LEITH NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP
HOUSING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ACTION GROUP
LEITH COMMUNITY CENTRE
9 APRIL 2009
MINUTES
1. Attendance and apologies.
1.1 The following people attended the meeting:
Nicky Sherry (Chair) Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council
Jim Scanlon Leith Links Community Council
Stewart Blaik Leith Central Community Council
Alastair Tibbett Greener Leith
Gurmit Singh Sikh Community
Matt Wheatley Nichollfield Tenants’ Association
Andy Harborow Lothian and Borders Police
Henry Coyle Services for Communities
Tim Packer Services for Communities
Steven Cuthill Services for Communities
Alan Birnie Services for Communities
Loraine Duckworth Services for Communities
1.2 The following people gave their apologies:
Martin McAulay, Mark Rogers, Helen Phillips, Ruth Stanley
2. Minutes of previous meeting (12 February 2009)
2.1 The minutes were accepted as a correct record.
3. Matters arising from previous minutes.
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Fort House and Hamilton Wynd Regeneration Update
4.1 The date of stopping letting homes and how empty homes will be secured has yet to be decided. The decision to demolish Fort House was taken on 3 March 2009 and will revert to the original agreement to start rehousing residents in 2010. Residents will be kept informed and consulted on the process. If residents wish to return to the area, they will be contacted when the new homes are available, but this would depend on their housing need at that time. It is less likely that people will wish to return if they have been adequately rehoused and settled elsewhere. Options for the rebuilding of homes will need to be considered.
5. Projects update
5.1 There are issues concerning traffic at MacDonald Road and a safety audit has been carried out. It has been suggested that traffic calming measures are put in place and money may be made available for this in a year’s time. The group has been asked to contribute to a temporary traffic calming measure from the NEP budget. There was a lengthy discussion on this issue and who is responsible for this. As this is a health and safety issue, it was felt that the costs should be met by the Capital Roads Budget. The group decided against contributing to this, but would advise Roads that something needs to be done in 2009/10.
Action: Steven Cuthill and Alan Birnie
5.2 The Pirniefield Bank consultation has been completed and the majority of residents would like to see it going ahead. There are two phases with phase 1 costing £30,000 plus design costs. This would renew fencing, remove trees and shrubbery, put in a path and upgrade around the play areas. Phase 2 would extend the play area. The group agreed to both phases.
Action: Alan Birnie
5.3 Phase 2 for Coalhill will be costed for the next meeting.
Action: Alan Birnie
5.4 The NEP budget for 2009/10 is £141,696 for NIP and £100,000 for roads.
5.5 Alan distributed information packs, including information on last year’s projects.
6. Police and Community Safety update
6.1 Generally the number of crimes in the area were down over the year. Youth calls are about 160 per month with hotspots at Montgomery Street and Portland Street. Vandalism is usually from drunks coming out of the pubs or youths. Solvency rates have not changed, but there is more work done on prevention.
6.2 Car break-ins are still occurring and people are advised to put “sat-navs” and other items out of the car. Housebreaking is down as is minor assault. However, accident and emergency figures show that the police are not always advised of minor assault.
6.3 More work is being done to combat the availability of drugs. Also, diversionary tactics are in place such as the portable football pitch, bike courses etc.
6.4 There will be another Week of Action in June. The community will be consulted in what should be done. However, there is a need to be realistic about what can be achieved.
Action: Andy Harborow and Ruth Stanley
7. Leith Links Masterplan / Environment update
7.1 Steven met with Greener Leith and Edinburgh Leisure to discuss how to get funding to take the Leith Links Masterplan forward. Green Leith has put in applications to several organisations. Work is ongoing on the drainage problem.
Action: Steven Cuthill
7.2 Leith Athletic Football Club has applied for a community grant to carry out a feasibility study on putting hard surface football pitches on the site of the old tennis courts. The following comments were made:
· It would be helpful if they can lever in money to support the masterplan.
· The difficulty is that their view of feasibility is to dispel the need for tennis.
· They are not objective and wish to campaign for football facilities. Other people want to use the park.
· Greener Leith have already carried out an objective consutation.
· Don’t want to lose the views – it would need to fit into the masterplan.
· There is a need to bring all the sports groups together.
The group decided is that the Housing and Built Environment Action Group does not support the application. However, they would like Leith Athletic Football Club to be part of the Leith Links Masterplan Steering Group.
Action: Loraine Duckworth
7.3 Henry advised that Transcentre Regeneration Funding may apply to Leith Links. Further information is to be provided.
Action: Henry Coyle
7.4 The North area has been given £700,000 for street cleansing. Barrow beats will be reintroduced in Leith. Consideration will be given on what to do with the budgets.
Action: Steven Cuthill
7.5 Three park rangers will be joining the team. They will be asked to come along to the group meetings.
Action: Steven Cuthill
8. Leith Community Plan update
8.1 The Community Plan and Community Engagement Strategy are on the website. The Action Plan is still being worked on. Loraine and Steven are meeting next week to complete the environment outcome.
Action: Loraine Duckworth and Steven Cuthill
8.2 The Partnership will be discussing the Community Engagement Strategy at their Business Meeting on 12 May 2009. Overview of contents given. Comments were as follows:
· Right about need for genuine consultation – need action.
· People need to get feedback and see things getting done.
· There is a problem with sharing information and community groups are asked the same thing by different organisations.
· Partnership meetings can be inward looking and self-congratulatory. It would be useful to have presentations from people from outside the city – we can learn from others.
· Ask the community to drive the meeting.
· Formal questions are good but it is hard to get a form – give them to libraries and put the answers on the website.
Action: Loraine Duckworth
9. Any other business
9.1 Sam Anderson is no longer part of the Youth Workers Forum. The Forum has been asked to nominate someone else.
Action: Loraine Duckworth
9.2 Coatfield and Giles Street Residents Association was established on 30 March 2009. This is one of the results of the Week of Action. Office Bearers will be appointed at the association’s next meeting. The Action Group wishes to extend an invitation to join them.
Action: Loraine Duckworth
9.3 The group supported the concept of Scottish – Polish Mural. Alan Birnie was asked to speak to the organisers and offer advice.
Action: Alan Birnie
9.4 Jim raised the need for bins to enable dog-owners to dispose of waste at Restalrig Road.
Action: Alan Birnie and Steven Cuthill
10. Date of the next meeting
10.1 The next meeting will be at 7.00 pm on 11 June 2009 at the Leith Community Centre,