Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from City Councillors Cantrill, Dixon, Kightley and Rosenstiel, and County Councillor Nethsingha.

Councillor	Agenda Item	Interest
Smith	10/41/WAC	Personal: As a Trustee of Fisher House

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2010.

It was noted that Councillor Bick had been incorrectly recorded as the Lead Councillor for the Prospect Row Environmental Improvement Project.

 

With this slight correction the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2010 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.  

10/26/WAC – Signs indicating Trinity Street, Market Street and Sidney Street Circle as ‘one way’ only.

 

Councillor Whitebread confirmed that she had discussed this issue with County Council officers. It had been agreed that ‘one way’ markings would be trialled in one of the locations.

 

10/26/WAC – Huntingdon Road 30mph speed limit

 

Councillor Brooks-Gordon confirmed that she had discussed this further with the Head of Road Safety and Parking Services and the issue was being looked into.

 

10/26/WAC – Preparations for cold weather

 

Councillor Reid confirmed that discussions were ongoing between the City Council and the County Council regarding this issue.

 

The County Council had now written to all District Councils regarding their proposals for winter gritting, and copies of this letter were available from Ward Councillors. It has been requested that the public feedback any views via their District Council representatives.

 

It had been suggested that the City Council use existing staff resources to assist with the gritting of cycle and pedestrian ways, but officers were also keen that bagged salt be made available in the community for the use of local residents.

 

10/26/WAC – Hoarding around the bus station

 

The Head of Road Safety and Parking Services confirmed that progress had been made to complete the building works and paving, and the hoarding would be removed as soon as possible. He did emphasise that as the area was still an active building site, the hoarding was justified.

Refer to the ‘Information for the Public’ section for rules on speaking 

Q) Ms Reiner: I am very pleased about the new 20mph speed limit in the city centre but I wonder if the signage could be improved, particularly along the approach from Victoria Avenue. Buses also seem to be speeding in that area. Will the police make this a priority for enforcement?

 

A) The Head of Road Safety and Parking Services confirmed that the current signage complied with government regulation. He emphasised that it was difficult to balance the need for adequate signage with the wish not to affect the visual environment of the street.

 

The Police Inspector confirmed that enforcing speeding in the city was a challenge, but schemes such as ‘Speed Watch’ were being looked at. He also agreed to raise the issue with the bus providers.

 

The Park & Ride Operations Manager confirmed that speed checks had been conducted in this area over a 19 day period - extending to Maid’s Causeway and Trumpington Street.

 

The Head of Road Safety and Parking Services also confirmed that perception surveys would be conducted in the next few months with a formal review of the 20mph limits in the spring.

 

Councillor Reid stated that for a number of years many Councillors had campaigned to remove unnecessary signage. She agreed that the County Council were in a difficult position balancing the need for adequate signage and the wish to remove street clutter. 

 

Highlighting that the Government had just launched a campaign to reduce street clutter, Caroline Gohler (Cambridge Past, Present and Future) also felt that it was a difficult balance.

 

Q) Mr Richard Taylor: The Council charges some groups for the use of its open spaces – would the Friends of Midsummer Common (FoMC) be charged for their recent picnic?

 

A) Councillor Smith confirmed that charging was at the discretion of the Council. Charges would normally be levied for large-scale commercial events, which required infrastructure and clean up costs. Smaller community events, such as the FoMC picnic would not normally incur a charge.  

Q) Mr Dick Baxter: As the views across the common will be affected, FoMC should have been consulted on the recent application by Barclay Homes to erect advertising boards around their site. I have also been contacted by the Council regarding access to the site by the developers in order to remove a wall and cut a hedge to improve visibility of the advertising boards. I believe a Condition on the application states no construction vehicles on the common and ensures protection of the wall and hedge.

 

A) The Development Control Manager agreed to look into this issue and contact Mr Baxter outside of the meeting.

 

Q) Mr Anthony Bowen: There is an additional West/Central Meeting on 23 September to discuss tree planting on Jesus Green and Midsummer Common. It would be helpful to have any paperwork or plans prior to this meeting.

 

A) Councillor Bick confirmed that this meeting was open to the public and papers would be available five clear working days before the meeting. He also agreed to speak with the Executive Councillor for Arts and Recreation to ensure that all relevant information would be included with the agenda paperwork.

Contact Officer: Jo Dicks 01223 457892 

The Principal Pollution Officer gave a presentation on Air Quality in the City. A copy is available via:

 

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/Published/C00000117/M00000383/AI00001631/$westcentralAirQualityPresentatonAug2010.pptA.ps.pdf

 

The Park & Ride Operations Manager confirmed the following:

 

-         12261 bus journeys were undertaken in the city centre

-         98% of those journeys were made by buses meeting the Euro 2+ standard

-         Bus companies were encouraged to use their highest specification vehicles in city centre

-         Speed checks had been conducted over 19 days in the city centre, with 32 incidents of speeding being recorded

-         All incidents of speeding were reported to the bus company with appropriate disciplinary action taken against the drivers 

 

 

Q) Mr Barry Higgs: There seems to be a lot of buses in the city centre with very few passengers on. Having larger buses, but with more people travelling (as with the Park and Ride), would reduce both pollution and traffic density.

 

A) The Park & Ride Operations Manager agreed that improved bus and passenger management was needed and that ‘bus hubs’ (as at the Park and Ride sites) could be an option.

 

Q) Mr Lawton: Where are the monitoring points?

 

A) The Park & Ride Operations Manager confirmed that monitoring points were at the following locations:

 

-         Regent Street

-         Parker Street

-         Elizabeth Way

-         Newmarket Road

-         Maid’s Causeway

 

He confirmed that the three city centre locations regularly exceed the pollution limits, whereas the other two did not. All historic data had been made available on the Council’s website.

 

Q) Mr Lawton: What are the sanctions that the Council can face if they exceed the legal limits on pollution?

 

A) The Principal Pollution Officer confirmed that it was DEFRA’s responsibility to ensure standards were met. Under European law there could be a potential fine for the UK of £300 million.

 

Q) Councillor Hipkin: Does congestion and the resulting slow moving traffic worse have an adverse affect on air quality?

 

A) The Principal Pollution Officer confirmed that both very slow moving traffic and very fast moving traffic caused the worst pollution. The optimum speed for limiting pollution was 20-30mph.

 

 

The Head of Road Safety and Parking Services confirmed that the Local Transport Plan should be adopted by March 2011.

 

 

 

 

Contact Officer:  Lynda Kilkelly 01223 457045

In view of his upcoming retirement, the Chair thanked the Safer Communities Manager for his hard work and dedication, and for building a successful partnership between the Council and the Police. 

The Police Sergeant presented a report on crime and policing for the three wards and made a recommendation of targeting the following for prioritisation in the forthcoming period:

-         Continuation of work to tackle anti-social congregation in public spaces across Market Ward.

-         Reducing cycle thefts across City Ward.

Q) Mr Richard Taylor: It has been requested that people text reports of anti-social behaviour to the CCTV control room number. Are these incidents included in the reported figures?

A) The Police Inspector confirmed that the figures do take into account those incidents reported by text. However the public are now encouraged to report direct to the police where possible.

Q) Mr Lawton: Anti-social use of vehicles, mainly speeding on East Road roundabout and Arbury Road traffic lights, needs to be looked at by the police.

A) The Police Sergeant confirmed that the police would always look at speeding regardless of whether it was highlighted as a priority by this committee.

Q) Councillor Smith: With the new academic year starting soon it is important that students are educated on road safety etc.

A) The Police Sergeant confirmed that Student Liaison Officers conducted talks and presentations with new students to highlight issues such as crime prevention and road safety. 

Q) Councillor Smith: There has been a spate of car crime in Newnham – has there been any progress in addressing this?

A) The Police Sergeant confirmed that this issue was being looked into with the help of dedicated officers and Police Community Support Officers.

Q) Councillor Bick: The Police report mentions an increase in the amount of needles found in the area around the Grafton Centre car park. What work is being done to tackle this?

A) The Police Sergeant confirmed that multi-agency work was being undertaken to look at intervention and education of the drug users in that area.

It was agreed that the Police would participate - along with other agencies - in a combined pooling of knowledge and ideas to ensure we were collectively doing all we could to enable, encourage and provide for safe disposal of needles as a means of minimising their being abandoned in public spaces.

Councillor Whitebread proposed the following additional priority:

-         Speeding and anti-social use of vehicles

Decision: APPROVED (by 7 votes to 0 - unanimously) the following priorities for the next reporting period:

-         Continuation of work to tackle anti-social congregation in public spaces across Market Ward.

-         Reducing cycle thefts across City Ward.

-         Speeding and anti-social use of vehicles.

Contact Officer: Dinah Foley-Norman 01223 457134 

The Environmental Improvements Manager introduced the report to members and gave an update on the approved schemes.

 

Fitzroy/Burleigh Street Refurbishment

 

It was confirmed that the removal of some existing phone boxes had not been possible. Agreement had been achieved to remove five phone boxes out of a total of twelve and negotiations with the providers were ongoing.

 

Members felt it was important that officers continue to pursue this issue with the phone companies.

 

The Environmental Improvements Manager gave a commitment to continue efforts to secure a further reduction in phone boxes.

 

 

Decision: APPROVED (by 5 votes to 0 - unanimously) a contribution of £100,000 to implement the scheme, which consisted of:

 

·        Removal of five telephone boxes (with more if possible)

·        Supply and installation of two surrounds to the base of two trees in Fitzroy Street where roots are lifting the existing paving.

·        Planting of three new trees.

·        Renewal of street furniture.

·        Installation of street directory signs.

·        Renewal of the existing 1980’s street lighting at the lower end of Fitzroy Street with modern lighting to match lighting already replaced in Burleigh Street.

 

 

New Environmental Improvement Schemes for 2010/2011:

 

Fisher Square

 

Q) Ms Bev Nicholson: What is the reasoning behind the decision not to install cycle racks in Fisher Square? There is quite clearly a need for them and I am also concerned about the proposal to remove bikes that park on the railings. If the cycle park is full, which it often is now, where else can people park?

 

A) The Environmental Improvements Manager confirmed that, due to the limited space in Fisher Square, there was a potential for conflict between cyclists and pedestrians. It was therefore felt that cycle parking could not operate safely in this area.

 

 

Members raised concern about the seemingly high cost of the works for Fisher Square and the adverse affect it would have on the already limited provision for cycle parking.

 

 

 

Decision: DEFERRED (by 5 votes to 0 – unanimously) to allow further discussion and a site visit to be arranged. This decision would then be brought back to the next meeting.

 

 

Belmore Close

 

Members discussed the need for further consultation and agreed that, due to the support already shown by local residents and Ward Councillors, it was not necessary.

 

Decision: APPROVED (by 5 votes to 0 - unanimously) that the following scheme for Belmore Close be adopted and implemented at a total estimated cost of £3000.

 

·        New street nameplates for Belmore Close incorporating ‘no through road’ symbol.

·        Cycle barriers to improve safety along the alleyway between Belmore Close and Badminton Close.

Contact Officer: Tony Collins 01223 457157 

The committee received an application for full planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for the change of use of an agricultural/storage building to 10 holiday accommodation units.

 

 

Resolved (by 5 votes to 0 - unanimously) to accept the officer recommendation and approve planning permission for the following reasons:

 

1. This development has been approved, conditionally, because subject to those requirements it is considered to generally conform to the Development Plan, particularly the following policies: Cambridge Local Plan (2006): policies 3/2, 3/4, 3/7, 3/11, 4/1 and 6/3

 

2. The decision has been made having had regard to all other material planning considerations, none of which was considered to have been of such significance as to justify doing other than grant planning permission.

Contact Officer: John Evans 01223 457148 

The committee received an application for full planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for the erection of one 3-bed dwelling.

 

The committee received representations in opposition to the application from the following:

 

·        Keith Murray

 

The representations covered the following issues:

 

·        Proposal would not respect/enhance the rural character of site

·        Overshadowing and loss of privacy for number 23.

·        Loss of habitat for wildlife

 

The applicant (John Scott) addressed the committee in support of the application.

 

Resolved (by 5 votes to 0 - unanimously) to accept the officer recommendation and approve planning permission for the following reasons:

 

 

1.This development has been approved subject to conditions and following the prior completion of a section 106 planning obligation (/a unilateral undertaking), because subject to those requirements it is considered to generally conform to the Development Plan, particularly the following policies: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003: P6/1, P9/8 Cambridge Local Plan (2006): 3/1, 3/4, 3/7, 3/8, 3/10, 3/11, 3/12, 4/4, 4/13, 5/1, 5/14, 8/2, 8/6, 8/10, 10/1

 

2. The decision has been made having had regard to all other material planning considerations, none of which was considered to have been of such significance as to justify doing other than grant planning permission.