by

NTBCC ordinary meeting minutes 13 July 2026

Agenda of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held via Zoom, on Monday 13 July 2026 at 7pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. ND (‘no dissent’) means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

URLs have been added by the minutes secretary.

1 Welcome and apologies

Fiona Banatvala NTBCC Ken Lochrie NTBCC Gerald Wells NTBCC
Michael Birch NTBCC Joe McAdam NTBCC Peter Williamson NTBCC
Pierre Forissier NTBCC Martin McDonnell NTBCC Cllr Jack Caldwell Leith walk ward
Annick Gaillard NTBCC Susan MacInness NTBCC Cllr Max Mitchell Inverleith ward
Laura Graham NTBCC Doug Neville NTBCC Alan Macintosh Broughton Spurtle
Stephen Hajducki NTBCC Andrew Naughtie NTBCC 8 residents/visitors
Shaun Hodge NTBCC Richard Price NTBCC
Simon Holledge NTBCC Nicholas Reid NTBCC

1.a Apologies

Chris Fletcher NTBCC Cllr Jo Mowat City Centre ward
Bruce Ryan Minutes secretary Irshad Ahmed, MSP Edinburgh and Lothians East
Cllr Hal Osler Inverleith ward Police Scotland

2 Declarations of interest

  • Item 7.a (Forth St). P Williamson is a resident of Forth St, very close to the proposed aparthotel.

3 Approval of minutes of June 2026 meeting and matters arising

3.a June 2026 minutes

  • Ordinary meeting minutes were approved as-is (proposed M Birch, seconded J McAdam, ND).
  • AGM minutes approval was held over until the next AGM.

3.b Actions from previous meetings

Date added Actor Action Status
Jun-26 Cllr Mowat Look into how CEC can get money from non-licensed STLs *
Jun-26 P Williamson Advise how Powderhall Owners’ Association can be represented on NTBCC complete
Jun-26 Cllrs McFarlane and Mowat Chase about TVL money for setted streets, especially East London St *
Jun-26 NTBCC members Forward views/comments on number 13 bus service to M Birch, for forwarding to CEC complete
Jun-26 Cllrs Caldwell And Mowat Follow up about roadworks sites not being cleared, and supply useful phone number complete
Apr-26 Cllr Mowat look into cumulative impact assessments for planning *
Apr-26 Cllr Caldwell liaise with S Hodge about broken glass epidemic *
Mar-26 NTBCC consider its position on use of TVL revenues – find out how CCs views can be communicated (as well as via Cllrs) *
Mar-26 S Hodge Supply to cllrs details of a significant occurrence of fly-posting *
Nov-25 S Hodge Draft paper on concerns re e-bikes etc, then push for a public campaign *

* means no discussion, so these actions remain ‘in progress’

3.b.i Powderhall Owner’s Association

  • The chair of Powderhall Owners’ Association introduced himself and the association, which has over 300 residents and has existed for over 20 years. It wishes to be part of NTBCC.
    • P Williamson: an owners’ (rather than a residents’ association) association may not fit with CEC’s requirements. However, NTBCC is happy to explore a possible relationship.
    • POA chair: I will explore with the POA committee about how to include residents who are not owners.

3.c Subsequent meetings

  • NTBCC’s next public meeting is on Monday 10 August (7pm, at Broughton St Mary’s). It will focus on NTBCC’s contribution to City Plan 2040. (CCs and other bodies have been invited to contribute to this work.)
    • There should also be a presentation by Wheatly Homes East on their proposed development at the RBS site.
    • There will not be the normal full agenda, just the above and any other pressing items.
  • Action: M Birch to invite CEC official (M Edwards) to speak about the TVL participatory budgeting scheme at NTBCC’s September meeting.

4 Police report

  • No report supplied, no police present

5 Chair’s report

All points made by P Williamson unless otherwise noted.

5.a Preparation for NTBCC ‘open event sessions’

See item 10 below

5.b The Princess Street Waverley Valley strategy/why do development off the City Centre

  • NTBCC representatives took part in a stakeholder workshop in June, expressing concerns over the status of this programme. There are different views on how to proceed. For example, some attendees were taken with Richard Murphy’s presentation while others were concerned about positions of bus-stops. NTBCC may wish to make a submission before CEC takes matters further in September.
    • A resident: Richard Murphy presentation was very interesting, including incorporating buses with trams. However, funding for such development may well not be available.
    • R Price: CEC is keen to pursue a minimal approach. In September, CEC will publish its analysis of the June workshop. This was well attended and well organised but is only the start of the process: CEC needs to undertake further consultation before deciding on a plan.
    • A Naughtie: the Debenhams fire means that this building now needs to be saved, rather than improved from how it was. This may galvanise efforts. Also, high streets are losing retail to online sales and to shopping centres. It is helpful to compare Princes St with streets with similar functions elsewhere, rather than just evicting ‘rubbish’.
    • S Holledge: I am concerned that there is lack of process, compared to the George St plans. A proper process would probably take several years, but it’s essential. The process would need to include or come up solutions for transport issues. Richard Murphy’s vision is horrifyingly 1970s, and would damage Edinburgh’s heritage legacy.
    • M Birch: I agree the workshop was a good start, raising valid questions but showing a range of opinions. So it may well be difficult for CEC officials to develop coherent plans straight away. For example, what is the current status of the Waverley Station plan in terms of transport interchange? The current temporary diversions due to the fire are not suitable for the long term.
    • F Banatvala: due mostly to the St James centre, Princes St needs a new purpose/vision. NTBCC could contribute to this.
    • P Williamson: NTBCC should state it is impossible to develop a good plan in just a couple of months. CEC needs to work towards a vision that is both practical and appealing to a majority.
    • K Lochrie: the street itself is second-rate: poor architecture, full of buses. The iconic part is the view of the castle.
    • F Banatvala: the Champs Elysée is full of traffic too, but it still has fantastic views. Perhaps Princes St should also lose the retail and concentrate on being an enhanced heritage/tourist destination.
    • Action: P Williamson to NTBCC’s views on how to proceed with work on Princes St (draft circulated 2026_07_20)

5.c Replacement of dead trees/ongoing maintenance Picardy Place

  • Recently, a team of CEC gardeners have removed some offending dead trees, bushes etc. It is possible that it will degenerate again.
    • M Birch: this work was promised by the trams project. I will raise relevant issues with the trams team this week.

6 Transport and Environment matters

All points made by M Birch unless otherwise noted. See also convenor’s report.

6.a St Andrew Square project

  • This project is progressing thanks to ring-fenced funding, so CEC is keen to link CCWEL and George St for cyclists, and increase pedestrian space around the square. This means giving up some carriageway space, despite tour buses etc.
    • Action: M Birch to obtain and circulate slides from project briefing.

6.b St Mark’s Path update

  • G Wells: the bridge seemed to be open today – barriers have been pushed aside.
    • A resident who lives next to the bridge: any closure only lasted a few hours.
    • A MacIntosh: if the bridge is unsafe, its closure should be enforced. If it is not unsafe, CEC should not use alarmist language. There are similar problems with hardwood timber constructions across the UK. Hence it may not be cost-effective to replace the timbers, compared with other ways to replace the bridge (which may take years).
    • Cllr Caldwell: I’ve passed on concerns to CEC parks, which maintains this bridge. I will investigate and report back.

6.c Communal Bin Review update

  • See convenor’s report. There is lots of process to undertake to get relevant TROs in place.

6.d Meadows to George Street FOI

  • See convenor’s report. I have just received the information requested in the FOI. CEC has now obscured progress of FOI requests.

6.e Graffiti and weeds update

  • See report. It was disappointing that no deadlines were set

6.f Coach parking on Regent Road

  • Thanks to NTBCC members for commenting on the draft objection. I will now submit the final version.

6.g Fringe posters on private garden railings

  • Cllr Mitchell: I believe that this would require an advertising permit – these certainly are required for adverts on CEC property. I am sure it would be OK to remove unwanted posters on private property. Fringe-posting on CEC property has been outsourced to Out of hand. However, some posters were unsuitable for certain sites.
    • S Hodge: there may well be an obligation to hand back removed posters to their promoters.
    • J McAdam: some private gardens receive income for hosting posters.

7 Planning matters

All comments made by R Price unless otherwise noted.

7.a Forth St: conversion of SME offices to aparthotel

  • Various amendments have now been submitted, presumably reacting to Historic Environment Scotland’s concerns. This includes reducing the number of rooms from ~90 to ~50. However, the application has not been reopened for comments. NTBCC’s discussions focus on residents having a voice. NTBCC is monitoring DMSC agendas, and will ask relevant CEC councillors to ask for a hearing at the appropriate DMSC meeting. I am happy to voice NTBCC’s concerns.
    • P Williamson (as chair of Picardy Residents’ Association: it also appears that there would be bigger bedrooms, and some seating areas, in the new-build part. Neighbours recognise the heritage issues. The determination may not happen for some time, but residents are currently preparing a position statement. Concerns include footfall on residential areas, changing balance of building use in this area, access via a narrow lane and hence servicing issues. The current small-office use is very much in demand. Some business-owners are unhappy with lack of clarity.
    • K Lochrie: this proposal is contradictory to CEC policy to build houses: the buildings could be used for residential.
    • S Hodge: CEC should have a metric for each small neighbourhood on %ages that are residential, business etc, and what levels CCs are happy with, to better protect residents. In view of Cllr Mowat’s action on cumulative impacts, I will contact her proposing this.
    • S Holledge: this would be facilitated by reviewing research on natural neighbourhoods.
    • Cllr Caldwell: PBSA targets are set by the Scottish Government in NPF4. City Plan 2040’s call for ideas is open until September, so this could be a route forward.
    • R Price: NPF4 and Edinburgh’s local development plan are not very strong, so I endorse this idea, and look forward to August’s meeting.

7.b 57 Henderson Row

  • There are applications to convert the former Royal London office block into residential accommodation. The initial plans were rejected. Local residents were unhappy with revised plans. There is now a lot of new documentation, but there is no opportunity to comment on them. However, there are sufficient objections to take this to the DMSC, and NTBCC hopes for a hearing.

7.c City Plan 2040

  • CEC has now finished and submitted its evidence report. (It’s now on the DPEA website.) CEC’s call for planning ideas is open for 3 months: Hence the focus of NTBCC’s August meeting is to generate such ideas.

8 Licencing matters

All points made by A Gaillard unless otherwise noted.

8.a Fifa world cup

  • A few fan areas were established in the city. The only complaints were about noise, i.e. there was little disturbance.

8.b Bluey’s big play/pedlars’ licenses

  • See description of BBP at https://blueypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Bluey%27s_Big_Play.
  • There have been carts selling balloons around the Playhouse area, causing potential safety issues for cyclists and children. The operators had pedlars’ licences, which are granted by police (in contrast to traders’ licenses which are issues by local authorities. LAs cannot object to pedlars’ licenses.) Eventually there was mitigation of the height of the balloons on the carts

8.c Public licenses

  • The window for commenting on what should be subject to public licensing (e.g. axe-throwing, ice-skating) remains open. Conditions are also being reviewed.

8.d Licensing forum

  • This is only about alcohol licensing, not gambling or civic licensing. The forum’s process are currently under review, so input is welcome.

9 Culture and communities matters

See also convenor’s report, covering the last CEC C&C meeting on 8 June.

9.a Items for decision

9.a.i Firework Control Zones

  • 14 FCZs have been approved by CEC C&C for 2026.
  • S Holledge: the Calton Hill FCZ is in its second of two years. The FCZs appear to have been successful.

9.a.ii Edinburgh Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras 2026

Funding for these events was approved by CEC C&C

9.b Motions

9.b.i Public access to private shared gardens

A motion for no action on this topic was passed by CEC C&C.

9.c Next CEC C&C meeting

  • This agenda is not yet available.
  • R Price: CEC committees often publish ‘look-aheads’, i.e. topics likely to be on agendas. These may help NTBCC be proactive on C&C matters.

10 Engagement and communication matters

All points made by F Banatvala and S Hodge unless otherwise noted.

10.a Engagement action plan, drop-in sessions and ‘open house’ events

  • See engagement plan on NTBCC website.
  • The plan follows on from NTBCC’s engagement strategy, creating measurable targets for the strategy’s goals. It should be self-explanatory, and is open to evolution based on what does and does not work. For example, there should be a certain number of open sessions per year, at appropriate times and places to advertise NTBCC.
    • A Macintosh/the Spurtle offered to help with dissemination etc.
  • Action: all NTBCC members to feed back on the current version of the plan within the next two weeks.
  • Action: NTBCC members to advise engagement convenors what should be ‘out there’, and supply/help with content.

10.b LeithChooses

  • Action: F Banatvala to engage with LC steering group (done on 2026_07_20)

10.c Community grants

  • Action: F Banatvala to engage with CEC community grants officials.

11 Any other business

  • A resident: I am concerned that alternative and emergency routes are being blocked. (The Debenhams/Princes St fire is a relevant example.)
    • P Williamson: this was raised at the Princess Street Waverley Valley workshop, but no conclusion was reached.
    • Cllr Mitchell: Cllr Mowat and I have argued for emergency services to be included in this discussion.