BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.3//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:7@gpcc.bigdatapatterns.co.uk DTSTART:20250416T000000Z DTEND:20250416T000000Z DTSTAMP:20261021T221953Z URL:https://gpcc.bigdatapatterns.co.uk/events/gpcc-meeting-april-2025/ SUMMARY:GPCC Meeting - April 2025 DESCRIPTION:Minutes\nGRANGE PRESTONFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL 9 May 2025\nMinu te of ordinary business meeting held on 16 April 2025 (20.00) at Cameron H ouse Community Centre.\nWard Councillor\nCllr. Simita Kumar\nChair: Ken Ro bertson\nEllen-Raiissa jackson\nDeputy Chair\nPeter Jones\nSecretary: Ken Robertson\nNeil Kempsell\nTreasurer: Andreas Grothey\nHrafn Malmquist\nEng agement Officer: Cori Schwabe\nMaureen (Elizabeth) Munro\nRichard Brown\nW illiam Reid\nPeter Cochrane\nSue Tritton\nSally Griffiths\n* = Apologies\n 2. APOLOGIES\n3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST\n4 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING\n 16 April 2025 Report: Amend to add:\nCllr Kumar (Councillor rota team) ask ed to update on Newington Cemetery wall repair\; bin hub positioning sitin g discussion (Dalkeith Road)\; tree planting project at Prestonfield / Pri estfield Road.\n5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA\nDistribution by the Chair of guidance material on GPCC background and on community council involvement in the Planning process.\n6. EXTERNAL REPORTS\n6.1 Councillor ’s Report – Cllr. Kumar\n6.1.1 Community Grants Fund (CGF): A small gr ants scheme\; funds up to £5000 awarded (by panel) to constituted groups for local community activity (‘empower communities and support grassroot s initiatives’). The current funding round closes on 30 June. A CGF Grow ing Projects Fund is also open to funding applications until 12 May. See t he Council site for more detail: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-pl anning/community-grants-fund\n6.1.2 Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Crime and ASB reports mounting in the South East and elsewhere across the city. Pol ice response includes plans to increase CCTV coverage in hot spots\, South East Ward Councillors are pushing for heightened police community presenc e (amid acknowledged funding pressures). They engage on community policing issues via a ‘South East Policing Forum’ which (she reports) meets re gularly with Ward Councillors\, MSPs\, MPs and local agencies.\nKen Robert son offered acknowledgement of a ‘South West Forum’ but also no recoll ection of GPCC having been advised of\, or invited to attend\, a ‘South East Forum’. Cllr. Kumar to look into this. (She placed the activities o f the Forum in the context of the ‘South East Locality Community Plannin g Partnership’.)\nResidents are invited to contact Cllr. Kumar directly with any concerns on ASB and local crime issues. mailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@ edinburgh.gov.uk\nCllr. Kumar also offered a Police Scotland contact at je nnifer.macgregor@scotland.police.uk\n6.1.3 Other Remarks: Meadows toilet f acilities due to open later in May. Cllr. Kumar’s current local case wor k includes missed collections on food bins / waste bins / litter at bus st ops / road surface condition at Clearburn Crescent.\n6.1.4 Cllr. Kumar inv ited to offer an update on:\nThe Council’s ‘tree project’ plans for Prestonfield Road / Priestfield Road.\nPrestonfield Road and Priestfield R oad Improvements - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space\nBin Hub issu es.\nNewington Cemetery wall repairs (2)\nSuDS (Sustainable Drainage Syste ms) planting for Priestfield\n6.1.5 Ward Councillor coverage of GPCC meeti ngs: On a shared rota basis across Cllrs. Kumar\, Burgess\, Flannery and P ogson\n7 REPORTS OF INTEREST GROUPS\n7.1 PLANNING\nApplication validated 2 4 March 2025 for two storey rear flat roof extension at Queens Crescent EH 9 to provide new dining and living space. Ref. No. 25/01536/FUL. Last date for comments 27 April. (9/5: Comments submitted by SG.)\nSG offered that the proposal will have a negative visual impact within the residential con servation area\, unbalancing area character and appearance and creating a path-breaking precedent for the future. SG comments passed to the Chair fo r consideration.\nNote: On Planning Application issues\, see:\nPlanning ap plications – The City of Edinburgh Council for general guidance\nView an d comment on planning applications – The City of Edinburgh Council for g uidance on submitting comments\nSimple Search to access the Planning Porta l\n7.3 TRANSPORT\nSG: CEC’s Strategic Parking Review (SPR) will proceed at a faster pace with the agreed suspension of prior consultation on the s hape of Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and Priority Parking Areas (PPA). Th is will ‘reduce the Council’s ability to tailor designs to the needs o f 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 p rogramme.\n‘Council officers will work together to ensure that residents and businesses are aware of any CPZ or PPA TRO proposals in their area an d that they know how to engage with the TRO process to provide their views .’ Transport &\; Environment Committee Papers 3 Apr 2025. Page 144\nT he upshot is that GPCC will need to be on the active lookout for the propo sals as they emerge and as they affect parking arrangements within the bou ndary.\nUnder Phase 3\, restrictions scheduled across a segment of the GPC C boundary running from Prestonfield west towards Astley Ainsley.\n7.4 COM MUNICATIONS / PUBLICITY\nKR: Need to review set-up and structure of websit e management and of site / email / social media content management. Need t o consider responsibilities / coverage / backup and appropriate safeguards .\n7.6 NEWINGTON CEMETERY\nERJ: Awaiting further update on the Dalkeith Ro ad wall repair works. Garden work continues with more planters and bedding plants on order. Cemetery wall weakness on western boundary acknowledged and Council aware.\nInvitation to 28 April date (12.00) for rededication o f James Finlayson and Wife headstone\, attended by the Finnish Consul. Fin layson (d. 1852) a Penicuik engineer who became a leading C19 Finnish indu strialist. Programme led by former GPCC Planning Lead\, Tony Harris\, and his wife.\n7 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’ f unction offers no opportunity to handle workload\, share cover or balance opinion. This suggestion is tabled for the next GPCC meeting.\n8 REPORTS F ROM OFFICE BEARERS\n8.1 TREASURER\nPaul Rowlings has demitted from office. He has prepared a draft set of GPCC Accounts for the year to 31 March. On ce audited\, they will be submitted to the AGM. PR remains ‘on call’ t o assist with transition on Treasury\, Website and Comms.\nThe summary pos ition is as follows:\nTo 31 March 2025\nNewington Cem.\nNet Current Assets \nExpenditure\n*At 14 April 2025\nPlanned Expenditure: Dalkeith Road GPCC Community Notice Board: Installation scheduled for 12 May. This is communi ty grant funded. The Secretary (KR) will have to establish with Paul Rowli ngs the detail of payments that will fall to be made.\n8.2 SECRETARY \nRap hael Bleakley has demitted from office. He remains ‘on call’ to assist with transition on Secretariat and Comms.\n9 REPORTS OF OUTSIDE GROUPS\n9 .1 EDINBURGH ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS\nKR strongly encourages new GPCC members to take advantage of the CEC Induction events for new commun ity councillors: Saturday 26 April in person at City Chambers (09.30)\, Mo nday 28 April on MS Teams\n(c. 18.00). The events will cover community cou ncillor roles\, undertakings\, responsibilities\, codes of conduct and med ia use. (There will be a second screen event to be arranged.)\nContact Cll r. Kumar in the first instance to book a place:\nmailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@ edinburgh.gov.uk\nThere will be an EACC live event at City Chambers on Sat urday 31 May (09.30 – 13.30) which will feature CEC roles in community e mpowerment\, engagement and planning and the work of the Transport &\; Environment Committee\, under the leadership of Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson. T here will be space for two attendees from GPCC. It’s a learning and netw orking opportunity. More detail later. – EVENT NOW CANCELLED\n10 OPEN FO RUM\nPresence of Mr Peter Woodhouse\; recognised as a member of the public .\n11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING Wednesday 21 May at Cameron House (19.00)\n12 A CTION POINTS ARISING\nCllr. Kumar\nTo advise on status of South East Polic ing Forum\nCllr. Kumar\nTo revert on issues raised\nSuggestions for set-up of Planning and Transport sub-groups\n\nSummary\n16 April 2025 Meeting: C llr. Simita Kumar in attendance.\nElection 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 Robe rtson was appointed Chair and Acting Secretary. (Other appointments are in course. A listing will be published on the GPCC website shortly.)\nOrdina ry Business Meeting:\nCllr. Kumar’s Report: Current Community Grants Fun d (CGF) funding round (awards up to £5000) is open until 30 June. CGF Gro wing Projects funding round is open until 12 May. See the Council site for detail: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants- fund .\nAnti- Social Behaviour and crime reports mounting across South-Eas t. Cllr Kumar closely involved in neighbourhood policing issues. Please co ntact her directly with your concerns: mailto:Cllr.Simita.Kumar@edinburgh. gov.uk .\nCllr. Kumar’s current case work covers missed waste bin collec tions\, bus stop litter\, some local road surfaces and the tree projects f or Priestfield / Prestonfield Road.\nTransport: The Council’s Strategic Parking Review moves to consider parking restrictions across part of the G PCC boundary area. Prior ‘consultation’ will be withdrawn but the Coun cil undertaking is to publicise plans so that residents and businesses are fully aware of proposals and are clear on how they can lodge their commen ts. You will need to be on the lookout (press\, publicity) for these propo sals as they emerge in May / June.\nGPCC Website: Will be back with you sh ortly\; administrative handovers underway at present.\nPublicity: Work und erway to introduce a GPCC information board on Dalkeith Road pavement area .\nNewington 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 renowne d 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.\nGrange Fair 10 May: At Newington Library\, 13.00 to 16.30: Music\; fun for kids\; books\; plants\; food\; more fun f or kids\; street art\; neighbourhood fun for all.\nFormer Office Bearers a nd GPCC Members: Many thanks to those who led GPCC over the 2019-2025 term \, especially through the difficult Covid days. Very much appreciated.Text CATEGORIES:Meeting LOCATION:Cameron House Community Centre\, 34 Prestonfield Avenue\, Edinburg h\, EH16 5EU\, Scotland\, United Kingdom X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=34 Prestonfield Avenue\, Ed inburgh\, EH16 5EU\, Scotland\, United Kingdom;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE= Cameron House Community Centre:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR