NOVEMBER 2025 MEETING - Draft Report

DRAFTED 20 November 2025              

Minutes of GPCC Ordinary Business Meeting, Wednesday, 19 NOVEMBER 2025 (18.45) 

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

ATTENDANCE 

Ward Councillor: Cllr. Steve Burgess (Cllr SB) 

Members: Ken Robertson (KR), Andreas Grothey (AG), Ellen Jackson (ERJ), Hrafn Malmquist (HM), Cori Schwabe (CS) 

Apologies: Ian Chisholm (IC), Peter Cochrane (PC), Sally Griffiths (SG), Peter Jones (PJ), Neil Kempsell (NK), Ian Wright (IW).

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

2. APOLOGIES: Declared 

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None 

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (15 Oct 2025): Report adopted (proposed by ERJ, HM) 

5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA: None. 

6. EXTERNAL REPORTS 

6.1 Ward Councillor Report (Cllr SB) 

6.1.1 Saturday 1 November at Prestonfield Bowling Green. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) led a well-attended ‘Help Plant Your Community Orchard’ event. A stage in the ELGT project to deliver a designed and active local growing space, working in conjunction with the Thriving Greenspaces Team. A ‘raised bedding event’ is planned for February.

CEC funding for this community garden project is expected. There may be scope for pavilion reinstatement.

6.1.2 CEC will proceed with the planned Prestonfield Avenue street trees / footway project (at the school). The Priestfield Road project is on hold.

6.1.3 The change in parking regulations covering Blackford Newington (change PPA B1 to CPZ S8) will take place in Q1 2026. Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) will be tabled to formalise the new restrictions. When published, there will be a three-week window in which to lodge comments and objections, before the TROs are approved. This is not a ‘public’ window for fresh ‘consultation’, so be alert for the publication date.

6.1.4 Parking of light commercial vehicles in residential streets: This is permitted subject to compliance with the parking regulations in force, parking bay size and a 2.5m height limit.

6.2 Matters raised with Cllr SB:

(ERJ) East Mayfield / Dalkeith Road Junction: Police Report / Road Traffic Investigation on the recent fatal accident still outstanding. Council review of this acknowledged risk spot won’t take place until April 2026. Ward Councillors asked to retain a focus on this issue. GPPC will raise the case for remedial road safety work on the junction at that time.

(ERJ) Notes the completion of the removal of street bins from Dalkeith Road to neighbouring communal bin hubs. Pavements now clear for pedestrians. Completes a successful (7 year) campaign for bin removal by GPCC members.

(HM) Asked about roadway closures on Arthur’s Seat, on safety concerns following the august fires. Historic Environment Scotland manages the park area and has a lead responsibility on a decision to re-open.

7 GPCC REPORTS 

7.1 Action Points from previous Meeting: KR to inquire further of Edinburgh University about the future of the boarded-up lodge building at the west perimeter of Pollok Hall grounds.

7.2 Engagement: See below.

7.3 Planning:

GPPC submitted a request to CEC for the issue of a Building Preservation Notice in respect of the Causewayside Lads Institute.

GPCC submitted an objection to the Planning Application at 11 Cobden Road. (Short-term lets for city visitors in a conservation area.)

GPCC submitted a comment on the Planning Application at 67 Prestonfield Avenue. (Possible compromise of Prestonfield Neighbourhood Project client amenity.)

7.4 Licensing: Nil.

7.5 Roads and Transport: See 6.1.2.

7.6 Environment: Nil.

7.7 Newington Cemetery: (ERJ) Wm. McTaggart headstone reinstated, with funding assistance from the Old Edinburgh Club. Attention will turn to a fallen obelisk reinstatement. Scottish Water has been investigating water quality in neighbouring burns.

7.8 Neighbouring Community Councils: Nil. 

8 REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS 

8.1 Chair 

8.1.1 Edinburgh South Boxing Academy (ESBA): Request for GPCC Letter of Support in respect of proposed lease of premises. ESBA background discussed. ESBA contact with Gilmerton & District CC noted. Agreed to issue a Letter of Support for ESBA proposed acquisition of premises.

8.1.2 GPCC members asked to complete the current City Plan 2040 consultation (close 23 Jan 2026). Prestonfield and Preston Street Primary Parents’ Councils invited to respond to GPCC (by 12 Dec) on the current CEC Play Sufficiency Assessment consultation.

8.2 Treasurer

AG reports GPCC bank balance of £2692, Newington Cemetery Group bank balance of £3736.

AG reports CEC 2024/25 Administration Grant payment to GPCC (£980) is still outstanding.

AG asked to contact CEC Governance and to resolve the problem.

8.3 Secretary

8.3.1 KR will table further detail on data protection and on background to Information Commissioner’s Office registration.

8.3.2 Living Rent Open Letter: No action taken on ‘Open Letter’ invitation.

8.3.3 University of Edinburgh Community Plan: Note taken of the range of ‘facilities’ open to ‘communities’.

7.2 GPCC Engagement Programme (CS): See this link for CS’ Newsletter proposals.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11nFx1VcF3U6YR43uxSl1nNQyFXLZMZcPG64UXuguGms/edit?usp=sharing 

The Newsletter objective is to deliver GPCC name recognition and neighbourhood awareness of its purpose. CS plans an initial approach to mail list contacts by 23 November, inviting interest as a subscriber or contributor. First issue of Newsletter planned for 1 December. Shape still under review. Administratively and in terms of content, the Newsletter will stand separate from the GPCC site. (See GPCC October Minutes for more background.)

9 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS 

9.1 EACC Next meeting 27 Nov: Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson, Convener, Transport & Environment

Committee, will address the EACC AGM.

10 OTHER BUSINESS:

(HM) GPCC Website and Business Email contracts with Wix as platform provider:

The business email contract falls due for renewal in Jan 2026, the web hosting contract in Jan 2027. HM proposes an overall move to an open-source site hosting platform (e.g. WordPress) with more flexibility on business email address facilities and on website design, and at reduced expense. He has outlined his proposals in a separate paper which will be passed to members.

11 Date of next meeting: WEDNESDAY 17 December; 18.45 at Cameron House.  

Agenda items should be submitted to the Secretary at least 10 days beforehand. 

2025: 17 Dec  

2026: 21 Jan, 11 Feb, 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun.               

APPENDIX 

Action Points 

7.1 KR to query status of Pollok Halls Lodge building. (Done 20/11)

8.1.1 KR is issue Letter of Support to ESBA (Done 20/11)

8.2 AG to contact CEC Governance about outstanding 2024/25 Admin Grant payment.

8.3.1 KR to prepare a note on GPCC data protection.

KR