THE GEORGE STREET ASSOCIATON OF EDINBURGH
Wednesday March 22nd 2006 at 3:00pm
Held inNeals Yard Remedies, Hanover Street, Edinburgh.

In Attendance:

Vinnie O’Brien, Standard Life Investments, Chairman
Rob Winter, PSA
Brian Smellie, Grays of George Street
Patrice McHenry (Secretary)
Dorothy Anderson St Andrews & St Georges
Insp. Bruce Johnston LBP
Frank Pullen, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Ian Broadfoot ECCM
Gill Hames, Neals Yard Remedies
Denzil Skinner, Hamilton & Inches
Sheila Daferas, Assimi
Jackie Skinner, Assembly Rooms

2. Minutes of Meeting of February 8th 2006
The minutes were approved.

2A. Matters arising
DS contacted CEC with regard to summary of parking initiatives, CEC are preparing a report, not available as yet. IB will investigate when the report will be ready.

DS & VO’B will meet to discuss GSA response to CEC parking initiatives report. RW suggested putting GSA response through Retail Forum adding weight to letter.

David Jackson, Winter Festival Committee to be invited to next committee meeting.

3. Sub-Comittee Update
GH & IB progressed the GSA website, contacted several web designers. Proposal from Chameleon Design attached. The committee agreed to finance website proposal. There followed a general discussion with regard to the website. Main points raised:

• Domain name (see attached proposal)
• Publicity for GSA website launch - postcard distribution to local companies. JS to investigate costs for postcards.
• Search engine optimisation
• Reciprocal links with member firms and other City web pages
• Economical and easy maintenance
• Topical updates on homepage
• The committee discussed whether non-member companies should be listed - non-members then encouraged to join GSA to enable links to their Websites.
• Photographs – IB proposed the use of ECCM professional photograph database.
GH to liaise further with Chameleon. Gavin Bonnar from Chameleon to be invited to the AGM to meet members and discuss GSA aims and objectives further.

4 City Centre Retail Forum
DS reported RF committee split into working groups, DS remit being public realm.
Other working groups include Car Parking high on the RF agenda, BIDS, Signage, Transport TIE implications for the CC. RF will compile a list of questions to put to TIE on possible disruption caused by the installation the Tram network and the repercussion on retail economy. DS will report at next council meeting. .

5. ECCM
IB began his report by requesting VO’B to read out a letter from ECCM Chairman, David Nicolson - copy attached. VO’B will write to ECCM for clarification of points raised in this letter. GSA wish Ian Broadfoot well in his post of City Centre Manager and expressed their confidence in him.
IB went on to announce that the ECCM Pathfinder Bid had been successful, ECCM will issue a newsletter shortly. There was a general discussion on the Pathfinder Bid points for further discussion included:

• DS – GSA to decide if they wish to be part of a geographic bid and/or business area bid
• What service would GSA and other groups like to see happen
• BS –expressed concern on the framing of the legislation
• The number of BIDS which can run concurrently
• What revenue is likely to be involved
• Could CEC use the revenue to finance routine maintenance.

IB responded – Scottish Executive have appointed someone to oversee all BIDS. ECCM will recruit BIDS manager. Bids will be made in principle and will not necessarily have a business plan. BID levy could be matched by local authority, the Local Authority rates office will calculate revenue available in geographical areas.

It was agreed that IB would discuss these and other points raised at the AGM. There are a number of issues still to be resolved by the Scottish Parliament.
Fashion festival very successful, ECCM are looking for further partners, please contact Ian at ECCM for further information.

IB thanked the GSA for the superb response to the ECCM questionnaire the final results to be completed, however initial findings gave a clear indication of the detrimental effect of G8 and CC Traffic Management systems. Further questionnaires will continue monitoring sector figures. ECCM will use the results as a lobbying tool to illustrate impact decisions have on the retail and business environment. .

6. Police/Crime Statistics
Insp BJ - Police will have a higher presence in the City Centre with a further 18 constables augmenting the weekend and evening team. This brings the CC team to 50. Cllr Donald Anderson responsible for increasing the team further showing Edinburgh as one of the safest cities in the UK. Police patrolling on bicycles will be introduced in the city centre. Smoking ban from 26th March - 160 environmental wardens will visit premises to ensure compliance. Crime statistics similar to last reported. Shoplifting continues to increase, with almost 1000 crimes reported in just under a year, a possible database of culprits to be set up. Serious assaults are greatly reduced. Edinburgh City Centre continues to have a high solve rate. Insp BJ encouraged all businesses and individuals to report any nuisance complaints

7. Correspondence
There was no significant correspondence to report to the committee.

8. AGM
The date for the AGM was finalised as May 11th to be held in the Assembly Rooms, George Street at 6pm. As recorded previously Gavin Bonnar, Chameleon and Ian Broadfoot to be invited to attend..

9 AOB
DS – met with the Cockburn Association and The World Heritage Association , Edinburgh Old Town and New Town are designated World Heritage Sites this possibly will effect GSA it may be beneficial to work alongside these groups to apply pressure to CEC in the respect of upkeep of public realm. The UN can remove the World Heritage title from Edinburgh.

10. Date & Place of Next Meeting
Next council meeting June 28th at Northern Lighthouse Board, 84 George Street at 3.00pm