There is to be an election to choose the members of the new Portobello Community Council. For the first time you can either vote online or at the polling station. Each voter gets their own personal Voter ID and Password, and each vote is encrypted to make it secure. The system stops anyone voting more than once. It is not possible to identify how individuals have voted.
If you do not with to vote online or at the polling station you must contact the Election Team by 5pm on Friday, 18 October 2013 to request a postal vote. 0131 529 4191
How to vote online:-
You can vote online 24 hours a day from 8 am on Wednesday, 9 October until 8 pm on Thursday, 24 October
1. Enter your voter ID and password (sent in the post)
2. Click on Submit
3. Click to select the candidates of your choice. You can select up to 14 candidates. Do not select more than 14 candidates or your vote will be spoilt
4.On completion click on Register Vote.
5. Check your selection is correct, then click on Ok
6. Click on Log out
Counting the votes:-
A first past the post system is used. The 14 candidates who get the most votes will be elected.
Vote at:
https://ivote.idoxgroup.com/edinburgh
Max Blinkhorn: I love living in Porty – it’s crammed with positive people from all walks of life! I'm an active member of the sailing club and with others, have worked hard at developing the very successful Wednesday night kid’s sessions. This summer, I pulled together beach litter picking parties and have worked with City Council officials to reinstate the safety buoys. I aim to represent the interests of all beach and Promenade users and find ways to get the most out of our best asset. With a 12 year old daughter, I am a staunch supporter of "The School in the Park".
Archibald David Burns: Currently an individual member previous represented PPAG. Member of sub groups dealing with: communications, cycling on the promenade, the high school debacles and others. I have lived in Portobello for 30+ years and was chair of the High School PTA and member of the school board and parent council. I feel that the Community Council should be representative and not dominated by a single issue, the resolution of the High School issue should help with this, I feel that CEC’s approach to the delivery of a new Portobello High has delayed the school rebuild.
Mark Cameron: I'm a native of Edinburgh and have loved Portobello since childhood. Porty was the obvious choice for bringing up my own family and has been home for 7 years. I am passionate about the potential of the strong community here to achieve positive change and believe that the Community Council has an important role in making Porty the best place it can be. I will work to make it open, inclusive and dynamic, engaging with and properly representing the views of the community on issues that matter. This includes supporting the building of a new high school on Portobello Park.
Charles William Cathcart Cavaye: My family have lived in Portobello since 1823 - I was born in Portobello - I have lived the majority of my life in Portobello - I am passionate about keeping Portobello's community intact - I want to see fairness in electing Portobello's representatives - I want the views of the Portobello community to be correctly expressed - I want to try and do some good for Portobello.
Ien Cockett: My concern is for our seaside from Eastfield to Seafield... to sustain and promote our vibrant community of promenaders, rock poolers, runners, bathers, swimmers, sailors, kayakers, sailboarders, anglers, paragliders, kite fliers, skaters, leisure cyclists, sand castlers, parents, artists, cafegoers, games players, dog walkers, wildlife watchers and all residents, householders, sightseers, workers, visitors and tourists who should enjoy a clean beach and sea along the full length of an uncluttered and graffitti-free promenade. I would encourage its development as an active contributor to the attractiveness of the city while safeguarding its integrity as a natural environment.
Brian David Cosford: I’m a recently retired university lecturer and a Portobello resident for thirty years. My children attended Towerbank primary school and Portobello High School and during that time I was an active member of the PTA and School Boards of both schools. I now have a granddaughter at Towerbank nursery and, since retiring two years ago, I have time to become more involved in debate and discussion about local issues and helping to represent the views of the community on these issues. I support the building the high school in Portobello Park.
Colin Cuthbert: I love: the sense of community, the beach, the shops, the cafes. I’m not so keen on: the parking (or lack of it), the filthy pavements, the traffic, nimbyism. I would like to see: the station re-opened, more viable businesses, less community division, the Town Hall refurbished, decent Christmas decorations on the High Street, better play areas for our children.
Emma Dempsey: I have lived in Portobello for eight years with my husband and two young children. I work in the field of health and community development. I regularly consult and work alongside communities across Edinburgh to support change and reduce inequalities. If elected I would work hard to represent the views of our community. Not just from the voices that are often heard, but also from those who are less confident or unable to let their opinions be known. I want to help make Portobello the best it can be for everyone living here.
Maria M Devoy: I moved to Portobello, along with my husband and young son, fourteen years ago. Porty’s a great community and we’ve never regretted our decision. My involvement with
http://www.porty.org.uk, our community website, eventually led to membership of the current Community Council. I grew increasingly concerned, however, by the reluctance of some members to consult the community we purported to represent. These CC elections, the first for decades, offer the Portobello people a chance for change. Positive in outlook and with a willingness to listen to your views, I would be delighted to be part of a new, democratically elected, Community Council.
Gillian Eunson: I have lived in Portobello for sixteen years; it’s a welcoming, friendly and diverse community. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a Community Council that reflected this? I see the Community Council as being a forum for ideas and opinions from all parts of the community and the role of the community councillor to ensure people are listened to and their views respected and acted upon. If elected I would work enthusiastically to build a positive, inclusive and productive council. As for the new school, it should be built on the park; it’s what the community wants and needs. Everyone knows this.
Bob Jefferson: I moved here 20 years ago and love living in Porty. I’m responsible for the community website, Portobello Online and I’m active in the campaign for a new school. I recently established a Friends of Portobello’s Parks group and set up Porty Skillshare. I’m really excited about what the new Community Council can achieve. It’s time for change and there are many excellent candidates on the list, who embrace the Positive Porty ethos and understand that the role of a community councillor is to consult local people and act on YOUR behalf. Please use your vote on 24 October.
Lee Kindness: I have lived in Porty for 10 years with my wife and now young daughter. I'm a keen photographer, cyclist and run Talk Porty. I've attended PCC for years as a member of public, growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of consultation, opaqueness and disconnect from daily reality. It should be accurately reflecting the views of our community on many important issues; not just the views – and interests – of folk in a stuffy wee room once a month. Let’s give it a reboot – do less, better! Consult & engage positively; lose the moaners badge.
Geoff Lynn: I’d like to see Portobello Community Council evolve into a body which is striving to be relevant to the busy lives of those who share this community. It must take steps to raise awareness, gather feedback and make an effort to increase openness and transparency. It shouldn’t be about the views of 12 people in a room, but the hopes, dreams and aspirations of 1200 or 12,000. The new PCC should significantly increase the use of modern tools like email and the Internet to improve engagement in matters of public interest. Portobello is already a great place to live, work and play... With your help it could be even better.
Ben McLeish: I’ve been a member of Portobello Community Council since 2011 representing the Gilberstoun Residents Association. Having lived in Portobello for most of my life, I have taken a keen interest in local issues, in particular trying to ensure that the views of the community are heard, respected and acted upon. I’m an active supporter of building our new school on Portobello Park and have openly expressed my supportive views for effecting positive change in Portobello. Porty’s a fantastic place to live and work, and I want to help ensure Porty becomes a truly inclusive place which is accessible to all.
Thea Jane McMillan: I have lived with my family in Portobello for 10 years; we recently built our wheelchair accessible home, the Ramp House. I am interested in being part of Portobello Community Council because I believe that a Positive Porty will help this community to continue to be the friendly supportive place that it is, whilst developing new possibilities. The way to achieve this is through consultation; my strengths lie in listening to children and young people, and promoting a more inclusive and accessible place; if elected I would see my responsibility to engage widely and represent the views of the community.
David Medcalf: I have lived in Portobello for the last 13 years where my wife, daughter and I love being part a thriving, welcoming community. I strongly support building the new High School on Portobello Park, innovative architecture and businesses seeking to contribute to the Portobello streetscape. However, I am standing because I believe the Community Council should engage with and reflect the views of the Community, not just my own. If elected, I will work hard to ensure the Council proactively consults with the people and reflects their views, and I’ll strive to deliver for an aspirational and positive Portobello.
Daniel Reynolds: My family & I moved to Portobello just over a year ago because we’d heard what a great place it was to live and what a strong sense of community there was. We really like it here. If elected, I would ensure that the broadest consultation took place on issues raised. I’m a positive and proactive person and will actively look for ways to develop and enhance our already vibrant Portobello. I’ve been involved in the charity sector for over 20 years now and I’m passionate about ordinary people having their say and enjoying the community they are part of.
Clare Slifer: We first visited Portobello from the distant “city” in 2005, when visiting family. We have lived here ever since! We fell in love with its beautiful location, vibrant and proactive community and its eclectic architecture. As an Architect, I believe I could be valuable to the PCC in bringing my breadth of experience in Planning and design legislation to the table. As a lecturer at Napier and Edinburgh universities, I believe in meeting the needs of our young generation; in educating and empowering them to become more involved in their neighbourhood. Mostly, I want to invest my time and effort in giving something back to Portobello.
Nicholas Peter Stroud: I have been a member of the Community Council for many years, and have seen it at its best and at its worst. I would really like to see it regain its role as a useful and relevant part of our community. Key priorities for the new Community Council are to be more aware of its statutory role and obligations; to communicate more effectively, using a variety of methods to broadcast news and to receive feedback; and to find the right balance between Portobello's rich heritage and its vibrant future.
Michael Traill: An experienced local government officer who has lived in Portobello for eight years. I have extensive experience in supporting & leading communities to improve & develop themselves through tenant participation and community engagement, notably Leith Neighbourhood Partnership and residents & tenants groups. I have a proven track record of the tasking & co-ordination of Council, Police & Fire Service resources in response to community needs as well as a robust knowledge of neighbourhood & local government function & roles. I believe strongly in partnership working between the community & public bodies.
Sean Watters: I've lived in Portobello for 9 years. In that time I've been a Community Councillor since early 2007, Chair of Towerbank Parent Council 2007-2011, Chair of Portobello For A New School since 2008, I've been heavily involved with and am a past co-Convenor of RowPorty, and I am currently a Director of Portobello Sailing & Kayaking Club. Every organisation I am involved in is riven with discord and conflict. This is purely coincidence.
