I don't think that it is Richard Barclay's job to form an association to represent the Traders of Portobello. He certainly can offer support and has done in the past but the motivation must come from the traders themselves.
As for representation on the Community Council. Any local association who registers with the City of Edinburgh Council who has a locally based interest within the constitutional area of Portobello Community Council is eligible to forward a representative for group representation at the meeting called for that purpose after the election of Community Council members. The members are then Representative Members of the Community Council with full member rights for the three year period of the Community Council. (If they cease to be a member of the association they represent then another meeting is called of all associations to allow them all opportunity to put forward candidates. Well that how it used to be by the Community Council rules.)
Any person who resides in the Community Council area, on the electoral roll, can stand as an elected member. If there are more than 20 people, an election is then held.
So there is no reason for the traders not to be represented.
There were many traders on the first few Community Councils in Portobello. At that time the Community Council had an all encompassing agenda policy and any interested member of the public was sent a copy of the minutes and forthcoming agendas and meeting dates.
It kept it alive and interesting. I think the same could be achieved again by putting the information on this site.
SusanStatistics: Posted by Susan — 20 Jun 2003, 22:10
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