Issue - meetings

The Executive Councillor for City Centre and Public Places welcomed the members of the public who had attended to speak on this item.

 

Public Speakers

 

Amy Spencer

Amy Spencer addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

     i.        Some boats are used as permanent homes while others are kept for leisure use.

    ii.        Will consideration be given to those who might become homeless if they lost their mooring place?

 

The Green Space Manager stated that records were keep of when a boat moved onto the river. The next stage of the process would be to establish tenure types.

 

Amy Spencer asked the following supplementary question.

Once tenure is established, will the subsequent treatment of the boater be different?

 

The Green Space Manager confirmed that those who could establish the boat as their sole residency would be placed on the regulation list.

 

Amy Alys Tillson

Amy Alys Tillson addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

     i.        Has a residential mooring.

    ii.        Welcomes the work that Officers have done on this matter.

   iii.        Enforcement would be needed as some people would be penalised as they had followed the correct waiting list procedures.

  iv.        The process needs to be fair.

   v.        Turnover of spaces also needs to be improved.

 

The Executive Councillor thanked Ms Tillson for the work she had done and assured her that Riverside mooring would not jump the waiting list. The cut off point for regulated moorings would be the start of this meeting. Enforcement would be needed to ensure new boats did not move onto future gaps when other boats moved on.

 

Lynette Gilbert

Lynette Gilbert addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

     i.        Local residents welcomed attractive and well maintained boats.

    ii.        Residents want quiet enjoyment of their homes.

   iii.        Noise and fumes can be a problem.

  iv.        Derelict boats and rubbish mar the area.

   v.        Residents would like: enforcement of regulation, prevention of new boats and action to stop railing moorings being a revolving door. 

  vi.        Weekend and derelict boats should be removed.

 vii.        The report is unclear of future numbers.

viii.        All options should be explored.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that she understood residents concerns. Housing in the area was very close to the railings. Removal of graffiti and a general tidy up of the area had been undertaken. The next step would be to stop new boats moving onto the railings. The wider strategy for the future would be work with all sectors of the community to improve the area.

 

Lynette Gilbert read a statement on behalf of Suzi Shimwell

     i.        Health and environmental concerns need to be addressed.

    ii.        Boats discharge sewage into the river.

   iii.        Pollution and rubbish is a problem.

  iv.        Boaters repair boats in the area leading to pollution.

   v.        The river is a green space for all to enjoy but large areas have boats blocking the entire river frontage.

  vi.        The river is narrow in places.

 vii.        Moored boats block safety chains needed by rowers.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that regulated mooring would address many of these issues. Sewage concerns would be addressed as all boats would need to be capable of moving to the pumping station. Issues related to smoke and noise would be addressed in future. Quality of life for all residents was the long term goal. Mooring licences could be examined in future to see if repairing boats in the river could be addressed.

 

Gemma Pilmer

Gemma Pilmer addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

 

     i.        Will regulatory moorings be a temporary fix or a permanent solution?

    ii.        Will the moorings become secure?

   iii.        Can existing boaters remain where they are until they come up on the waiting list?

 

The Executive Councillor stated that she could not promise that boaters would not be asked to move. However, when added to the regulatory moorings list, there would be some security.

 

Tom Crawley

Tom Crawley addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

 

     i.        The Riverside area is not suitable for moorings.

    ii.        There is a safety impact.

   iii.        Railings are against the road.

  iv.        Loading, in particular gas bottles, over railings is unsafe.

   v.        Blocks access to safety chains for rowers.

  vi.        Adding a pontoon would be a high cost solution for little return in terms of additional spaces.

 vii.        This committee is about community issues not housing

viii.        Attention given to moorings, such as painting the railings, is poor value for money.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that the pontoon suggestion had been deferred as this was not the best use on funds. She agreed that the area was not great for moorings and that safety issues needed further investigation. No decision would be made about paining the railings at this stage.

 

Tom Crawley stated that he had only raised the painting issue to illustrate the cost involved with the mooring issue.

 

Ivan MacTaggart

Ivan MacTaggart addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

 

     i.        Lives in a house in Riverside and want to make it clear boaters and non-boaters get along.

    ii.        However, all residents object to poor quality boats.

   iii.        The revised policy should consider Riverside as a special case.

  iv.        Pontoon costs represent poor value for money.

   v.        Residency dates should apply from today.

  vi.        Riverside is a special case.

 vii.        How does today’s proposal impact on the wider vision for the area.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that she appreciated concerns over derelict boats and hoped to see them removed very soon. Boaters pay Council Tax and are part of the community. The vision for Riverside is wider that the City. Cross authority work will be needed on joint issues.

 

Ivan MacTaggart asked what action would be taken on the long term vision.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that further consultation, including cross authority, would follow regarding time frames for the next steps.

 

Luther Phillips

Luther Phillips addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

 

     i.        Feels reassured by debate today.

    ii.        Safety is a key issue.

   iii.        Mooring should be limited.

  iv.        A pontoon would be poor value for money.

   v.        The Local Plan includes a marina and this should be built.

  vi.        Remove right to remain from non-resident boaters.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that the cost of a marina would be prohibitive. This cannot be delivered in the short term. However, a joint venture with South Cambs had not been ruled out long term.

 

Luther Phillips asked what would happen once legitimate boaters had been identified. Would other boats be moved on?

 

The Executive Councillor confirmed that once numbers were established future possibilities could be explored.

 

Kirsty McMullen

Kirsty McMullen addressed the Committee regarding Riverside Moorings and made the following points:

 

     i.        Has been reassured by the discussions.

    ii.        Riverside residents welcome boaters as part of the community.

   iii.        Is not concerned if boats are pretty or not.

  iv.        Derelict boats should be removed and By-law 11 could be used to enforce the removal of unlicensed boats.

   v.        A compromise is needed to allow existing users to stay.

 

The Executive Councillor stated that the report should kick start better community relations. Action has been lacking on derelict boats for some years. Enforcement is needed and all options would be explored.

 

Kirsty McMullen stated that she was encouraged by the comments.

 

Matter for Decision

The report summarised the outcomes of a feasibility study commissioned in the Spring of 2014 to explore options for the adaptations of the river wall and railings to facilitate river boat moorings at Riverside. 

 

The report recommended the continued investigation of the creating of mooring positions; coupled with the introduction of regulation of moorings at Riverside as an interim solution to overcome some of concerns raised by stakeholders and local residents.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for City Centre and Public Places

 

The Executive Councillor resolved:

 

     i.        to instruct Officers to continue to develop option 2 of the Officer’s report, as detailed at 3.4 of the Officer’s report. To prepare a full project appraisal of allowing Riverside to be incorporated into the City Council’s River Moorings Policy, including whether or not adaptations can be made to Riverside;

    ii.        to instruct Officers not to pursue option 3 detailed at 3.4 of the Officer’s report;

   iii.        to instruct Officers to regulate moorings at Riverside from the 1^st October 2014; and

  iv.        to instruct Officers to facilitate those currently moored on Riverside to be given the opportunity to join the River Moorings Waiting List in chronological order where the period of first occupancy can be evidenced.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Green Space Manager regarding a feasibility study commissioned in the Spring of 2014 to explore options for the adaptations of the river wall and railings to facilitate river boat moorings at Riverside.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        The needs of rowers should be taken into account.

    ii.        Welcomed the comments from the public.

   iii.        Safety issues should be addressed.

 

The Executive Councillor undertook to work with the Cam Conservators regarding safety issues.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendation.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.