Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Cantrill, Hipkin and County Councillor Richards.

No declarations of interest were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th September 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Action sheet was noted and an updated copy can be viewed at the following link under ‘Committee Action Sheet’.

Councillor Robertson, the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources and John Richards, city council public realm team leader were present and made the following comments regarding Kings Parade Traffic Barrier:

      i.         Executive Councillors are intent on reviewing the temporary barrier, its location and design, with the matter being submitted to councillors at a Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

    ii.         The temporary barrier is the same as used in as used in other major tourist centres around the UK and was installed on police advice and of the same type that is procured by the police.

   iii.         There are two Traffic Orders in place which can run for up to 18 months.  They can be extended temporarily, but a decision will need to be made to make them permanent or not soon after-ie. any extension to 18 months cannot continue indefinitely.  There will be a public consultation on any permanent solution.

  iv.         Any proposal will need to take into account the City Centre Supplementary Planning Guidance and City Centre Access proposals from Greater Cambridge Partnership.

Councillor Bick stated that consulting ward councillors during the planning of the temporary barrier would have been productive and emphasised the need to do so going forward.

Members of the public asked questions set out below.

1.      A member of the public raised the following issue:

As a Castle resident valuing Castle Hill and the path from Castle Street towards Victoria Road, what is the timescale for Suffolk County Council (the determining authority) to resolve the issue?

County Councillor Nethsingha undertook to find out the latest on this issue and report back.

County Councillor Scutt stated that there was a current petition on the County Council website (‘Protect Wessex Place cut through’) regarding access across the site as described the member of the public, which runs until 31 March-see link

https://cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/ccc_live/ePetitions.aspx

Councillor Chadwick stated that the Ramblers Association had also petitioned Suffolk County Council.

https://cambridgeramblers.org/latest-news/

The Committee agreed that the Chair should also write to Suffolk County Council re-iterating support for access in perpetuity.

Action Point: (i) County Councillor Nethsingha undertook to find out when Suffolk CC is expected to determine the Castle Mound application. (ii) Councillor Martinelli to write to Suffolk County Council to express the Area Committee’s continued support for the application and to ensure access for the public.

2.      A member of the public raised the following issue:

Bus services running on Histon Road during inbound lane closure when the Greater Cambridge Partnership work begins- there is real concern that residents of Histon Road and Victoria Road will have no public transport available.  Histon Road Residents Association asked the Area Committee to support residents’ call for public transport provision during the inbound lane closure.

Action point: Councillors agreed to support the residents request and the Chair would write to Stagecoach and GCP.

The Committee received a report from Inspector Rogerson regarding policing and safer neighbourhood trends.

The report outlined actions taken since the last report. The report should have been considered in December 2019.  The committee were given an oral update to the written report by Inspector Rogerson.

Inspector Rogerson recommended that two of the priority issues for the Area Committee continue namely (i) the focus on street based anti-social behaviour around Grafton Centre and Park Street and (ii) ASB on green spaces-particularly Parkers Piece and near Hobbs Pavillion.  The Area Committee noted that these two areas of policing priority also focussed on drug dealing/County Lines and also noted that this would be accompanied by a focus on the night time economy as the evenings get lighter/warmer.

Action by: Police/Community Safety team

County Councillor Harrison suggested that a meeting was set up with the police and County Council officers to consider further the traffic issues associated with illegal moped driving.  The Committee agreed that this would not continue as a policing priority.

Action by: County Councillor Harrison

Members of the Committee commended the way that the police had handled the Extinction Rebellion week of protest in February.

In response to a question from Councillor Bick, the Chair undertook to contact the officers for an update for all members where all the council housing properties were within the new area committee boundaries.

Action: Councillor Martinelli

In answer to a question from Councillor Gehring concerning the budget allocation between the area committees, the community funding and development officer undertook to provide the population and poverty information which informs the way the total budget is divided.

Resolved-

To approve the recommendations in paragraph 2 of the officer report.

The public realm and project delivery team leader introduced the report.  The committee noted that all the potential schemes requested by councillors could be supported.  As regards the strategic environmental improvements, these would be approved by the Executive Councillor in consultation with the Area Chairs.

Members of the Committee spoke in support of their individual schemes.

Members requested that for the next report, a list of outstanding projects would be helpful.  The officer also noted that Members appreciated being kept in the loop on the projects in their Wards as it can be the case that once approved, the councillor gets no update until it is delivered.  Keeping ward councillors informed can help safeguard against delays or wasted resources on schemes.

Resolved-

To approve the recommendations in paragraph 2 of the officer report.

Please note this report is for information only, no officers will be present at the meeting but questions can be taken away with a response to follow.

In noting the report, Councillors stated that there were on-going problems with litter and noise at punt stations and fly-tipping in Newnham.  Councillor Chadwick raised the cleanliness of Sidney Sussex Street and would contact the officers.

Suggested Dates for the Municipal Year 2020-2021

18 June 20                  Provisional Venue – Castle Methodist Church

10 September 20

26 November 20

11 March 21

The Committee agreed the dates- 18 June, 10 September, 26 November and 11 March 2021.