Minutes
GRANGE PRESTONFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL 9 May 2025
Minute of ordinary business meeting held on 16 April 2025 (20.00) at Cameron House Community Centre.
Ward Councillor
Cllr. Simita Kumar
Chair: Ken Robertson
Ellen-Raiissa jackson
Deputy Chair
Peter Jones
Secretary: Ken Robertson
Neil Kempsell
Treasurer: Andreas Grothey
Hrafn Malmquist
Engagement Officer: Cori Schwabe
Maureen (Elizabeth) Munro
Richard Brown
William Reid
Peter Cochrane
Sue Tritton
Sally Griffiths
* = Apologies
2. APOLOGIES
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
4 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
16 April 2025 Report: Amend to add:
Cllr Kumar (Councillor rota team) asked to update on Newington Cemetery wall repair; bin hub positioning siting discussion (Dalkeith Road); tree planting project at Prestonfield / Priestfield Road.
5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA
Distribution by the Chair of guidance material on GPCC background and on community council involvement in the Planning process.
6. EXTERNAL REPORTS
6.1 Councillor’s Report – Cllr. Kumar
6.1.1 Community Grants Fund (CGF): A small grants scheme; funds up to £5000 awarded (by panel) to constituted groups for local community activity (‘empower communities and support grassroots initiatives’). The current funding round closes on 30 June. A CGF Growing Projects Fund is also open to funding applications until 12 May. See the Council site for more detail: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund
6.1.2 Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Crime and ASB reports mounting in the South East and elsewhere across the city. Police response includes plans to increase CCTV coverage in hot spots, South East Ward Councillors are pushing for heightened police community presence (amid acknowledged funding pressures). They engage on community policing issues via a ‘South East Policing Forum’ which (she reports) meets regularly with Ward Councillors, MSPs, MPs and local agencies.
Ken Robertson offered acknowledgement of a ‘South West Forum’ but also no recollection of GPCC having been advised of, or invited to attend, a ‘South East Forum’. Cllr. Kumar to look into this. (She placed the activities of the Forum in the context of the ‘South East Locality Community Planning Partnership’.)
Residents are invited to contact Cllr. Kumar directly with any concerns on ASB and local crime issues. mailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@edinburgh.gov.uk
Cllr. Kumar also offered a Police Scotland contact at jennifer.macgregor@scotland.police.uk
6.1.3 Other Remarks: Meadows toilet facilities due to open later in May. Cllr. Kumar’s current local case work includes missed collections on food bins / waste bins / litter at bus stops / road surface condition at Clearburn Crescent.
6.1.4 Cllr. Kumar invited to offer an update on:
The Council’s ‘tree project’ plans for Prestonfield Road / Priestfield Road.
Prestonfield Road and Priestfield Road Improvements – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space
Bin Hub issues.
Newington Cemetery wall repairs (2)
SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) planting for Priestfield
6.1.5 Ward Councillor coverage of GPCC meetings: On a shared rota basis across Cllrs. Kumar, Burgess, Flannery and Pogson
7 REPORTS OF INTEREST GROUPS
7.1 PLANNING
Application validated 24 March 2025 for two storey rear flat roof extension at Queens Crescent EH9 to provide new dining and living space. Ref. No. 25/01536/FUL. Last date for comments 27 April. (9/5: Comments submitted by SG.)
SG offered that the proposal will have a negative visual impact within the residential conservation area, unbalancing area character and appearance and creating a path-breaking precedent for the future. SG comments passed to the Chair for consideration.
Note: On Planning Application issues, see:
Planning applications – The City of Edinburgh Council for general guidance
View and comment on planning applications – The City of Edinburgh Council for guidance on submitting comments
Simple Search to access the Planning Portal
7.3 TRANSPORT
SG: CEC’s Strategic Parking Review (SPR) will proceed at a faster pace with the agreed suspension of prior consultation on the shape of Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and Priority Parking Areas (PPA). This will ‘reduce the Council’s ability to tailor designs to the needs of local residents at this stage of the (Traffic Regulation Order – TRO) process’. Resident comments and objections will continue to be received. In GPCC’s case, they will relate to the unfolding Phase 3 of the SPR programme.
‘Council officers will work together to ensure that residents and businesses are aware of any CPZ or PPA TRO proposals in their area and that they know how to engage with the TRO process to provide their views.’ Transport & Environment Committee Papers 3 Apr 2025. Page 144
The upshot is that GPCC will need to be on the active lookout for the proposals as they emerge and as they affect parking arrangements within the boundary.
Under Phase 3, restrictions scheduled across a segment of the GPCC boundary running from Prestonfield west towards Astley Ainsley.
7.4 COMMUNICATIONS / PUBLICITY
KR: Need to review set-up and structure of website management and of site / email / social media content management. Need to consider responsibilities / coverage / backup and appropriate safeguards.
7.6 NEWINGTON CEMETERY
ERJ: Awaiting further update on the Dalkeith Road wall repair works. Garden work continues with more planters and bedding plants on order. Cemetery wall weakness on western boundary acknowledged and Council aware.
Invitation to 28 April date (12.00) for rededication of James Finlayson and Wife headstone, attended by the Finnish Consul. Finlayson (d. 1852) a Penicuik engineer who became a leading C19 Finnish industrialist. Programme led by former GPCC Planning Lead, Tony Harris, and his wife.
7 OTHER COMMENTS: AG offered the opinion that Working Groups on Planning and Transport should be expressly convened each to carry two to three GPCC members (as opposed to one ‘lead’). A ‘single person’ function offers no opportunity to handle workload, share cover or balance opinion. This suggestion is tabled for the next GPCC meeting.
8 REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS
8.1 TREASURER
Paul Rowlings has demitted from office. He has prepared a draft set of GPCC Accounts for the year to 31 March. Once audited, they will be submitted to the AGM. PR remains ‘on call’ to assist with transition on Treasury, Website and Comms.
The summary position is as follows:
To 31 March 2025
Newington Cem.
Net Current Assets
Expenditure
*At 14 April 2025
Planned Expenditure: Dalkeith Road GPCC Community Notice Board: Installation scheduled for 12 May. This is community grant funded. The Secretary (KR) will have to establish with Paul Rowlings the detail of payments that will fall to be made.
8.2 SECRETARY
Raphael Bleakley has demitted from office. He remains ‘on call’ to assist with transition on Secretariat and Comms.
9 REPORTS OF OUTSIDE GROUPS
9.1 EDINBURGH ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS
KR strongly encourages new GPCC members to take advantage of the CEC Induction events for new community councillors: Saturday 26 April in person at City Chambers (09.30), Monday 28 April on MS Teams
(c. 18.00). The events will cover community councillor roles, undertakings, responsibilities, codes of conduct and media use. (There will be a second screen event to be arranged.)
Contact Cllr. Kumar in the first instance to book a place:
mailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@edinburgh.gov.uk
There will be an EACC live event at City Chambers on Saturday 31 May (09.30 – 13.30) which will feature CEC roles in community empowerment, engagement and planning and the work of the Transport & Environment Committee, under the leadership of Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson. There will be space for two attendees from GPCC. It’s a learning and networking opportunity. More detail later. – EVENT NOW CANCELLED
10 OPEN FORUM
Presence of Mr Peter Woodhouse; recognised as a member of the public.
11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Wednesday 21 May at Cameron House (19.00)
12 ACTION POINTS ARISING
Cllr. Kumar
To advise on status of South East Policing Forum
Cllr. Kumar
To revert on issues raised
Suggestions for set-up of Planning and Transport sub-groups
Summary
16 April 2025 Meeting: Cllr. Simita Kumar in attendance.
Election of Members to GPCC: Cllr. Kumar acted as Returning Officer under City of Edinburgh Council guidelines and confirmed the appointment of Elected Members and Nominated Representative Members (of Local Interest Groups) to GPCC for the 2025-29 term. Ken Robertson was appointed Chair and Acting Secretary. (Other appointments are in course. A listing will be published on the GPCC website shortly.)
Ordinary Business Meeting:
Cllr. Kumar’s Report: Current Community Grants Fund (CGF) funding round (awards up to £5000) is open until 30 June. CGF Growing Projects funding round is open until 12 May. See the Council site for detail: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund .
Anti- Social Behaviour and crime reports mounting across South-East. Cllr Kumar closely involved in neighbourhood policing issues. Please contact her directly with your concerns: mailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@edinburgh.gov.uk .
Cllr. Kumar’s current case work covers missed waste bin collections, bus stop litter, some local road surfaces and the tree projects for Priestfield / Prestonfield Road.
Transport: The Council’s Strategic Parking Review moves to consider parking restrictions across part of the GPCC boundary area. Prior ‘consultation’ will be withdrawn but the Council undertaking is to publicise plans so that residents and businesses are fully aware of proposals and are clear on how they can lodge their comments. You will need to be on the lookout (press, publicity) for these proposals as they emerge in May / June.
GPCC Website: Will be back with you shortly; administrative handovers underway at present.
Publicity: Work underway to introduce a GPCC information board on Dalkeith Road pavement area.
Newington Cemetery: Update awaited on Dalkeith Road wall repair works. Planter installation programme and related garden work continues. Friends of Newington Cemetery host a 28 April event (12.00) to commemorate renowned Penicuik engineer James Finlayson, 1830s industrial pioneer in Finland. Programme led by former GPCC Planning Lead, Tony Harris, and his wife, joined by the Finnish consul.
Grange Fair 10 May: At Newington Library, 13.00 to 16.30: Music; fun for kids; books; plants; food; more fun for kids; street art; neighbourhood fun for all.
Former Office Bearers and GPCC Members: Many thanks to those who led GPCC over the 2019-2025 term, especially through the difficult Covid days. Very much appreciated.Text