coronavirus

by

Scottish Community Councils Summer Newsletter

The following is the text of the newsletter. Click this highlighted text to view the original.

Welcome to the summer edition of the Scottish community councils newsletter!  Here you can find information, resources and news relevant to Scottish CCs.

For any queries in relation to Community Councils in Scotland please contact Brian Davey at scottishccs@improvementservice.org.uk or call 01506 281180.

Information

Community Council Covid-19 Responses

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected how community councils are operating but they are still carrying out great work helping their communities at this difficult time. We are hearing some great responses from CCs across the country and this section of the website aims to highlight lots of positive examples of the work CCs are doing to support the Covid-19 response.

Send us your examples

We want to hear from you and highlight examples of good practice in response to Covid-19. If you’d like us to include what your community council is doing, please get in touch.

Resources

Online Meetings during Covid-19

We are aware community councils are adapting to new ways of working and engaging with their communities. Have a look at our dedicated page for tips and advice on using digital tools to meet online.

Mental health and well-being during Covid-19

There is a dedicated page which provides useful links for community councils that offer advice and information on mental health and well-being.

News

New £150,000 Fund for Scotland’s Coastal Communities

A new fund designed to support local regeneration and sustainable development around Scotland’s coastline has been launched by Crown Estate Scotland. Read more about it here.

Call for Evidence on how to Revitalise Town Centres Post-Covid-19

The Town Centre Expert Review Group, announced last month by Cabinet Secretary Aileen Campbell, has put out a call for written evidence on how to revitalise town centres in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about it here.

Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund Now Open for Grants from £1,000 – £5,000

Foundation Scotland in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust are providing funding to support charities and constituted community groups that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more about it here.

Scotland is Stunning Campaign

Zero Waste Scotland – in partnership with Scottish Government and Keep Scotland Beautiful – has launched a new campaign to encourage everyone to take pride in our outdoor spaces and keep them litter free. Read more about it here.

For other news visit the Community Council website.

Tell us your news 

Got a story to share about community councils and their projects? Get in touch with us at scottishccs@improvementservice.org.uk and tell us all about it, so we can tell everyone else about it!

Join the Scottish Community Councillors Development Network

The Scottish Community Councillors Development Network is a Knowledge Hub (KHub) group for community councillors and people interested in community council work. Join the group to network with other community councillors, share knowledge and experience, and discuss queries or issues. Sign up for free to KHub to join the group. Join Scottish Community Councillors Development Network on KHub.
by

Proposed waiting/loading restriction changes to facilitate footway widening – Great Junction Street

Copied from an email from CEC’s Spaces for People. 

Covid-19 Cycling and Walking Emergency Response Measures

Proposed waiting/loading restriction changes to facilitate footway widening – Great Junction Street

Following our email of 26 June advising that we would notify you once further details were available for the proposals above, we are pleased to be able to provide these now. We are aware that you were initially given proposals for Great Junction Street and Easter Road in a single notification, however in an effort to provide details at the earliest opportunity these have been separated and plans for Easter Road will be issued as soon as they are available.

We would suggest that you view the plan to see the detail of what is proposed.

map of proposals for Great Junction St and Easter Rd

Click the graphic to see the full PDF. LHNCC’s web-weaver is not happy that the map does not include a key.

Continue reading →

by

Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, 25 June 2020

Minutes of the Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting
(Construction Phase) via Google Meet on Thursday 25 June 2020 at 5:30pm Continue reading →

by

Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, 28 May 2020

Minutes of the Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting (Construction Phase) via Google Meet on Thursday 28 May 2020 at 5:30pm Continue reading →

by

LHNCC May 2020 minutes

Notes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council members-only meeting, held via Zoom on Tuesday 26 May 2020 at 7pm Continue reading →

by

Changeworks’ videos on reducing energy bills

adapted from an email forwarded by Edinburgh Council

I’m following up on the email I sent previously about a series of films Changeworks has created in response to lockdown. All four films can now be viewed here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjkSXAQtsjs&list=PL7OMdgJ2D5rOLw-pQyw8Iey5LpLwpkwtV&index=4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/ChangeworksUK/249303816276153

As we continue to adjust to Covid-19 we’re all spending more time at home and using more energy than normal. Many households are experiencing financial strain and will be worried about the effect this will have on their energy bills. These films provide some advice and support on managing energy use and where to get help with heating and electricity concerns.

You can also still refer households you think would benefit from energy advice and fuel billing/debt support. Changeworks can support people to access funding they may be eligible for.

by

LHNCC agenda: June 2020

Given the unusual nature of the circumstances we are in, we are doing our best for the Community Council and also the best in our responsibility to deliver upon our commitment to the community which we serve.

Because LHNCC is currently learning how to conduct meetings online, this will be a members-only ‘discussion’ meeting.

  • LHNCC welcomes public input in advance via the website contact-form at https://lhncc.org.uk/contact-us/.
  • Public input is equally welcome at any time after the meeting.

LHNCC is aware that online meetings exclude those who cannot access them, whatever the reason. However, this is the best it can offer under the current circumstances.

We would also like to thank all the valiant people who are providing essential services across all sectors in our community and beyond.

  1. Introductions, apologies
  2. Declaration of interests
  3. Minutes of May 2020 meeting
  4. Matters arising
  5. Police Report tbc POLICE SCOTLAND: Reporting hate crime circulated 16/6/20
  6. Report from Councillors
  7. Chair, Secretary andTreasurer reports
  8. Standing reports:
    1. Planning
      1. Stead’s Place/106-162 Leith Walk – report on meeting with Developer
      2. 120 Ferry Road/Industry Lane
      3. Ocean Terminal proposal
      4. CEC updated information on planning changes relating to Coronavirus
      5. Development Construction restarts – Phased (5 phases)
    2. Licensing
    3. Transport
      1. Trams/CCTT (Community Councils Together on Trams) – Meeting 28 May
        • Letter Trams to Newhaven project update on construction restart
        • Rare whale bones amongst historical discoveries made in tram project excavations
      2. EBUG (Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group)
      3. TRAFFIC ORDERS – Find out what proposals there are for your area:
    4. Environment
      1. Cladding issues – appeal from FoWLB
    5. Heritage
      1. Buildings at Risk: Update on Victoria And Rennie’s Isle Bridges.
      2. Edinburgh World Heritage Events:
        • In conversation with…politicians – Thursday 4 June 2020
        • How can we build a better city? – Thursday 25 June
      3. Cockburn Association Civic Trust – Meeting 2 June 2020.
        • Doors Open Days 2020 – It is planned to host a virtual DOD event this year
        • What should a post Covid-19 Edinburgh look like?
    6. Community
      1. Leith Chooses – Projects adapt to Covid-19 crisis
  9. EACC – Online meeting Thursday 18 June 2020 – feedback
  10. Neighbourhood Networks
  11. AOCB
  12. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 26 August
by

Main construction start – Trams to Newhaven

(Copied from an email from Trams to Newhaven)

The main construction works for the Edinburgh’s Trams to Newhaven project will start from Monday 15 June 2020 in line with the Scottish Government’s Phase 2 ‘soft start to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained).

Work on the project was stopped at the end of March to comply with Government guidance and to protect the safety of workers and residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

Following the First Minister’s announcement on 21 May of a phased return for construction sites, plans have been drawn up in line with Scottish Government safety guidelines and industry best practice to ensure the safety of workers and the public. At the briefing on 28 May the First Minister confirmed that site preparation could begin and, following the announcement today, main construction works can now start. This will encompass the existing sites on Lindsay Road, Melrose Drive and Constitution Street which will start from Monday 15 June. In addition, main construction works on Leith Walk from Elm Row to Crown Place will start on Monday 22 June.

In advance of this some preparatory works on Leith Walk will start on Monday 15 June 2020 ahead of the installation of traffic management which will begin on the evening of Friday 19 June and be operational from 5am on Saturday 20 June 2020 including Lothian Bus diversions. All traffic management arrangements are made in consultation with key partners in the city, including blue light services and public transport providers, through the Traffic Management Review Panel and are continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure they work as effectively as possible.

All works will be carried out through physical distancing and additional measures to protect workers’ health will include daily briefings, continuous on-site inspections and health and safety ‘ambassadors.’ The numbers of workers on-site will be kept to a minimum and a large proportion of the project office staff will continue to work from home. While physical distancing will be a key principle of construction working, workers will also have access to personal protection equipment (PPE) which they may choose to wear as an additional precaution if they wish. It should be noted that it may take time for the sites to become fully operational.

The logistic hubs at the Mitchell Street, Foot of the Walk, Dalmeny Street, Albert Street and Montgomery Street will re-open on Monday 22 June to support local businesses with deliveries and despatches. All communal bins that are currently situated on Leith Walk will be moved to the side streets.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Chris Wilson

For information

The Scottish Government’s phased approach to construction details six key phases to ensure work is carried out in a safe way. These are:

  • Phase 0: Planning
  • Phase 1: Covid-19 Pre-start Site preparation
  • Phase 2: ‘Soft start’ to site works (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 3: Steady state operation (only where physical distancing can be maintained)
  • Phase 4: Steady state operation (where physical distancing can be maintained and/or with PPE use)
  • Phase 5: Increasing density/productivity with experience