CATHCART, MERRYLEE AND MUIREND COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
11 March 2026
7-9PM
| Item | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome and apologies | Present: Carolyn Lochhead (CL) – CC, Andrew Dewar – CC, Louisa Maddison – CC, Lynn Thomson – CC, Pauline Kelly – CC, Kate Lonergan – CC, Yla Barrie – CC, Steven McCann – CC, Irene McCann – CC, Ross Taylor – CC, Kate Lonergan – CC, Kevin McGarrigle – CC, Fiona Linton – CCCouncillor Sean Ferguson, Baillie Paul McCabe, Luke Stronach – from Gordon McKee’s office, Baillie Margaret Moran, Pete Sneddon – ReConnect, Margaret Crawford, PC Robertson & PC Scrimgeour – Police Scotland Online: Beth Hamilton, Mhairi Taylor, Councillor Stephen Curran, Councillor John Carson, Fiona TempletonApologies: Kim Van Deere (CC)Laura Harrison unable to volunteer anymore – with thanks for her help to date.The chair recorded the condolences of the Community Council to the family of Mark Wightman, who passed away recently. Mark was a tireless contributor to the local community, and will be greatly missed. | |
| Actions and matters arising from last meeting | Funding for lights on the bridge: Elliot has sent pics to the company that refurbished the Elderpark gates for costing. Action to be taken when quote received. Residents’ queries passed to the relevant departments. Defibrillator to be fitted at Merrylee Primary – Cllr Ferguson has spoken to Glasgow City leaders office – further update required. One query re the defib was that the housing for the case wasn’t lockable. St Andrew’s Ambulance to be contacted for a Lockable unit (networked) to house defib – to be actioned. | Cllr Ferguson |
| Approval of the minutes of last meeting | Proposed – Irene McCannSecond – Andrew Dewar | |
| Chair’s report– Carolyn Lochhead | Priority 2 – new pitch at Merrylee – funding route identified. Pitch walkabout 27 Feb with Kevin Giddens of Glasgow Life – very positive. Sports Labs Limited to attend and give scope of works / costing – to be completed by the end of next week. Part of a bigger block of pitches within the city potentially – summer 2026 mentioned but may be too ambitious. Couper – press release and blog entry for reflecting on the big band night Advisory group – no Glasgow Life reps present – bit frustrating but encouraging that we have Glasgow councillors interested. New CEO of Glasgow Life has been contacted to share our aspirations and issues re the Couper with – including process for booking / cost – no reply as yet. Holmea Park – NIIF application submitted – still awaiting costings from NRS to give to the area partnership. Merrylee Park – CALA confirmed £12k to repaint existing play equipment next year. Potential for NIIF funding but need to wait until other items confirmed. Simshill & Old Cathcart – no change to entrance to Linn Park. Baillie McCabe advised that funding is in place and contractors being secured – Update at next meeting. | Baillie McCabe |
| Couper Institute Theatre Proposal & Responses – Pete Sneddon | Yla introduced Pete Sneddon from ReConnect Theatre group re his proposal to create a community theatre in the Couper, via the People Make Glasgow Communities initiative. Pete gave some background information on Reconnect, which already runs community theatres in Bathgate and Livingston.His proposal is set out in the linked paper and in his responses to our previous questions. He anticipates activities would include youth and theatre groups, musical acts and an annual panto. The building would continue to be available for lets such as weddings. A second stage proposal has been submitted to Glasgow Life and will be put out for public consultation if it passes the next stage of scrutiny. He confirmed that he would not install fixed seating in the Grand Hall and agreed that accessibility would need to improve: an architect would be required to establish what is possible. In response to questions, Pete confirmed that Reconnect would hold a working insurance policy, while Glasgow Life would hold the insurance for the building.Carolyn, Yla and Pauline are due to visit one of Reconnect’s existing theatres shortly and will report back. | Carolyn, Yla, Pauline |
| Proposed Fireworks Control Zone – Carolyn Lochhead | 220 responses received to our survey asking whether we should apply for a Fireworks Control Zone – 85% said yes to the zone – pets / safety being the main issues. We will now proceed with an application. | Carolyn |
Events Plan – Pauline Kelly | One event – Window Wanderland – 75 participants this year. Core of 70 seem to have been involved in every year. 3 bands lined up for next year. First Macro talk on 23rd March – crime writing workshop / talk. Talk – 100 tickets – workshop 24 – 12 left. 18th April – youth event 25th April – next micro talks Commonwealth games funding – tea dance / chair yoga / 2 film events all @ couper – will hear this week | Pauline |
Summary of Councillors’ written updates: | Cllr Ferguson – pitch / defib done – road surfacing – Langside Drive to be complete, Quadrant to Mochrum and Mochrum to Newlands Road. Road markings to be updated and lines where re-surfacing complete. Monreith / Langside Dr – 4 sections – Muirskeith to Friarton. Newlands Road to Langside drive. All to be done this coming year. Baillie McCabe – Safe Glasgow Partnership – awaiting report on Union Street fire – lessons learned and any further legislation required. SNP Green budget passed – new operatives being kept working – free school meals to all primary pupils – on top of holiday food. New gulley cleaning trucks purchased. Linn area partnership funding increased. Potholes – Linnholm and Netherlee Road – anyone else – take photographs and pass to Councillor Cllr Curran – drain reports GCC – 5.6% and water – 8%Community Council to continue to push for works to be done before works become even more expensive. | |
| Area Planning Partnership Report – Mhairi Taylor | Meeting in February – nothing significant for area. No update on the re-design of the front of the Couper – meeting this Friday to discuss and get costings (hopefully by 8 April) – cycle path not happening until 2031 – funding for access to be used within the year. Christmas tree for the front of the Couper – Baillie McCabe will send contact details to Mhairi re next steps. | Mhairi |
| Police report | Two police officers in attendance. Nothing specific that they wanted to highlight. Kevin noted- graffiti in Dairsie St / Gryffe Street / bridge – all over town – Police will look into. Most electrical / comms cabinets aren’t labelled so difficult to contact owners for removal. Parking in Newlands Road – Holmhead Place – Police will have a look.Cars speeding and going through lights at Rhannan Road / Cathcart Road. Police will now accept red light footage via portal – Mhairi to send footage. | Mhairi Taylor |
| Planning report & Local Place Plan- Louisa Maddison | No new applications to report. 3 live – no change – Craig Road flats / signage at pharmacy / flat at Tankerland Road – all in progress Agreed we would like to create a Local Place Plan for our area if it can be done within the timescale for the overall Glasgow Local Development Plan- Louisa will be in touch with GCC to check and report back | Louisa |
| Licencing report – Steven McCann | Nothing to report | |
| Treasurer’s report – Kim Van Deere | Report attached | |
| AOCB | No comments in the suggestion box from the library. No other business. | |
| Date and time of next meeting: | Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 7pm |
