APRIL 2025 MEETING - Inaugural - Report

Grange and Prestonfield Community Council

16th April 2025; 7pm

Cameron House Community Education Centre

MINUTES

1.             Welcome and Apologies

Chair: Simita Kumar (Returning Officer)

In attendance:

William Reid, Neil Kempsell, Sally Griffiths, Kenneth Robertson, Susan Tritton, Andreas Grothey, Cori Schwabe, Ellen-Raissa Jackson, Peter Cochrane, Maureen Munro, Peter Jones, Ian Wright,  Cllr Simita Kumar (Returning Officer)

Apologies: Hrafn Malmquist, Richard Brown

2.             Declaration of Interests

No interests were declared.

3.             Announcing Community Council Members as duly elected

Elected members, co-opted members and members from interest groups submit-ted their Declaration of Acceptance of Community Council Member Role forms and were duly elected on to the GPCC.

Neil K Kempsell

Sarah Griffiths

Kenneth Robertson

Susan Tritton

Andreas Grothey

Cori Schwabe

 Ellen-Raissa Jackson

Peter Cochrane

Elizabeth M Munro

Hrafn Malmquist

Nominated Representatives of Local Interest Groups

Name

Peter Jones (Waverley Park Feuars Association)

Ian Wright (Craigmillar Park Association (CPA))

Richard Brown (Grange Association)

Simita explained that there has been an issue around receipt of nomination papers and constitution of Blackett Association. She will work with Governance team to resolve this so that they can be successfully co-opted at a future meeting. She also received notification of another individual who wished to be co-opted. However, they were not present at the meeting but encouraged that this member can be co-opted to any future meetings of the Community Council if elected members wished.

4.             Confirmation of Community Council Name

Members agreed to retain the current community council name of Grange Prestonfield Community Council.

5.             Appointment of Office Bearers:

a)    Appointment of Chair – Ken Robertson agreed to continue as Chair until the AGM in May 25 with the caveat that a Vice Chair/Secretary be appointed to support the role. He was duly elected.

b)    Appointment of Secretary – Ken Robertson was also elected to continue as Secretary until the AGM with the caveat that support was provided.

c)    Appointment of Treasurer – Andreas Grothey agreed to fill the role as interim Treasurer until the AGM.

d)    Appointment of Engagement and Inclusion Officer – Cori Schwabe was elected.

For the benefit of new members, Andreas expanded on the role of Treasurer. He mentioned that online banking was in place and that the role was not too onerous. Accounts need to be maintained and checked annually by an independent person (not necessarily an accountant). Simita mentioned that the treasurer from another Community Council could potentially fulfil the role. Other functions included making payments, maintaining books, keeping receipts and managing the account. It was recommended that two people were authorised to make payments.

There was some discussion around the role of the Engagement and Inclusion Officer. GPCC has a Facebook page that needs updated. Twitter account has been frozen and the Online Safety Act needs to be considered when using social media. Corrie mentioned that Facebook comments can be turned off to safeguard against inappropriate comments.

6.             Elected member vacancies – Co-option

Willian Reid was unanimously co-opted as a member.

7.             Community Council Induction Events

Peter agreed to attend the in person induction event on 26th April 2025 9:30 – 12:30 at City Chambers. Cori agreed to attend the online session on the 28th April 2025 at 6pm. Other newly elected members were unable to attend the events due to pre-existing commitments.

8.             AOCB

There was no other business.

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