Portobello Community Council, your thoughts?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 24 Nov 2007, 21:39

Id be interested in hearing what local people make of the Porty Community Council within the usual polite and respectful confines!

It would be nice if those leaving comments/views on the Community Council let us know if they are a member (therefore having vested interest).

There is one thing I find strange about the CC, in that it has a member representing Porty Labour Party? I would have thought that this was a political statement? and as the spirit of Community Councils are generally not party political?! Ive worked with many CCs and its rare for a Politcal Party to be represented in the same manor as the likes of PEDAL etc; (except for Local Authority Councillors who are usually but not always ex officio members rather than full members).

4 years ago when I was 20 I was Chairman of a 15 member Community Council in the Borders (and Chair of a local Residents Association on a 1500 home estate) so am fairly interest in the local Community Council now I live in Costa Del Porty

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 24 Nov 2007, 22:07

I now represent Portobello Online at Community Council and was previously an 'elected' member for several years. Before the schools issue arose it was, in my experience, a very friendly group but in the last year or so it has become factionalised and politicised.

I suppose it is a bit odd that we have a Labour Party rep. To be honest, I hadn't really given this much thought before and I don't really think that the person involved flies the (red) flag at meetings.

The best way to find out what it's like is to come along to the next meeting. See you there!

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 24 Nov 2007, 23:05

Bob Jefferson wrote:The best way to find out what it's like is to come along to the next meeting. See you there!

Im aiming to pop along for the November 26 meeting. See what the score is.

Also, if the Labour Party member who currently sits on the CC is reading this, no offence intended personally!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 25 Nov 2007, 10:23

I'm also on the CC Michael. I used to represent Porty.org , but am now an individual member.

I agree with Bob's summing up, though I would add that it is still, by and large, a friendly group.

One thing all the CC agree on is that we need to raise our profile in the community and, at a recent training workshop, some of us put together a list of all the topics we discussed over the last year. We now hope to put together some sort of newsletter, which will be distributed to all households. It was surprising, even to ourselves, the number and range of different topics and issues covered at meetings.

New, young, blood will be especially welcome at meetings

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Nov 2007, 10:01

I used to be an elected member at the CC and on the whole I enjoyed the experience. However, notwithstanding the fact that I moved out of the area, one particular meeting, whereby 20 minutes was devoted to slagging off POL and only approximately 2 minutes given to wheelchair access on the beach, was the beginning of the end for me and I no longer attend.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 26 Nov 2007, 10:32

Epykat wrote: one particular meeting, whereby 20 minutes was devoted to slagging off POL and only approximately 2 minutes given to wheelchair access on the beach, was the beginning of the end for me and I no longer attend.

*Runs off to book therapy session* I had just about succeeded in burying that memory Epykat. How I managed to present any case for wheelchair access at that meeting I'll never know. It was a pretty traumatic experience.

The forum was once part of porty.org ( the community website) Michael, but talkporty.org is now a completely independent entity, free from any CC ties.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Nov 2007, 15:41

Marya wrote:*Runs off to book therapy session* I had just about succeeded in burying that memory Epykat. How I managed to present any case for wheelchair access at that meeting I'll never know. It was a pretty traumatic experience.

You did very well in the face of adversity!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 30 Nov 2007, 22:54

michael_traill wrote:Im aiming to pop along for the November 26 meeting. See what the score is.

Did you forget, Michael?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 30 Nov 2007, 23:28

Nope. I didnt forget.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Dec 2007, 11:26

michael_traill wrote:Nope. I didnt forget.

Hmm..I'm assuming you mean you were there? Does that mean you don't look like your avatar then or you are really Kenny MacAskill as that seemed the only 'new' face there

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 01 Dec 2007, 16:05

I look like my pic, worst luck! I wasnt in disguise or anything.

I never made it, I had a meeting in the afternoon but should have been finished in plenty time, however someone who should have been at the meeting was late getting in from London, so meeting was delayed to accomodate them which meant I didnt get away in time.

Rather unfortunate really but on this occassion I couldnt make an excuse to get away as it was too important.

However, if I can find the date of the next one Im sure there shouldnt be any probs creeping up.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Dec 2007, 21:37

michael_traill wrote: if I can find the date of the next one Im sure there shouldnt be any probs creeping up.

Meetings are held on the last Monday of the month Michael. However, there isn't one in December, so the next meeting will be 28 Jan 2008.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 06 Dec 2007, 23:52

michael_traill wrote:I look like my pic, worst luck! I wasnt in disguise or anything.

Which one of the three are you

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Aug 2009, 17:07

Some info regarding upcoming Community Council elections

Community Councils – General Article

Monday 31 August marks the start of the 2009 Community Council election period. In preparation for this, we are encouraging individuals and community groups to find out more about how to get involved.

Community councils are looking for people who care about their local area and who want to see changes for the better. By getting involved, you can become the voice of your area and speak out about community concerns and issues.

Each Community Council receives a grant from the City of Edinburgh Council which can help fund activities and invest in issues that you feel are important.

Community council members should be free of political bias and membership is open to all sections of the community. Everyone has something different to offer, and that is what makes Community Councils work.

Patricia Eason, Cramond Community Council said ‘people can often underestimate the importance of Community Councils. There is so much work that goes on across the city that benefits local communities, including influencing local planning applications, campaigning for better services, protecting the environment and organising community events. We need people to get involved and tell us what is important to them so that we can do something about it’.

Community councils are represented on each of the 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships established across the city. The Council, police, health, and the voluntary and community sectors are all working together within the partnerships to enhance the quality of life in local neighbourhoods.

Nomination forms for membership of your community council will be available from your returning officer at the end of August. A map showing community council areas and a list of returning officers will be available on the Council’s website and on the Neighbourhood Partnership website.

To find out more about your Community Council please contact the Community Council Liaison Officer on 0131 469 3838 e-mail: community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk. or visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitycouncils, www.edinburghnp.org.uk.

In addition, please note that political parties will no longer be able to be represented on the CC and that all local interest groups must have a constitution, before they can nominate a representative.

Would be great to see some new faces being prepared to stand for election.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 01 Sep 2009, 09:00

Nomination forms for election to the Community Council are now available.
The forms can be obtained from the library or downloaded from www.edinburghnp.org.uk

There are 15 individual places and 15 local interest group representative places available on Portobello Community Council.

Completed individual forms are to be returned by 4 pm on Monday 14 September 2009 to the returning officer Joyce Campbell, librarian at Portobello Library.

Group representative forms are to be returned by 4 pm on Monday 14 September 2009 to the Community Council Liaison Officer, Waverly Court.

If an election is required it will be held on 15 October 2009.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Sep 2009, 09:07

Marya wrote:In addition, please note that political parties will no longer be able to be represented .

How does that differ from the way it is? I was under the impression that Maureen etc were there by invite?

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 09 Sep 2009, 09:21

Local Councillors are, as individuals, automatically Ex Officio members of the PCC and have no voting rights (although there hasn't been a vote in decades).

But previously political parties could be represented as a group and the local labour party was on the PCC.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Sep 2009, 11:30

Marya wrote:all local interest groups must have a constitution, before they can nominate a representative.

Are there other requirements. For example do groups have to name their officers or committee members? I've been trying to find out who PCATS actually are, since 2006.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 09 Sep 2009, 12:24

Yep. You need to have been in existence for a set period, a constitution, an AGM, names of office bearers, evidenc e of how they were selected and how your nominated rep was selected, and evidence of how you represent the community.

Not too onerous but it might disqulaify one or two of the existing organisations represented.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 14:27

I've just returned from the library, having dropped off my individual nomination form for the Community Council elections.

Currently, there are 3 more individual nominations than there are places, so it looks as though, for only the second time in the history of the Portobello Community Council, an election will have to be held.

I'd better start writing my campaign speech

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 14 Sep 2009, 16:26

Marya wrote:I've just returned from the library, having dropped off my individual nomination form for the Community Council elections.

Currently, there are 3 more individual nominations than there are places, so it looks as though, for only the second time in the history of the Portobello Community Council, an election will have to be held.

I'd better start writing my campaign speech

I'll vote for you.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 17:36

Pal of Porty wrote:
I'll vote for you.

Thanks PoP

That ought to seal it for me

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 14 Sep 2009, 18:20

18 nominated individuals? Is that not a bit suprising?

I know some of the exisitng groups might not meet the new criteria so some people may've switched to standing as an individual but even so.

How many individual places were available under the previous scheme; have the numbers changed?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 18:29

seanie wrote:18 nominated individuals? Is that not a bit suprising?

I know some of the exisitng groups might not meet the new criteria so some people may've switched to standing as an individual but even so.

How many individual places were available under the previous scheme; have the numbers changed?

It certainly is a marked increase in interest. According to the piece on Portobello Community Council, which Tom Smith wrote for Porty.org , it used to be that there were 10 places for elected members and 10 places for group representatives. Now we qualify for 15 in each category and we're facing an election.

Wonder how many groups will have put a rep forward?

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 14 Sep 2009, 18:33

I tried to work out the groups that might be eligible and reckoned it could exceed 15 but only just. I was a bit uncertain how the rule changes would affect some of them.

Maybe that'll explain it; fewer groups but more individuals.

Any idea when the groups/individuals are made public?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 18:43

No idea. I suppose, for example, that all names on forms will have to be checked against the electoral roll and that no-one has acted as nominator for more than one candidate, that sort of thing.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 14 Sep 2009, 22:03

Marya when did the new guidelines re political parties etc come into force?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 22:12

Porty wrote:Marya when did the new guidelines re political parties etc come into force?

The second consultation took place in May, Porty, so just prior to these elections. Not sure of the precise date. I'd need to look it up.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 14 Sep 2009, 22:13

I'm not sure but I think it was just recently, presumably to coincide with this 'election' round.

There was a new draft scheme for Community Councils circulated a while back for consultation, maybe at the start of the year. Up until a few weeks ago you could still find it on the CEOC website labelled as a draft, but now it's just there as the scheme in place. I assume the Council formally adopted it sometime over the summer.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2009, 22:20

Just checked. The final document was circulated on 21 August.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 14 Sep 2009, 23:49

Thanks guys- has the list of candidates been published? I seem to recall that at a recent election there were too many and one or two voluntarily stood down to avoid an election.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Sep 2009, 08:08

Porty wrote:Thanks guys- has the list of candidates been published? I seem to recall that at a recent election there were too many and one or two voluntarily stood down to avoid an election.

No sign of any list, but as the deadline for handing in forms was 4 o'clock yesterday, there hasn't been much time to carry out checks (assuming that is, that others were as last minute as myself in handing in their form!).

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 21 Sep 2009, 19:31

Anyone heard anything more?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 21 Sep 2009, 20:26

Nope.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 21 Sep 2009, 20:41

The tension's unbearable.

Innit?