MARCH 2026 MEETING - Draft Report

Prepared: 19 March 2026.       

Minutes of GPCC Ordinary Business Meeting, Wednesday, 18 MARCH 2026 (18.45) 

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

ATTENDANCE 

Ward Councillor Cllr. Tim Pogson

Members Ken Robertson (KR), Ian Chisholm (IC), Peter Cochrane (PC), Sally Griffiths (SG), Andreas Grothey (AG), Ellen Jackson (ERJ), Peter Jones (PJ), Neil Kempsell (NK), Hrafn Malmquist (HM). Audrey O’Brien (GA) Ian Wright (IW). Guest: Ms Lindsey Nicoll (Resident)

Apologies Ian Wright (IW), 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 11 February 2026 adopted. (SG, NK)) 

5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA None

6. EXTERNAL REPORTS 

6.1 Ward Councillor Report Edinburgh council declares its Budget for 2026/27. See key facts on this link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councilbudget2026-27 Additional £1.6bn spend on new affordable homes over 10 years. Further £25m spend on roads and pavements investment over 2 years. Investment in schools and public buildings. Council Tax increase of 4%, the lowest among Scottish Councils. No cuts in services.

Proposals for major roadway redevelopment of George Street put on hold for a fundamental review.

Visitor Levy proceeds will begin to flow in from mid-year; targeted spend of proceeds will follow, across the city. Community-based organisations will have access to Community Grant funding in due course.

Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) S8 (Blackford Newington); currently Priority Parking Area B1. Look for possible Zone S8 Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) at the 2 June TRO Sub-Committee.

Note this: The TRO Sub-Committee Agenda will be published on 26 May. Search for the Sub-Committee by way of ‘Edinburgh Council Committee Meetings’. If Zone 8 is listed and your Residents Association or Group wishes to make a representation to the Committee, you have until 1 June to do so (6 days). Make your representation via a Ward Councillor on the Committee. Search for ‘Edinburgh Traffic Regulation Orders Sub-Committee – contact details’ or use this link: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=645

6.2 Guest Ms Lindsey Nicoll: On the Planning Application Notice in respect of Cameron Toll redevelopment. Ms Nicoll expressed personal concerns on the concentrated nature of the mixed development, the prospective loss of retail provision, the removal of the enclosed mall and its visitor / local resident hub amenity, the absence of replacement ‘neighbourhood facilities’ and risks associated with any attempt to divert the Braid Burn.

Ms Nicoll’s concerns are noted. The redevelopment proposals are at a very early stage, exploratory in their intention to draw out local comment and reaction. From the Planning Application Notice, there is an 18-month window for a Planning Application to be lodged. GPCC will be following the story. GPCC members will meet shortly with developer representatives to hear more. Council Planning officials see the Cameron Toll site as a possible 20-Minute Neighbourhood centre.

7.1 Past Action Points

Voi Bike Hire Scheme: Report a complaint here: https://report.voi.com/ This log is tracked by the Council.

Edinburgh University Campus Safety: Query ongoing.

GPCC Engagement: Local ‘issues’ seem centred around dilapidated road and footway conditions and Council backlog on repairs.

Grange Fair topic closed.

7.2 Planning

# Cameron Toll Redevelopment: KR, NK, IW to attend a meeting with representatives of the developer on 30 March.

# 27-29 Ratcliffe Terrace: 26/00495/CLP application for demolition. The matter sits with the Council’s Chief Planning Officer.

# Cameron Park Planning Application: Development Management Sub-Committee (DMSC) date for decision awaited. As a matter of practice, any representations (noting ‘material considerations) must be lodged with the DMSC two days before the scheduled date, by way of an Elected Member of the DMSC. A ‘hearing’ may be requested in support of a representation. The DMSC votes whether to grant a hearing. (Here is the link to the DMSC calendar: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=148&Year=0 )

# Revised Scheme of Delegation: Chief Planning Officer: See GPCC site for more information (Rolling Update)

7.3 Licensing Nil

7.4 Roads and Transport

# Priestfield Road Street Re-design: Project on hold on account of resident feedback; design elements under review; early road re-surfacing may be contingent on project resumption. (Prestonfield Road re-design project looks set to commence later this year.)

(The Transport & Environment Committee meeting on 2 April will publish details of the Council’s Roads and Infrastructure Investment Programme. along with a report on ‘Communicating Road and pavement Improvements’.)

# Rankin Drive Parking Restrictions under TRO/24/34: Action noted.

# CPZ S8 See 6.1 above.

# Traffic Regulation Orders and Public Notices Guidance Note to GPCC website noted.

7.5 Engagement Programme Under consideration; proposals on neighbourhood / community issues welcomed. HM offered assistance on Newsletter production.

7.6 GPCC Promotional Material Content review by NK and KR.

7.7 Website Development HM close to completion on Wordpress draft.

7.6 Neighbouring Community Councils Activity (SG)

# Southside: Focus on Local Traffic Improvement Plan initiatives; Local Place Plan engagement; footway improvements (with Living Streets); Scottish Widows Building redevelopment timeline.

# Morningside: Local Place Plan engagement; Council communication of roadwork requests and timetables.

# Liberton: Local Place Plan engagement; Tram Trains proposals.

# Marchmont & Sciennes: Local Place Plan engagement; Chalmers Crescent speeding.

# Merchiston: Residents’ call for Council action on traffic density issues along Ashley Terrace, Harrison Road, Yeaman Place, Merchiston Avenue

8 REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS

8.1 Chair (KR) Will request detail on the next South East Police Forum event. Support requested for GPCC promotion at 9 May Grange Association Fair.

8.2 Treasurer (AG) Little change in financial position: GPCC balance £3574. FoNC balance £4626.

8.3 Secretary (KR) GPCC AGM date set for Wednesday 20 May. Office Bearers up for re-election. Submit AGM Agenda items to KR by close on Monday 11 May.

9 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS

9.1 Newington Cemetery (ERJ) Spring Preparation working parties underway. Plans for new visitor bench installation. Second memorial restoration scheduled with the assistance of the Old Edinburgh Club.

9.1 EACC (KR) Next meeting on 26 March will carry a presentation on the current Active Travel debate, with New Town & Broughton CC.

10 OTHER BUSINESS Scot Gov to release an update on its ‘Democracy Matters’ local democracy review on 20 March. As part of its work to prepare the next Local Development Plan, the Council has published draft Place Profiles for each of the city Wards (demographic and socio-economic profiles plus leading characteristics of place, space and amenity).

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

Follow-up Points

8.1 KR to contact Police Scotland, SE Division about the South East Police Forum.

Compiled by KR 

GPCC Office Bearers:  

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