LHNCC September 2024 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, at the Custom House, on Tuesday 24 September 2024 at 6:30pm

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

1 Introductions and apologies

Elaine Dick	LHNCC	Neil Tulloch	LHNCC	3 residents/visitors
Don Giles	LHNCC	Arthur Young	LHNCC
Douglas Tharby	LHNCC	Bruce Ryan	Minutes secretary

1.a Apologies for absence

Jim Preacher	LHNCC	Cllr Chas Booth	Leith Ward
Jason Ran	LHNCC	Cllr Katrina Faccenda	Leith ward
Acting Sergeant Chris Casselden	Police Scotland

2 Declarations of interests (LHNCC members)

none

3 Minutes of 27 August meeting

Accepted as is (proposed N Tulloch, seconded D Giles, nem con)

4 Matters arising from last meeting

4.a Actions from June meeting

Item	Actor	Action	Status
8.a	Cllr Nols-McVey	Continue to pressure on behalf of Anchorfield and Constitution St residents	held over
8.a	Cllr Nols-McVey	Chase up lack of restoration of Portland Gardens pavement	held over
8.a	Cllr Nols-Mcvey, E Dick	Engage about lack of progress on public realm related to tram construction	held over¹
9.a	Cllr Booth	Ascertain timetable for Hemingway’s to respond to the planning contravention notice	held over
9.c	D Tharby	Circulate notices from EBUG, including information on consultations	Done
9.c	Cllr Booth	Chase up about unnecessary tram-bell ringing at Port of Leith stop	held over
9.d.i	D Tharby	Chase up report of 21 June meeting with Ben Macpherson MSP	Done²
9.e.i	D Tharby	Ask SHBT to present about its plans to LHNCC	Done³

1: E Dick will soon meet with C Wilson of trams project/CEC over this

2: draft report has been received. The next meeting is on 11 October (2pm to 3:30) at the Custom House.

3: this presentation will be during LHNCC’s October meeting.

In view of no councillors being present: action: B Ryan to ask them for written reports for future meetings when sending out notes of actions.

It was noted that emails from the LHNCC domain are not always reaching CEC officer email addresses, and that another LA has set response periods for replying to CCs.

Action: LHNCC to raise this with councillors

5 Residents’ issues not previously advised

Attendees reported dangers from cyclists, notably at floating bus stops, and poorly installed tactile paving.
E Dick: after the first PAN consultation on the Western Harbour plans, I was asked by Save Western Harbour Ponds for news of a second one, so I wanted to raise this with Cllrs. SWHP has written to CEC planning but to no avail.

6 Police report

See report on LHNCC website.

7 Treasurer’s report

D Tharby: current balance is £198·97. The annual grant is anticipated but appears to be overdue.

8 Councillors’, MSP’s and MP’s reports and updates

None present – hence no reports

9 Standing items and updates

9.a Planning

9.a.i The presentation given by Vestas Offshore Wind Blades (UK) Ltd at Heart of Newhaven

D Tharby attended this presentation on 5 September, along with LLCC representatives. It appears that Vestas wishes to employ local labour, and to contribute to the area. There will be a further event in the Kirkgate 26 September (3pm-7pm).

9.a.ii Seafield update

N Tulloch: currently a draft masterplan and a place brief have been produced. These were presented to CEC planning on 11 September. Hence a 12-week consultation will start relatively soon. The results of this, and of wave-modelling, will be used to revisit the draft masterplan results available.
- The steering group of community councillors will continue to be involved, because it has not yet received confirmation that it will get what it wishes on transport and climate change. Further, SEPA will not grant planning approval until a legally-mandated ‘climate change coastal adaptation plan’ is delivered, but that is not due for another 3 years. Hard information on the mix of housing types to be built is not yet available, but it should be comprise at least 35% affordable housing, including social housing. The steering group wishes the area to receive a tram extension – there is no public transport here.
It was asked whether there is sufficient sewage capacity, in view of Seafield already processing East Lothian’s sewage. Apparently, there should be new facility after 2030, and Scottish Water is adding some capacity to existing facilities.

9.a.iii Other planning items

Mimis wishes to subdivide itself, to create a restaurant.
There is a planning application for renewal of the Pride Bridge.

9.b Licensing

No points raised

9.c Transport

9.c.i Trams

B Ryan: CCTT is about to campaign strongly about CEC’s apparently very incomplete response to the road safety audit.
- A Young: one of the issues with the trams scheme is lack of signage at Ocean Terminal.

9.d Environment

FOWLB’s AGM is coming soon.
- Action: D Giles to provide details.
E Dick: I undertook a walk-through with R Armstrong of the trams team to inspect the route’s public realm. Much planting remains to be remediated, for example compacted soil not taking grass seed, dead trees. I will continue to pursue this.
- D Tharby/E Dick: recent work on Sandport bridge included grass trimming and chopping down 4 dead trees.
There was appreciation of the swans on the Water of Leith.

9.e Heritage

9.e.i update on SHBT

D Tharby: SHBT will present its plans to LHNCC at its October meeting.
- D Giles: there is a condition on the sale of the building is that it must have a strong community.

9.f Community

9.f.i Edinburgh Partnership Board, Transformation and Improvement Programme (TIP)

D Tharby: CCs will be consulted on the third iteration of TIP in the next few weeks. It has been proposed do away with community planning partnerships, replacing them with ‘quality of life’ and ‘poverty’ partnerships.

9.f.ii Issues around vandalism within our area

D Tharby noted examples, including frequent halting of trams by stoning, which he has raised with relevant people.

9.f.iii Community Councils scheme review and boundary changes

The consultation has now closed, and the findings are with CEC.

9.g Key diary dates ahead of next meeting

‘doors open’ days: 28-29 September
Unveiling the ‘oyster’ mural 28 September, 11am
Edinburgh local housing strategy events: 28 September and 1 October

9.h AOCB

No points raised

9.i Date of next meeting

Tuesday 22 October at Custom House