Tag: Community Councils

Connecting Communites: Council partners with community councils to seek views on regenerating Seafield

A six-week consultation is asking residents, businesses and other interested groups how they think Seafield could be transformed and regenerated into a vibrant new 20-minute neighbourhood.

The consultation is being run by the City of Edinburgh Council and Seafield: Connecting Coastal Communities*.

The local community is being invited to attend two events where they can give their views in person. Those attending will be asked what they like best about the area just now, what kind of housing they would like built there in the future and how the existing promenade could be improved.

The consultation is also seeking to get views from the local community on what other facilities they would like in the area such as health centres, schools and shops as well as how public transport could be improved. 

There is an online consultation survey for those who are unable to attend the following events – 

Thursday, 27 April between 3pm – 8pm at The Ripple Project Cafe, 198 Restalrig Road South, Craigentinny. 

Saturday, 29 April Between 12:30pm – 3:30pm Bellfield (Celebration Foyer) 16B Bellfield Street, Portobello.

Cllr James Dalgleish Planning Convener said: “This part of our precious coast in Edinburgh has been highlighted as an area which can be greatly improved and regenerated in our draft City Plan 2030, currently with Scottish Ministers for approval. 

“We’re at an early stage looking at how we can use sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood principles at Seafield, a new way of thinking for us in Edinburgh. We want to make Seafield more sustainable, with improved access to quality services.

“This is the start of a conversation with the local community to empower them to help us to make this happen. A 20-minute neighbourhood in Edinburgh is about living well locally, giving residents the ability to meet most of their daily needs by walking, cycling, wheeling or taking public transport. Residents will be able to live, shop, work and travel more easily and enjoy well-connected spaces with and improved greener public transport. 

“I’d encourage everyone with a link to Seafield to come along and tell us how what kind of homes and other facilities they would like to see built at Seafield for future generations to come. If you can’t make the events please do fill out our short survey as it’s really important we hear from as many people as possible about this important regeneration project for the city.

“The next stage is for the Council to share a draft vision for feedback before consulting on a draft masterplan for Seafield this summer. This will then be presented to the Council’s Planning Committee for approval.”

*Seafield: Connecting Coastal Communities is a group made up of the following community councils:

  • Craigentinny and Meadowbank
  • Portobello
  • Leith Links
  • Leith Harbour & Newhaven

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils: Agenda for Thursday 27/10

1. EACC Meeting Thursday 27 October at 19.00 via Zoom
 

There are three agenda items:

a)

Tony Harris, Planning Lead at Grange Prestonfield CC, on

‘Caravan structures in residential gardens’;

b) 

Kenny Wright, Chair at Drumbrae CC, on

‘Local initiatives in the face of the cost-of-living crisis’;

c) 

EACC Chair, Steve Kerr, on building out EACC with the new Members’ Board structure;

plus

AOB.

The Zoom link details are set out at the end of this email.

2. The 24 November AGM

This will almost certainly be a screen meeting, with a CEC Governance official acting as the Returning Officer. Material covering AGM November 2021 Minutes, EGM February 2022 Report, a revision to Standing Orders, a Financial Report and of course an Agenda will be published in the coming weeks. 

I have already mailed out Nomination Forms for those who wish to stand for one of the four Office Bearer positions, or would otherwise wish to be elected to the Members’ Board alongside the Office Bearers (twelve seats available). I repeat the Nomination Form in the attachment to this email.

If you have any queries on this, please contact me. 

Could I ask that Community Council Secretaries, in particular, make their members aware of what is set to take place and that the opportunity is taken to consider nominations and nominee support for the elected positions. 

3. Update

The most important recent development is perhaps the opening of a CEC website to focus on the cost-of-living crisis and to offer information, guidance and support.

The link is here:

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/costofliving

 CEC has launched five consultations:

(i) Ending poverty-related hunger in Edinburgh – closes 2 November 2022.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/ending-poverty-related-hunger/

(ii) A 2050 Thriving Green Spaces vision for Edinburgh – closes 15 November 2022.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/thriving-greenspaces-2050/

(iii) Additional protection for city parks within the Fields in Trust scheme – closes 16 December 2022.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/fields-in-trust-protection/

(iv) Proposed additional planning guidance on short-term lets – closes 22 December 2022.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/stl-guidance/

(v) A review of Licensing Board Policy – closes 20 December 2022.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/cg/licensing-board-policy-consultation/

Lots to be getting on with, then.

Remember to file the Zoom link below for 27 October. 

My contact details are below.

Many thanks

Ken Robertson

Acting-Secretary, Edinburgh Association of Community Councils

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils meets online tonight

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) meets TONIGHT via Zoom at 7pm. (The screen facility will open at 18.50.)

The Agenda:

1. Andrew Field; Head of Community Empowerment and Engagement, City of Edinburgh Council:                                                                                                

 – Community partnership planning; some thoughts on the way ahead.

2. David White; Primary Care Strategic Lead, Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership:

 – The Winter Programme vaccine roll-out;

 – Developments in GP service provision in the city.

3. Kenny Wright, Chair, Drum Brae CC:

 – The Cost-of-Living Crisis: Community initiatives.

4. Steve Kerr, EACC Chair.

 – Preview of the EACC AGM on 24 November;

 – Nominations to the EACC Members Board.

The meeting is open to members of the public as observers, but participation in the first instance sits with the EACC representatives of Edinburgh Community Councils.

(The meeting may be recorded. Please note that by joining the meeting you are giving your consent in that regard.)

See the Zoom link at the foot of this email.

Regards,

Ken Robertson
Acting-Secretary

(Next scheduled meeting: Thursday 27 October)
 
______________________________________________
 
Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC)
EACC Acting-Secretary; Ken Robertson
Secretary@edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk

Topic: Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
Time: Sep 29, 2022 19:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8213251547?pwd=ZWtYbnpMS3h1K1h5QWFYUnE0ZXJ4QT09

Meeting ID: 821 325 1547
Passcode: Brora6000

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils to meet on Thursday

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) will meet via Zoom on Thursday 25 August at 19.00.

(The meeting host will open the screen facility at 18.50.)

Agenda

= Lezley-Marion Cameron, Deputy Lord Provost, City of Edinburgh: “The city’s direction under the new administration.”

= Andrew Field, Head of Community Empowerment and Engagement, City of Edinburgh Council: “A fresh start to community partnership planning.”

= Steve Kerr, EACC Chair: Preview of the 24 November EACC AGM.

= AOB

This meeting is open to the public, but priority will be given to Community Council attendees, due to space restrictions.

The meeting may be recorded. Please note that by joining the meeting you are giving your consent in that regard

Ken Robertson

EACC Acting Secretary

Fightback starts NOW: Community council to reconvene next week

WEST PILTON & WEST GRANTON CC TO MEET ON TUESDAY

WEST Pilton & West Granton Community Council is to reconvene on Tuesday night.

Top of the agenda will be the future of West Granton Community Trust’s building in Granton Mains. The organisation confirmed that The Prentice Centre will close at the end of September.

Former Community council chair Willie Black said: “The imminent closure of The Prentice Centre is a huge blow to the local community and we must do everything we can to ensure that this facility remains an asset for local groups and organisations to use.

“There are a number of possibilities and we would like to talk about these at next week’s meeting.”

First challenge for the local community council is to strengthen it’s current membership.

“We have three vacancies and we would like to fill these as soon as we can. We saw with the success of this summer’s Community Festival just what can be achieved when the community works together and we’d welcome enthusiastic new members to help make next year’s Festival an even bigger success.

“The meeting will also offer an opportunity to meet the councillors elected in May’s council elections so we are hoping for a good turnout. There is plenty to talk about.”

West Pilton and West Granton Community Council meets on Tuesday 9th August at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils meets online this Thursday

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) will meet on Thursday 26 May, at 7pm on Zoom.

(See the Zoom link at the foot of this email.)

*** Agenda ***

1. Presentation by Charlie Raeburn on the ‘Observatory for Sport in Scotland’.

This is a community sports initiative — involving central and local government, as well as the private sector — aimed at tacking Scotland’s health and activity crisis. (See https://oss.scot.)

2. Best practice for community council treasurers? Solutions to banking problems for small organizations? Discussion led by Judy Wightman, EACC Treasurer and Chair of Ratho & District Community Council. 

3. Removal of litter bins from parks and greenspaces. Issue to be raised by Tim Parker, Trinity Community Council.

4. Any other business.

EACC meeting, 26 May 2022 19:00 

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8213251547?pwd=cVM5Y1pQZFUrZVV2cnIwUDV1MjF5QT09

SIMON HOLLEDGE

Secretary, Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC)

Simon.Holledge@gmail.com

@EdinCCs

Forth Neighbourhood Network meets online tomorrow evening

6pm via MICROSOFT TEAMS

FORTH Neighbourhood Network will meet online tomorrow evening at 6pm.

AGENDA

  1. Welcome & Apologies
  2. Notes of Meeting of 19th January 2022 and matters arising (circulated)
  3. Forth NN Neighbourhood Environmental Programme (NEP) HRA update – George Norval / David Delargy
  4. Forth NN current Priority: Poverty, including food poverty update – Biddy Kelly, Response and Recovery Group
  5. Community Grants Fund – review of the past year plus funding panel decisions
  6. Any other Business
  7. Dates of Next Meetings:   22nd June 2022, 14th Sept 2022, 14th Dec 2022.

For further information please contact Elaine Lennon, North West Lifelong Learning Development Officer, telephone 529 5270, email Elaine.Lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk

HELP! Community Councils umbrella body funding appeal

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils appeals to members for financial support

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) is making a one-time appeal for funds.

Like community councils, we need to pay for a website, video-conferencing and meeting facilities, and help with documenting meetings etc. 

Unlike community councils, we are not receiving financial support from either the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) or the Edinburgh Partnership, the higher level body to which both CEC and EACC belong.

Why is this? Community councils are statutory bodies and EACC is officially recognised by CEC as representing them in Edinburgh. Until a few years ago, EACC were getting a grant, similar to those given to individual community councils. This was authorised by Edinburgh Partnership, but paid by CEC from its community services budget. 

Paul Lawrence, CEC Director of Place, has told us that funding hasn’t been provided to EACC since 2017-8. Inevitably there are conflicting explanations of why. We asked Paula McLeay, CEC Head of Policy and Insight, if the grant could be reinstated, but the answer was no. 

EACC is unique among Edinburgh Partnership members in being totally voluntary and unfunded. This is unsustainable and we will continue to negotiate for the grant to be restored. 

In the meantime we have no money, so we are launching this appeal for funds from Edinburgh’s community councils. (As a guide we are hoping to raise about £500 to maintain basic services.)

If you are willing to support EACC, we would be very grateful if you could send us funds by bank transfer:

Account number              30120430
Sort code                         82 68 00
Account name                  Edinburgh Association of Community Councils

Or, by cheque, by post to:

Mrs J Wightman
17 Bonnington
Kirknewton
Midlothian
EH27 8BB

Simon Holledge, Secretary
Judy Wightman, Treasurer

Happy New Year for community councillors at Scottish Engineer

With 2022 just around the corner – The Scottish Engineer wanted to give all of Drylaw Telford Community Council a little present to start the year!

From next Monday (3rd January) you can enjoy 25% off food for the whole of January.

To qualify, simply tell your server you are from Drylaw Telford Community Council facebook group when requesting your bill and the discount will be applied automatically.

You may use this discount as many times as you like throughout January and no booking if required.

But if you do wish to book in advance to avoid disappointment, please head to : thescottishengineer.co.uk — at The Scottish Engineer

Neighbourhood Watch: How Do We Tackle Antisocial Behaviour?

FREE COMMUNITY SEMINAR

Book your FREE place on @N_Watch webinar now

http://ourwatch.org.uk/webinars @ Mon 15th Nov 5-6pm to find out about the impact antisocial behaviour has on communities & how together we can tackle this growing problem

#saynotoasb