Tollcross Community Council
Minutes of meeting of Wednesday 26 September 2018, 6.45pm
Tollcross Community Education Centre, 117 Fountainbridge

1. Welcome and apologies
Present: Fiona Allen, Richard Allen, Paul Beswick (Treasurer), Iain Black, Andrew Brough (Chair), Roger Colkett, Saty Kaur (Secretary), Chris McGregor, Liz Summerfield, Ann Wigglesworth, Andreas Wilhelm
In attendance: Councillor Joanna Mowat (City of Edinburgh Council), PC Wotton (Police Scotland)
Apologies: Andy Devenport, David Liddle, Councillor Alasdair Rankin (City of Edinburgh Council)

2. Declarations of interest – none

3. Police matters – PC Wotton updated the CC as follows:
a. Housebreakings: 2 reported to bike sheds (enquiries ongoing)
b. Assault: 5 reported (2 on Lothian Rd, 2 on Dundee Street and 1 on Fowler Terrace), of which 2 incidences there are suspects charged and 3 incidences have enquiries ongoing
c. Road safety: Canal Shared Space is ongoing, and one road safety incident reported
d. Theft: 3 incidents of pedal cycle thefts (enquiries ongoing) and one attempted theft of a motor vehicle reported (suspect charged)
e. ASB / NPS/ other incidents: 2 incidences of vandalism in Lower Gilmore Bank and Viewforth (enquiries ongoing), 2 incidences of stop and search – drugs recovered and suspects charged, ASB at Tollcross Primary School (suspect charged), car windscreen smashed on Tay St (enquiries ongoing)
Action – (from Aug meeting) Chair to contact Police Scotland re new Community Policing Officer to replace PC Pennycook with a specific request for a local officer. PC Wotton to chase this up on behalf of the CC.
4. Previous minutes (29 August 2018)
a. Accepted with slight amends by FA and RA. Action – SK to update accordingly
b. Matters arising – close action point for PB/RC to contact Cllr Doran re explanation of ‘economic benefit’.

5. Tollcross CC area matters
a. Kings Theatre: update from Duncan Hendry on the progress of the Kings Theatre upgrade.
i. Financial update: 14m of the required 25m has been secured (4m from City of Edinburgh Council, 5m from the Kings Theatre, 5m being borrowed and awaiting the outcome of the Heritage Lottery Funding bid). If the HLF bid is unsuccessful, then the scale of the development will have to be reduced. A public fundraising plan will be launched in November.
ii. Design: Architects appointed mid September and should be publicly announced soon. The remainder of the design team to be appointed (interviews underway). Design of the project will be now until 2021. Construction planned to start September 2021 for 20 months and theatre will reopen Spring 2023.
iii. Previous historical issues on Tarvit Street have now been resolved by working with Police Scotland.
b. Leamington Bridge: RA/IB met with Scottish Canals and engineers – severe corrosion in bridge supports and structure. A temporary measure is being discussed which would be to remove the main deck and replace with a smaller lifting deck, but this awaiting cost estimates and has to be approved by Historic Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council. Confirmation that the bridge is a listed structure, possibly Grade 2.
c. Edinburgh Association of Community Councils update: report on August meeting circulated – no comments
d. Edinburgh Partnership Review response: response circulated and submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council – no comments

6. Councillor’s comments and questions – Councillor Mowat updated as follows:
a. Tollcross Primary School – confirmed that there is a rolling programme of works planned and regarding the school gym and canteen there are no safety issues for the pupils using these facilities during this time
b. High Street Customer Hub – all services (with the exception of parking permits) that were previously delivered at the hub have been reinstated

7. Planning:
a. REF 18/02493/LBC – Former Boroughmuir High School: Conversion of former high school to form residential accommodation and demolition of existing outbuildings GRANTED
b. REF 18/02343/FUL – Former Bank of Scotland, Holy Corner: Change of use from bank to restaurant/bar with outside eating space (front) and two storey (rear) extension GRANTED
c. REF 18/03565/CLP: Placement of docking stations on Laurieston Place for the ‘Just Eat’ public bicycle hire GRANTED
d. REF 15/04795/FUL – St Kentigern’s Church: Change of use, conversion and extension of former church to form 31 student bedrooms and restaurant CONTINUED

8. Licensing:
a. Licensing forum consultation – RC has drafted a response on behalf of the CC which has been circulated on the forum ACTION all to review and send comments to RC by 1 October 2018
b. Coffee Mill, West Port requesting an alcohol licence ACTION RC to check the details and respond on behalf of the CC

9. AOCB
a. Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links update from IB: AD has resigned from FOMBL. New chair still to be appointed (IB will update). 2018/23 management plan – been reviewed by FOMBL and a new/updated version will go out for comment ACTION TXCC to comment on management plan when issued
b. Canalside Initiative update from RA: Vastint and Moda development going ahead. Community events to be scheduled to discuss the community use of greenspaces on the new developed site. Possible local consultation on new street names for the development. Heating approach still to be decided – needs further discussion on financial implications.
c. South East Locality Committee update by AB: discussion on grant applications. Buffer zones around Chalmers sexual health clinic to be discussed at the Locality Committee
d. Thornybauk update from AW: the art college are interested in doing a mural but worried about funding
e. Edinburgh Association of Community Councils: the CC voted unanimously to nominate SK at the EACC AGM for the office bearer role of Edinburgh Partnership representative
f. The community council would like to extend a warm thanks to Michael Lister for his drafting of minutes.

The next meeting of Tollcross Community Council is on Wednesday 31 October 2018
at the new time of 6.45pm in Tollcross Community Education Centre.