FEBRUARY 2026 MEETING - Draft Report

Prepared: 12 February 2026.  

Minutes of GPCC Ordinary Business Meeting, Wednesday, 11 FEBRUARY 2026 (18.45) 

at Cameron House Community Centre, 34 Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh. 

ATTENDANCE 

Ward Councillor None

Members Ken Robertson (KR), Sally Griffiths (SG), Ellen Jackson (ERJ), Peter Jones (PJ), Neil Kempsell (NK), Ian Wright (IW).

Apologies Andreas Grothey (AG), Hrafn Malmquist (HM), Cori Schwabe (CS)

1. WELCOME Chair. Audio or Video Recording: None.  

2. APOLOGIES Declared 

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None 

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Report of 21 January 2026 adopted. (NK, CS) 

5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA None

6. EXTERNAL REPORTS 

6.1 Ward Councillor Report None

6.2 Guest: Mr William Ivory, Scout Group Leader. On the future of Reid Memorial Church and community facilities: Church of Scotland sale and closure a strong possibility in 2027, with comprehensive loss of local community group facilities. A ‘community buyout’, with associated financial and management responsibilities, is a very thin possibility, without any substance at this time. Mr Ivory may convene an exploratory ‘public meeting’. He may look to provide a short ‘present situation’ text which GPCC can look to place in local news outlets.

7. GPCC REPORTS

7.1 Follow-up Points from last meeting

6.1.5 Identify Council monitoring point for Voi E-bike project build-out: Monitoring point on ‘issues arising’ is with Voi at the moment. Briefing on programme roll-out is due to be submitted to forthcoming Transport & Environment Committee.

7.2.5 News on Scottish Widows site development (IW). New PBSA / mixed-use development plan from new site owner expected at some point.

7.9 Edinburgh University Campus Security response (ERJ). Enquiry still in course.

8.3 Response on timetable from SPEN (KR). Project contractor, for ‘Whitehouse Loan to Shawfair’ re-cabling programme, expected to be appointed in March. Await further news.

7.2 Planning 7.2.1 (IW) Reid Memorial Church closure covered above. 7.2.2 Cameron House Nursery / Cameron Park: On an approach by Cameron Park residents, KR submitted a late ‘objection letter’ on 6 Feb to Cllr. Tim Pogson (member of Development Management Sub Committee). We wait to hear if Cameron Park deputation is called.

7.3 Licensing (KR) CEC consultations open on Sun Tan Centres and on Black Cab Taxi Fare Review.

7.4 Roads and Transport (NK) Tram trains for Edinburgh (TTfE) group builds its case for integration of South Suburban Rail Line into proposed city tram network and into the emerging redevelopment of the Cameron Toll Centre. Next TTfE Group meeting is on 19 Feb, at Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, at 19.00. Contact mailto:tramtrainsedi@gmail.com for more detail. See also https://www.facebook.com/groups/2995576400542549/

Next developer showcase of outline plans for Cameron Toll is at the centre on 26 February, 2pm to 7pm.

Per ERJ, signs of ‘joined-up’ thinking on Cameron Toll as a redesigned commercial / housing / transport hub are needed at an early stage.

7.5 Engagement Programme: Newsletter (KR) 3-month review: Strong start to TGPV; good build in subscribers; attractive layout and content. CS warmly applauded. Motion to continue with the programme tabled by KR and passed unanimously.

IW to complete ‘personal profile’ for the 1 March issue.

Consider: The Newsletter as a local consultation medium? What to ‘consult’ on? How to structure the consultation format? How to handle the responses? Members are asked to start thinking about this. (Context: Is Visitor Levy Participatory Budgeting the first GPCC ‘consultation’ opportunity via TGPV?)

NB: As a trial run, Members are asked invited to send PJ up to three ‘sample questions’ on the ‘local neighbourhood’ (One-line questions with a limit of one-line for answers.)

KR questions as examples:

Which three local council services are most in need of improvement?

Which three local community groups would you donate £100k each to?

Name your three top priorities for local community safety and wellbeing?

7.6 Neighbouring Community Councils Activity (SG) Morningside: Focus on Local Place Plan (LPP) for mid-year submission. / Liberton District: LPP; approach to MSPs about local speeding concerns. / Southside: LPP; looking for help from Edin Uni as a ‘community project’; Preston Street Primary applications for Local Traffic Improvement Plan funds. / Marchmont Sciennes: Bin Hub and fly-tipping problems. Working on local heat network ideas.

8 REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS

8.1 Chair (KR) Detail expected shortly on Visitor Levy Participatory Budgeting opportunities for community councils. (GPCC must start to scope its involvement here.) / Detail awaited on the next South East Police forum event.

8.2 Treasurer (AG) No change in financial position: GPCC balance £3580. FoNC balance £4630.

8.3 Secretary (KR) Living Streets Edinburgh webinar on 23 February at 3pm; see GPCC site for detail. / Grange Association Fair on 9 May: KR will move for GPCC stall. Members asked for GPCC promotional ideas and for assistance (presence) on the day.

9 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS

9.1 Newington Cemetery (ERJ) Working Party assistance underway / No snowdrop Walk this year on account of the weather. / Does the Newington Cemetery Interest Group Strategic Plan 2017-21 need to be updated? / Would there be scope to involve Edinburgh University as a ‘community associate’? ERJ to consider shaping a proposal.

9.2 EACC (KR) Expected to table a request for fresh CEC support for community councils. / Next meeting on 26 February will feature Planning Democracy Scotland.

10 OTHER BUSINESS None

11: FUTURE MEETINGS Wednesdays at 18.45: 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun.

Follow-up Points

7.5 Group to ‘sample engagement questions’ to PJ.

8.3 Group to offer promotional ideas for Grange Fair.

Compiled by KR 

GPCC Office Bearers:  

Ken Robertson, Chair and Secretary; Ellen-Raissa Jackson, Deputy Chair; Andreas Grothey, Treasurer; Cori Schwabe, Community Engagement.