1. Welcome
Gary Atkinson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Attendance and Apologies
2.1. Community Councillors
Gary Atkinson; Ros Wardley Smith; Niall McColl; Scott Thornton; Peter Hayman; Eileen Mills
2.2. Residents
AL, SC, HL, TM
2.3. Elected Members
Cllr Eva Bolander; Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns
2.4. Ex-officio
PC Rob Wilson, Police Scotland
2.5. Apologies
Tam Coyle; Carla Arrighi; David Cowan
3. Police Report
No specific report; Rob made the following points
3.1. Contacting the Police
- Public will never be criticised for contacting the police about something that concerns/alarms them
- Call centre risk assesses every call, which dictates the response
3.2. Citywide campaign for low level drug use
- This has been successful
3.3. Questions
3.3.1. What’s the current status on break-ins, etc? (PH)
- No figures available
- Main issues locally are on-street drug dealing, antisocial behaviour
3.3.2. High levels of noise on Ingram St on Monday night (PH)
- A few instances of antisocial behaviour but nothing major
3.3.3. What are the main drugs trafficked? (ST)
- Cocaine; Heroin; Cannabis
- Legal highs are not street drugs, but are not an issue in Glasgow
3.3.4. What are the Police Powers on Noisy street musicians (ST)
- No prescribed decibel level
- If Police get a complaint, they will attend
- If, in their judgement noise exceeds what a reasonable person would expect, they’d ask them to turn it down
- They can be issued with a warning and, if they persist, their equipment can be seized.
- Eva added the following:
- Was a focus before covid
- There is a plan for addressing this
- There is a buskers code of conduct, which the community team should be enforcing
3.3.5. What can be done about Antisocial behaviour from pubs and pubgoers (SC)
- Phone it in to the Police on 101
- They will review
- If it falls outside the pub’s licence conditions, will pass it on to partner agencies
- Provides the evidence that GCC etc need to be able to take action against their licence
- Local noise team are short staffed
- Connolly’s and Murphy’s are still a particular issue
3.3.6. Any issues in the Ramshorn (GA)
- No reports of antisocial behaviour, drinking
- It is included in the patrol matrix
4. Minutes of August Meeting and Matters Arising
4.1. Approval
No changes were requested
Proposed by Scott Thornton;
Seconded by Niall McColl
Minutes adopted
4.2. Matters Arising
4.2.1. Filming
- Policy is for Scott to ask donations from any company wishing to film in the area
- Total of £8,600 so far, which is an impressive total, and many thanks are extended to Scott for his work on this
- Discussion re use of money postponed to next mid-monthly
4.2.2. Saltmarket Bridge Repairs
4.2.3. Businesses occupying excessive space on streets
- Covered under Eva’s report
4.2.4. Visit to Recycling Centre
- 3 community councillors attended
- Very worthwhile visit
- Lots of background on what GCC is doing to combat the mess problem
- Many thanks to Scott for organising the trip
5. Treasurer’s Report
- No official report as Carla sent apologies
- Minor expenses of £130 for web related stuff
6. Elected Members Reports
6.1. Councillor Eva Bolander
6.1.1. Walkabout with Angus
No community council representatives were able to attend, though Eva wasn’t aware if we’d been advised (update – no emails were sent to the MCTCC account advising us this was taking place)
6.1.2. Virginia Place refuse problems
- meeting with planning and cleansing to try and resolve.
- Plan to have bin sheds at side of building requires the dead end to be “stopped up”
6.1.3. Graces Bar
- Graces bar complaints have been reported to Licensing and to Planning.
- In the future, all licenced premises will have to apply for space on pavements, and will have to show a plan.
- Eva will arrange a briefing on what the new rules are
6.1.4. Candleriggs Development
- Central square to be called Candleriggs Square
6.1.5. Avenues Project
- Some parts need to be re-scoped, and some elements of the projects may be scaled back due to current inflationary pressures.
- High St is now included in the overall project.
- Learnings from Sauchiehall project are being taken into account.
- Timelines have slipped due to COVID, plus external pressure.
- Report available from the GCC website (https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/submissiondocuments.asp?submissionid=105987)
6.1.6. Green Grants
- Green grants for businesses will go live fairly soon. These are grants to help achieve city’s net zero ambitions
6.1.7. Ramshorn
- EM asked if Eva knew anything about the Marie Trust, which she did, and was able to give more details about it.
- Initial meeting of group was cancelled for various reasons. Eva proposed that a donation to Ramshorn would be beneficial to the community, and also suggested other uses for the money we have received, such as The Marie Trust, Simon Community, Glasgow Helps – a new organisation setup to help people facing cost of living crisis.
6.2. Depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns
6.2.1. Festival Village
- They now have temporary planning permission for 2 years, so can apply for a full premises licence. Deadline to object to that is 13 October
6.2.2. Electric shuttlebus
- Part of proposal to reduce volume of traffic, and would be a complementary service
6.2.3. Spaces for People
- New approach to spaces for people will remove the temporary footways
- Requirement for 2 meter clearance on the existing pavements
- COVID permissions lapse at the end of the month
- Businesses using more of the pavement will now have to submit applications to use more space.
- Applications will be for 2 years
6.2.4. Connolly’s
- Still ongoing
- Due to the review hearing that’s been proposed, there was an agreement to allow Connolly’s time to make improvements to their operation
- Part of the agreement was for acoustic monitoring equipment to be used to measure noise, but she believes that this is no longer the case
6.2.5. City Centre Transformation Plan
- General direction is good
- Did suggest that alongside removing through traffic, should provide more pedestrianisation, as current plans would still allow traffic on many streets
6.2.6. Infrastructure Fund
- Hoping for improvements in the merchant city
- CC could put forward ideas
6.2.7. SPT Strategy
- Closes on 31 October
6.2.8. Food Growing Fund
- Applications open for next 6 weeks
- Communities and local groups to increase food growing opportunities
- https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=29671
6.2.9. Recycling
- Agrees that its a very confusing landscape
- A lot of the blame lies with manufacturers using inappropriate plastics
- We have to reduce the waste we’re producing
6.3. Questions for Councillors
6.3.1. What can the council do about the banks with boarded up windows (NM)
- Barclays and HSBC (outside our boundary) on Argyle St
- Eva will follow up
6.3.2. Refuse collection issues (TM)
- The Polmadie plant can separate some waste into recyclable material
- Knowing what can and cannot be recycled is almost impossible (ST). More information on what can and cannot be recycled available from: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17043
6.3.3. Can “Cemetery Friends” groups take an interest in or any other action about restoring gravestones, referring to Deeds of Grant, Susan O’Connor etc
- Yes, in line with Historic Environment Scotland guidelines
- Susan O’Connor (Civic Trust) can clarify what they can and cannot do
6.3.4. Is the Saltmarket/High St shop front improvement programme still going (TM)
- Some of the units are looking in poor condition
- Meanwhile Use programme phase 1 is complete, phase 2 is under way
- Eva will confirm what’s available now
6.3.5. Seats installed outside Connolly’s have worsened problems for residents, as pub-goers sit on them until the wee hours (SC)
- Installed as part of Spaces for People
- Eva will speak to the officers about getting them moved
6.3.6. Where would the electric bus run? (ST)
- Christy – No detail as yet
7. Planning
7.1. This month’s planning applications
The detailed application can be reviewed by clicking on the application details
7.2. Other notes
- Corrigans on Howard St is now empty as they have moved to Keppochill Road.
- Proposal of Application Notice for Archaos on Queen St
- Community Councillors will meet with developers in October
- Public events in November/December
8. Licencing
8.1. Recent Applications
- Festival Village. Closing date 13 October. More info https://mctcc.scot/2022/09/29/licensing-application-festival-village/
9. Social Media
- Now just under 700 followers on Facebook
10. Any Other Business
10.1. Marie Trust
- EM recently became aware of the Marie Trust and met with Frances McKinley, the Chief Officer.
- Work as a day centre for homeless people, based on Albion St, having recently moved from Midland St
- Frances is is keen to speak to us. Would November be possible? To be discussed at October mid-monthly
- Also keen to be involved with Greyfriars Garden – offering to recycle they food waste into compost. EM has provided contact details for this.
10.2. Merchant City Community Notice Boards
- Should we be thinking of updating them to reflect that we’re now MC&T CC
10.3. Great Scottish Run, 1 and 2 October
- Many roads closed around the Merchant City, but no notifications received by residents
- Eva will follow up
11. Date of Next Meeting
- Tuesday 25 October 2022 at 7pm in the City Chambers and online
- Our AGM will be held at the start of the meeting. All office bearers step down and may be re-elected, or any other Community Councillor can stand for an office bearer position,