Category: Leith Links Community Council

A New Years message from Leith Links Community Council

This time last year when we watched television reports of a new virus in China followed by people being trapped on cruise ships and then as it progressed through Italy. Even at that point I don’t think it sunk in that within months we would be under similar lockdowns. Like many other people I was sent home from my job in March and from May I have had to learn to work from home.

I don’t like it as I miss the social interaction with colleagues but importantly I’m safe, healthy and employed.

As Chair of Leith Links Community Council I’m extremely proud of our team of community councillors who adapted quickly to the changing ways we had to engage with the community.

From March we moved to having our meetings on line using Zoom and then Teams so we could continue to work on issues where we have an input including areas like planning and Seafield Sewage plant.

It’s been a difficult year for members of our community and on behalf of Leith Links CC I wish to say our thoughts are with you if you have lost love ones as a result of this pandemic or have found yourself unemployed through no fault of your own.

The discovery of new vaccines which have been produced in record time give us some hope that next year we may see the return of some normality in our lives and be able to meet up again with friends and family.

I hope that 2021 is good to you but for the time being please stay safe.

Community Councillor Jim Scanlon MBE
Chair of Leith Links Community Council

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A festive message from Leith Links Community Council

This Christmas, many people may not be able to spend time or as much time with their families in the same way as they did last year.  It is true that we have been stressed and put to the test but overall, our community spirit has shone through, our NHS colleagues stepped up and now it seems normal before going out to check we have our mask along with our keys, money and phone!  2020 has been a long, difficult and very strange year but it is nearly at an end and with news about vaccines becoming available, there is hope that next Christmas things will be back to normal.

 

In the meantime, Persevere and seasons greetings to you all.

Community Councillor Gail Clapton
Vice Chair of Leith Links Community Council

 

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Merith House Hotel to become HMO?

A planning application has been lodged by the Merith House Hotel at 2-3 Hermitage Place for a “change of use from hotel to mixed use of hotel and HMO [house in multiple occupation] and erection of a new 2 storey building on land to the rear of the hotel”.

The land for the new building sits at the junction of Somerset Place and Burns Street, EH6 8AF

The application – case number 20/03011/FUL – can be viewed on the city council’s planning portal:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=QDYOSWEWGES00

The plans show that the 2 storey building at the rear of the hotel (which already has planning permission but is not built yet) would be altered internally to contain more bedrooms than originally planned  (when it was to be an ‘annexe’ to the hotel). It is now proposed to contain 11 bedrooms intended to be occupied by residents on a long term / permanent basis. Most rooms will be 10.2 square metres in total (including the ensuite bathroom).

 

There would not be any communal space or cooking facilities but the hotel kitchen in the main building would be available to them for cooking, it seems.

It is not clear yet – we are checking this out currently – whether the hotel in the main building is also intended to be changed from a hotel to an HMO, or whether a ‘mixed’ hotel and HMO facility is proposed. We will update with this information asap.

The last date for comments on this application is Friday, 18 December.

Members of the community can submit their responses directly onto the planning portal, as above, and / or you could make your views on this known via the form below. (and we will forward it along with the Community Council’s own response).

If you wish to contact the Community Council on this matter with a fuller response, please email planning@leithlinkscc.org.uk

 

[Form removed on 11/12/21]

 

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Next meeting of Leith Links Community Council, Monday 30th November, 6:30pm, via Microsoft Teams

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will take place on Monday 30th November, at 6:30pm, online, via Microsoft Teams.

The link for the meeting will be sent out by email.

The meeting is open to interested members of the public. If you wish to attend, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and ask to be sent an invitation /link for the meeting.

Here are

(1) the Agenda for the meeting.

(2) the LLCC MINUTES October 2020 (draft until adopted at next week’s meeting).

(3) the Licensing Update (incorporating link to LLCC’s response to the Scottish Government’s recent consultation on Short Term Lets) by Licensing Sub Committee Spokesperson Michael Traill.

These are also stored for access at any time in our online Library.

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Congratulations Councillor Ethan Young

Earlier today City of Edinburgh Council announced that Ethan Young (Scottish National Party) has been elected to represent the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward at the City Chambers.

Councillor Young now automatically becomes an ex officio member of Leith Links Community Council.

Speaking on behalf of Leith Links Community Council Chairman Jim Scanlon said;

On behalf of Leith Links CC I would like to congratulate Ethan and look forward to seeing him at our next CC online meeting. I hope we can work together constructively on issues effecting local residents.
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Annual Report 2019/2020 published

We are pleased to present our latest annual report which provides us with an opportunity to update our community & other interested parties on some of our work over the last year.

The annual report highlights some of our work in various areas such as planning, licensing, greenspaces and of course Seafield odour/noise matters.

Commenting on the annual report Community Councillor Michael Traill, the Community Councils Engagement Officer said;

This Annual Report highlights just how busy our Community Councillors are and I am sure many people will be surprised to see that breadth of work we are involved with. And I fully expect the upcoming year to be just as diverse & busy!

Community Councillor Jim Scanlon MBE who serves as Chairperson said;

When you read the Annual Report it highlights the amount of work as volunteers Community Councillors do.

I’m immensely proud of Leith Links CC’s hard working team who do their best to represent the local community.

To view the report click on the image or click here.

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Next meeting (AGM) of Leith Links Community Council; Monday 26th October, at 6:30pm, via Microsoft Teams.

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will take place on Monday 26th October, at 6:30pm, online, via Microsoft Teams.

There will be the AGM first, chaired by Councillor Gordon Munro, followed by a short ‘ordinary’ meeting chaired by Jim Scanlon.

The link for the meeting will be sent out by email.

Here are

(1) the Minutes of the 2019 AGM

(2) the Minutes of the September 2020 ‘ordinary’ meeting. Both are draft until adopted at next week’s meeting.

(3) the Annual Report (incorporating Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Engagement Officer Reports) (also draft until adopted at next week’s meeting).

(4) the Agenda for the AGM

(5) the Agenda for the ordinary meeting.

(6) the end of year accounts for LLCC Project a/c (£eith Chooses) which is not included in the Annual Report

These will also be stored for access at any time in our online Library.

The meeting is open to members of the public who are resident, or have close links to our local area. If you wish to attend, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and ask to be sent an invitation /link for the meeting.

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Leith Links Community Council respond to Scottish Government consultation on regulation of Short Term Lets

The Scottish Governments latest consultation on Short Term Lets gathers final views on proposed new legislation for the regulation of Short Term Lets in Scotland.Scottish Government publishes Debt Advice Routemap for Scotland | Money Advice Liaison Group

Their proposals include a mandatory licensing scheme to ensure that all Short Term Lets are safe and to address issues faced by neighbours. The regulations, if passed by the Scottish Parliament, would come into force by April 2021.  These would also give councils powers to manage pressures created by the use of whole properties as short-term lets.

The consultation closes on Friday 16 October 2020. Click here to view the consultation on the Scottish Government website.

In response to the consultation Leith Links Community Council has now submitted its response, which is available below for citizens to view. We would recommend reading our response alongside the consultation papers (available via the link detailed above) otherwise it may not make much sense!

We have went went a bit deeper that the three simple questions apparently ask. This was a very conscious decision in order to make sure the Scottish Government are clear of our position in expectation that the Short Term Let industry will be working to challenge the strength of any new regulation.

There are two principles which run throughout the consultation response;

  1. The regulation should be clear and simple to understand by public authorities, citizens and the Short Term Let industry. The legislation should not afford opportunities for it to be open to interpretation. This is problematic for everyone involved.
  2. The cost of the regulation should be entirely borne by the Short Term Let industry.  This legislation is required because the industry has failed to self regulate. Application charges should be set at a level which takes account of all costs incurred by local authorities (and other public bodies such as Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service). The public purse is under significant pressure and none of it should be diverted to regulation of Short Term Lets.

Leith Links Community Council is encouraging citizens to submit their own responses to the consultation via the Scottish Governments website. The consultation closes on Friday 16 October 2020. Click here to view the consultation on the Scottish Government website.

» Read more

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Congratulations Jim Scanlon MBE!

Long serving Leith Links Community Council Chairman Jim Scanlon has become a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in this years Queens Birthday Honours for services to the community of Leith.

 

This follows on from Jim and his wife Annie being jointly awarded The Elizabeth Wardlaw Leith Citizenship Award 2019 as part of Leith Festival 2019.

 

 

 

Jim Scanlon MBE said;

On my birthday in June I received an email to tell me that I had been awarded an MBE but had to remain silent about the award until last Friday night when the embargo ended.

 

I feel very humbled and proud to receive the MBE and will continue to work hard for the Leith community.

 

Secretary of Leith Links Community Council Sally Millar said;

The members of Leith Links Community Council are absolutely delighted to hear that our Chair Jim Scanlon has been awarded an MBE.

Jim is a thoroughly great bloke, has led the Community Council steadily for many years, and is an unassuming but tireless champion of the local community and the wonderful area we live in.

 

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Next meeting of Leith Links Community Council, Monday 28th September, at 6:30pm, via Zoom.

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will take place on Monday 28th September, at 6:30pm, via Zoom.

The Agenda for the meeting, and the Minutes of the previous meeting are here, and in our online Library.

A Zoom link will be sent out nearer the time.

The meeting is open to members of the public who are resident, or have close links to our local area. If you wish to attend, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and ask to be sent a Zoom link for the meeting.

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