2. Minutes of Meeting of 21st March2007
The minutes were approved.
2a. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
3. Public
Realm -DS
DS stated public realm still a priority for GSA, his correspondence
with CEC has produced some effect - the pavements had improved,
he asked that members take photographs of any public realm issue
and email him details, DS will then contact CEC.
Major changes to the public realm of George Street and surrounding
streets will not happen until a decision has been reached with
regards to the proposed underground car park in George Street.
GSA will continue to lobby for the car park.
4. BIDs
DS, IB, VO’B have been invited to join the BID Advisory
Board, Andrew Murphy, John Lewis plc, Chairman, AM is also Chairman
of ECCM.
The BID area boundary is George Street North, St Andrew Square
down to Prices Street and along to Hope Street and back along
George Street South excluding Charlotte Square. CEC have responsibility
to remit the BID. The advisory board will be opted onto the
official board when BID has been successful.
Draft business plan due September 2007, final business plan
due December 2007, BID to be voted for end of March 2008.
IB – BID levy will only be used for projects the council
do not have responsibility for. ECCM has consulted 155 businesses
in the BID area to date of meeting. Progressive questionnaires
have been sent to businesses and employees, and visitors to
the area.
A report will show results of these surveys
BID will be business driven.
New CEC positive about BIDs, ECCM will develop into a strategic
partnership co-ordinating all BIDs in the Edinburgh area.
5. TIE
SNP have approved the installation of trams and work is proceeding
to reroute water pipes etc. The airport Link has been suspended.
George Street will potentially face disruption when the work
moves to Princes Street, with the possibility of all buses re-routed
along George Street, this will cause pollution, noise, lack
of parking and difficulty of access to city centre, having a
huge impact on GSA members. GSA will invite representatives
from TIE to the AGM in September to give a presentation to the
members and other companies in the area.
GSA will lobby to re-route buses in one direction only on George
Street with opposite direction perhaps along Queen Street. No
detailed program has been received from TIE showing detailed
maps and timescales for work.
6. ECCM
IB, ECCM reported that ECCM were undergoing a council audit
and review. Work was progressing well in St Andrew Square with
a Spring opening being planned, a preferred bidder has been
selected for the refreshment pavilion. ECCM will take over management
of the site upon completion of the works. The site has a 50
year lease, events to be held on the site are in the planning
stages and will be confirmed.
• Work on the Grassmarket site will commence after the
Edinburgh Festival.
• Steven Haggart has established a retail crime intelligence
database.
• A similar initiative is in preliminary stages with licensed
premises.
• Footfall cameras will be placed at 18 locations within
the city centre over the next 3-4 months.
• CCTV now located corner of Hanover Street
• Signage system will be completed by end of August, directing
visitors to car parks.
7. TREASURER'S REPORT
DS reported the association was overdrawn £513.46 before
the current year’s subscriptions were received. The major
expenditure being set up of the website £2500, along with
monthly maintenance fees
Currently 42 members - 25 have paid to date of meeting
an initiative to recruit more members was needed.
8. AGM
of the Association was called on May 9th, unfortunately a quorum
of members was not reached the AGM was subsequently cancelled.
It was agreed to hold a subsequent ‘AGM’ on September
25th 2007. The Assembly Rooms agreed to host the meeting
at 6pm that evening.
9. SEPTEMBER MEETING
This meeting was discussed at some length by the committee,
points raised as follows:
In consequence of the Treasurer’s report it was agreed
that the association needs to increase membership.
Methods of increasing membership were
discussed
• DS – suggested GSA employ an individual short
term to increase the membership, using a laptop to show potential
members the website, discussing the reasons to join, this has
been done successfully in London, this person to gain commission
from each member successfully recruited. It was felt that this
would be an expensive way to increase membership as a salary
plus commission, IB suggested joining forces with the other
local associations to defray some of the cost.
• BS – suggested that the committee members contact
businesses in the area using a more personal touch, it was felt
that many of the committee members were extremely busy and though
willing to contact other businesses, could not commit time to
carry this through. This has been tried this year and with exception
of Gill Hames this has nor been successful.
• GH suggested epostcards to businesses in the area,
it was felt that a contact from each company had to be established
initially, as many people immediately delete unsolicited emails.
• JMcG- suggested employing an individual short term
to deliver a flyer to each business, this person to obtain contact
information on the correct person within the organisation. With
a follow up from GSA preferably by email.
• GSA should have a target for membership recruitment.
• All non-members attending the AGM to have a introductory
offer of £50 for the current year’s membership
• As many companies as possible to be invited to September
meeting, emphasising representatives from TIE and BIDs will
be attending to give information also.
• ECCM will include a leaflet advertising GSA AGM in their
next newsletter, L&B police will also mention in their newsletter
Action Points
• GSA to invite representatives from TIE and BIDs to do
a presentation to the members – DS, VO’B
• Invite 3 local councillors to the meeting - DS/PMcH
• Research on cost of implementing some of the points
above
In general the committee was in agreement that the major benefits
to emphasise of being part of the GSA is the combined lobbying
power in regard to potentially major road disruption in the
installation of trams, and the BIDs project in
1 Selecting which BID project
2 BID levy to each business
All businesses should have a voice and GSA is ideal forum to
raise matters on their behalf.
Also GSA website that is being visited from all over Britain
and the world encouraging visitors to the area
Long Term Public Realm plans have the potential to make George
Street area one of the prime retail/ leisure areas in Britain
10. Police/Crime Statistics
• Ist April – changes to method city centre
policed were implemented
• All changes have gone well, additional resources arriving
• Officers allocated to deal specifically with all retail
crime and licensing issues
• Benefits – specific hot spots and times identified
• Due to recent terrorist activity in Glasgow –
everyone is advised to be extra vigilant and to report any suspicious
behaviour.
• Statistics were unavailable but will be issued shortly
11. Planning Reports
IW – compiled a report on planning application –
attached.
One application of note is raising a statue of Sir James Maxwell
at east end of George Street
12. AOB
Christmas trees decoration on George Street, committee members
asked if it were possible not to use the side trees this year,
due to problems last year with material. Ian MacFadyen to be
invited to attend next committee meeting to discuss this proposal
and possible new decorations for 2008. IB, ECCM suggested this
could be possible BID project, unifying George Street and St
Andrew Square decoration. IB will raise this at Winter Festival
meeting. IB, ECCM encouraged members to view planning matters
– redevelopment of St James Centre, very bold developments
including demolishing existing structure..
13. Date of Next Meeting
Next meeting AGM will take place on Wednesday August 29th at
Lloyds TSB 127 George Street, Edinburgh
Click Here for a full
list of 2007 meeting dates.
