Planning

10.a.i Baltic Street/Constitution Street

D Tharby: the changes to plans may not be minor. Edinburgh University and Sundial (developers) have pulled out of this scheme. The internals will be generally the same as in the original plans, but with a slightly reduced number of students. The mix of affordable accommodation is unchanged. There will be no on-site car-parking. Flats will not have individual gas boilers: there will be ‘district’ heat pumps. I have asked for more time for LHNCC to respond. I will circulate visuals.

10.a.ii Seafield

No report

10.a.iii Ocean Terminal

D Tharby: I attended the recent open day. The plans appear to me to be quite imaginative: they would open up the waterfront, and include social housing. Buildings may be similar in height to the nearby distillery.
- J Preacher: I have copies of the displays (now on LHNCC website). They do not state the proposed timing for building.
- A resident: there are concerns about population density and hence stress on services.
- Action: D Tharby to share relevant information.

10.a.iv Ocean Point 2

D Tharby: peoples’ reactions to the plans are mixed. The proposed height of the blocks may be the main issue. Loss of view is not a material concern. There are precedents of 22-storey buildings in the area.
- J Scanlon: they were terrible. Leith used to have a protected view to Calton Hill.
- A resident: the site is in a conservation area.

10.a.v Western Harbour

A resident: consultation events are 24 Oct & 28 Nov, 4-7pm (Leith Library). Information is lacking on CEC planning portal.
Cllr Faccenda: I am concerned about the development company now being in administration, leaving other residents with financial issues. There is lack of information, so I am looking into this. There is no registration of land ownership.
- D Giles: land ownership is not needed to submit a planning application.
Cllr Faccenda: there are also concerns about tree preservation and rewilding in this area, and about nearby cladding.
Cllr Faccnda to report further before the next LHNCC meeting

10.b Licensing

No matters raised

10.c Transport

10.c.i Update on tram construction

D Tharby: CCTT will send a deputation to CEC’s transport and environment committee on 16 November.
Action: D Giles and D Tharby (pro tempore) to represent LHNCC at CCTT

10.c.ii Revisions to Low Traffic Neighbourhood

J Scanlon: Tollbooth Wynd is closed, so westbound traffic must go via Salamander Place (SP). Links Place will be closed from 18th but there is no signage on SP. CCTV provision is poor. Measures have not reduced traffic outside schools. There are parking issues nearby.
- Action: J Scanlon and D Tharby to engage with Miles Wilkinson (lead on Leith Connections).
- Cllr Nols-McVey: The January TEC meeting will receive a breakdown of changes and reasons (e.g. accessibility).
- J Scanlon: permit holder places should be limited to 30 minutes’ parking then no return.
Cllr Faccenda: extension of CPZ is very far away. Newer developments have not given streets over for adoption, leading to parking issues. I am pursuing what happens to permits-revenue – it may be that it just covers the cost of the system.
There was discussion of damaged person-hole covers and errant traffic cones.
F Geoghégán-Quinn: is the CPZ’s impact on blue-badge holders (BBHs) being monitored?
- Cllr Faccenda: a CEC equality impact assessment will include this. Leith Connections is not part of the CPZ.
- F Geoghégán-Quinn: others are parking in BBH spaces. The LEZ was supported with Scottish Government funds.

10.d Environment

SOSLeith representative: Scottish Water (SW) had promised to install monitoring for 1000 CSOs before the end of 2024. SW has now made a written promise of regular meetings to update SOSLeith. I have seen SW staff on site, and not observed any further unwelcome events during the recent bad weather. SW’s installation of a drinking fountain on Leith Links is welcome. SW will not install one at The Shore. SW suggests that local businesses will fill people’s water bottles.
SOSLeith representative: it is very welcome that Sammy the Seal is back in the basin.
Cllr Nols-McVey: work on the swing bridge is in progress. Pedestrian access should start at end of the 1st week of Nov.

10.e Heritage

10.e.i Place-based Investment Fund, Pride Bridge?

D Tharby, on behalf of N Tulloch: could the pride bridge benefit from this fund? Closing date for applications is March.
- Cllr Nols-McVey: this fund is for relatively small applications – the total fund is £1·2m. The pride bridge already has a large f=grant from Sustrans for investigating options, so a grant from this fund is unlikely. CCs can nominate local organisations who want funds to do positive things.
- Actions: F Geoghégán-Quinn to investigate further; LHNCC to revisit this in November.

10.e.ii News from SHBT

D Tharby: I have been asked to write a reference for SHBT, who manage the Custom House.
- J Scanlon: CEC bought the building so it could become a culture centre. The designs for the interior are now complete: they include community space and a heritage section. Hence I have been observing how relatively local museums operate. The next stage would be for SHBT and CEC to agree the final design. More support and money are needed.

10.f Community

10.f.i £eith Chooses

D Tharby: 27 applications have been submitted.

10.f.ii North-east Locality Community Planning Partnership, LIP development

D Tharby: NELCPP is working on the next local improvement plan, and will hold an online meeting to gain input.

10.f.iii NHS Primary Care in Leith and North Edinburgh

D Tharby: I have invited the relevant manager to inform LHNCC in November about health infrastructure.

10.f.iv Service of Remembrance, Leith Community Treatment Centre, Sunday 12th November

D Tharby: LHNCC will lay a wreath at 3pm. Invitations to the event will soon be issued.

10.f.v 79th Service of Remembrance for Merchant Seamen, Sunday 19th November

The service will be at 11:30, followed by wreath-laying at 1:30.

11 Edinburgh City Councillors’ reports

11.a Cllr Nols-McVey

All my points have been covered in previous items.

11.b Cllr Faccenda

Trams will not run from 7pm–7am, 27 October–12 November from Haymarket to Newhaven due to points maintenance.
An archaeological dig at Coatfield will hold open days on 4 and 25 November (10am to 2pm).
I have submitted a motion for the Taylor Gardens toilets to be reopened. Police are resistant to this idea.
- Action: Cllr Faccenda to push for the Tesco toilets to be reopened.

12 Local MSP and MP reports

Neither present, hence no reports

13 LHNCC Treasurer’s Report

D Tharby: outstanding cheques for the May, June and August minutes (£30·00 each) are still to be issued using the updated signatures. I hope to get signatures updated this week.
The current bank balance is £1,090·26, according to statement dated 28th September. LHNCC received £1·98 Interest.

14 EACC