Agenda and minutes

Election of a Chair requested after the by-election in Queen Edith’s on 13 November, now South Area Committee is back to its full membership of nine City Council Members.

 

The position of Vice Chair is vacant.

The Committee Manager took the Chair whilst the South Area Committee elected a Chair.

 

Councillor Avery proposed, and Councillor Moore seconded, the nomination of Councillor Blackhurst as Chair.

 

Councillor Ashton proposed, and Councillor Dryden seconded, the nomination of Councillor Meftah as Chair.

 

Resolved (by 5 votes to 4) that Councillor Blackhurst be Chair for the remainder of the municipal year.

 

Councillor Blackhurst assumed the Chair from the Committee Manager at this point.

 

Councillor Ashton proposed, and Councillor Dryden seconded, the nomination of Councillor Meftah as Vice Chair.

 

Councillor Moore proposed, and Councillor Sanders seconded, the nomination of Councillor Pippas as Vice Chair.

 

Resolved (by 5 votes to 4) that Councillor Pippas be Vice Chair for the remainder of the municipal year.

 

Members asked for clarification why this item was on the agenda. The Committee Manager responded it had been requested by a Councillor, as possible due to the Queen Ediths’ by-election and procedure rules in the Cambridge City Council Constitution. The by-election meant that South Area Committee (SAC) was back to full membership, and so could elect a Chair and Vice Chair. It was noted this normally happened at the first meeting of the municipal year.

 

Councillor Ashton asked if all SAC Councillors would be invited to Chair briefings in future. This was not the case before Labour Councillors took the Chair role. The Chair said that all SAC Councillors would be invited to Chair briefings in future.

No apologies were received.

Members of the committee are asked to declare any interests in the items on the agenda. In the case of any doubt, the advice of the Head of Legal should be sought before the meeting.

 

Name	Item	Interest
Councillor Avery	14/70/SAC	Personal: Lives on the Accordia Estate.   Is a member of ACRA.

 

Councillor Ashton asked for it to be noted (in case it was seen as an Interest) that he was SAC Chair when the Committee last discussed funding for the Accordia site.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2014.

The minutes of the 13 October 2014 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record subject to amendments set out below relating to 14/54/SAC:

 

Name	Item	Interest
Councillor Ashton	14/61/SAC	Personal: Chairman of the Cherry Hinton Resident’s Association.
Councillor Avery	14/61/SAC	Personal: Lives on the Accordia Estate.
Councillors Dryden and McPherson	14/61/SAC	Personal: Member of the Cherry Hinton Resident’s Association.
Councillor Moore	14/61/SAC	Personal: Member of Friends of Nightingale Rec.

 

Not applicable.

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

1.    A member of the Scouts made the following points:

                i.          Asked for a safe way for people to cross Cherry Hinton Road so they could access Netherhall School.

              ii.          Suggested traffic lights or a traffic island could be used, but a zebra crossing may be the preferred option.

 

Councillor Crawford said this could be looked at in the next round of Local Highway Improvement work. Councillor Taylor also offered to raise the issue with the County Council. Councillor Dryden said the City Council could also support the crossing.

 

2.    Mrs Slatter asked for the 20 MPH speed limit consultation response deadline to be extended to enable resident associations to respond.

 

Councillor Blackhurst said there was a difference in response dates given in hard copy documents and on the County Council website.

 

ACTION POINT: Councillor Blackhurst to clarify 20 MPH speed limit consultation response deadline. Details not consistent on City Council website and consultation document hard copies. 05/01/15 suggested response date.

 

Councillor Ashwood said that packs were dated October 2014, but were not received until circa December. Councillor Blackhurst said the 20 MPH speed limit consultation was discussed at the October South Area Committee, so the consultation was expected to follow on from that.

The Committee received a report from the Public Realm Manager. She brought the report up to date by stating a typographical error on agenda P21 incorrectly listed Cherry Hinton Hall instead of Cherry Hinton School.

 

The report outlined an overview of City Council Refuse and Environment and Streets and Open Spaces service activity relating to the geographical area served by the South Area Committee.  The report identified the reactive and proactive service actions undertaken in the previous quarter, including the requested priority targets and reports back on the recommended issues and associated actions to be targeted in the following.  It also included key officer contacts for the reporting of waste and refuse and public realm issues.

 

The following were suggestions for members on what action could be considered for priority within the South Area for the quarter of October to December 2014:

 

1.    Enforcement joint working and patrols to deal with illegal camping on green open spaces, including Coe Fen.

2.    Nuisance vehicle patrols to be carried out at Cherry Hinton High Street and Fulbourn Road layby.

3.    Jet wash ‘local shops’ at Wulfstan Way, Anstey Way and Adkins Corner to remove grime and chewing gum from the shop fronts.

4.    Early morning patrols for dog fouling on Tenby Close, Nightingale Avenue Recreation Ground and Bliss Way.

5.    Enforcement patrols for litter and other environmental issues at Cambridge Leisure Park and Hills Road Sixth Form area (recommended at East Area Committee on 15 October 2014).

6.    Deep cleanse of Snakey Path and the Tins from Burnside to include removal of graffiti, flyposting, litter, dog fouling, vegetation cut back and sweeping (linked to recommendation of East Area Committee on 15 October 2014).

 

Councillor Ashton sought clarification why recommendations 3, 5 and 6 were suggested priorities for SAC as they were not in the South Area (eg Adkins Corner). The Public Realm Manager agreed to remove recommendation 5 (entirely) plus Adkins Corner from recommendation 3. Recommendation 6 was suggested to SAC as a joint priority with East Area Committee. They had already accepted it.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Public Realm Manager said the following:

       i.          October – December 2014 priorities should be actioned during December, but may be rolled over into January 2015 if required.

     ii.          The County Council were responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the guided busway.

   iii.          Ward blitzes had already started with the North area in October 2014; then would move round clockwise on a monthly basis to cover a single ward at a time. The first ward in the South area to benefit from the ward blitz was Cherry Hinton in January 2015. The schedule was publically available, and would be brought to the next SAC meeting

   iv.          City Enforcement Officers were continuing to work with Addenbrooke’s security staff to address littering in areas where Addenbrooke's site joins residential areas. Officers noted that Councillors felt the City Council was clearing up Addenbrooke's mess.

 

The Committee asked the Public Realm Manager to investigate if the following actions were possible:

         i.          Trialling a supply of bags in Nightingale Park in order to give people a ‘carrot’ to clean up after themselves. This would test if supplying bags made the area cleaner, instead of relying on people to bring their own.

       ii.          Taking enforcement action against people who damage green verges when parking on them in Mowbray Road. This included utility companies.

     iii.          Cycle ways and gulleys to be included in general street cleansing.

The Committee discussed the following as additional and revised recommendations for action:

 

Recommendation 1

       i.          Enforcement joint working and patrols to deal with illegal camping on green open spaces, including Coe Fen.

 

Recommendation 2

       i.          Nuisance vehicle patrols to be carried out at Cherry Hinton High Street and Fulbourn Road layby.

 

Recommendation 3

       i.          Replace Adkins Corner with Cherry Hinton High Street shops for jet washing.

 

Recommendation 4

       i.          Early morning patrols for dog fouling on Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground.

 

Recommendation 5 - Revised

       i.          Requested litter bins for the following areas:

·       Trumpington Ward outside Pavilion and Hall.

·       Mowbray Road outside Acacia Guest House.

·       Shelford/Hauxton Road outside cemetery.

·       Long Road junction with Sedley Taylor.

·       Luard Road junction with Sedley Taylor Road.

     ii.          Removal of old litter bin in Cherry Hinton High Street as newer one is nearby. Old bin is cemented in place.

 

Recommendation 6

       i.          Deep cleanse of Snakey Path and the Tins from Burnside to include removal of graffiti, flyposting, litter, dog fouling, vegetation cut back and sweeping – South Area section (linked to recommendation of East Area Committee on 15 October 2014).

 

Recommendation 7

       i.          Investigation of possible abandoned kebab trailer parked outside 71 Hulatt Road, which is an obstruction and has remained in place for some time.

 

Recommendation 8

       i.          Deep cleanse of areas around (including passageways between):

·       Godwin Way and Gundhill Close.

·       Hulatt Road and Wulfstan Way.

·       Holbrook Road and Glebe Road.

·       Holbrook Road and Glebe Road.

 

Recommendation 9

       i.          Enforcement targeted approach to areas where Addenbrooke's site joins residential areas, such as Hills Road and Red Cross Lane. Also to work with Addenbrooke's towards cleaning up the bus station area.

 

Following discussion, Members unanimously resolved to approve priorities for action as amended above.

The Committee received a report from the Asset Manager.

 

The report outlined SAC approved a project for the creation of a Trim Trail and Scooter Park at the Accordia development off Brooklands Avenue 13 January 2014.

 

At a previous South Area Committee Open Forum, members of the public had queried progress on the scooter park element of the approved project.

 

It was agreed on the 23 June at South Area Committee that a further consultation would be undertaken so that residents could have their input on specific design proposals for the scooter facility and therefore establish whether or not there was support for the scooter track.

 

This report summarised and responded to the consultation comments received.

 

Members of the public made a number of statements and asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.       Various residents and children spoke in favour of the scooter park. They raised the following points:

                i.          A scooter park was needed to provide a safe area for children to use their scooters.

              ii.          Accordia roads and pathways were not suitable alternatives. Children were worried about colliding with cars and pedestrians.

           iii.          Queried why the scooter park had become a political issue.

            iv.          A delay in implementing the scooter park meant that original residents could not benefit from it, but current/future ones could.

              v.          Accordia had limited amenity space, the scooter park would benefit the whole community.

            vi.          Scooters helped children progress onto using bicycles.

 

2.       Mr Cray made the following points:

      i.          The survey listed in the Officer’s report showed there was support, but not overwhelming support for the scooter park. This would not be a valued facility.

    ii.          Scooting is popular with pre-teen children.

 iii.          The design of Accordia allowed for free flow of movement around it, so people could use scooters on the roads and pavements.

  iv.          Implementing the scooter park may lead to unintended consequences eg attracting older children to a play area that is intended for supervised play.

    v.          Took issue with the Officer’s recommendation that the project continues to be progressed and developed.

 

3.       Mr Weir made the following points:

      i.          There is a need for the scooter park.

    ii.          Took issue with current and historic objections.

 iii.          Reiterated that children worried about using scooters on Accordia roads and pavements.

  iv.          Queried why the scooter park had become a political issue. He was informed that Liberal Democrat Councillors had been strenuously lobbied to ask them to oppose the Officer’s recommendation that the project continues to be progressed and developed.

 

The Committee reassured residents that Councillors has not been lobbied to ask them to oppose the Officer’s recommendation that the project continues to be progressed and developed.

 

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

       i.          Noted there was a lot of support for the scooter park, plus some objections.

     ii.          A Traffic Regulation Order was expected to be implemented in Accordia to put in double yellow lines and a 20 MPH speed limit.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Asset Manager said the following:

       i.          It was not possible to check the demographic profile of people who had responded to the consultation. These details were not recorded.

     ii.          The purpose of the report was to seek SAC’s views on options to implement as set out in the Officer’s report. Funding to implement the scooter park had already been agreed.

   iii.          The Asset Manager would work up a project appraisal  then submit it to SAC Chair, Vice Chair and Spokesperson for approval.

   iv.          The timescale to implement work was January 2015 onwards once the Asset Manager had liaised with Planning Officers regarding the proposed options.

 

Following discussion, Members unanimously resolved:

 

       i.          Approved the continuation of project PR032e – Accordia Trim Trail and Scooter Park, which is included on the Council’s Capital & Revenue Project Plan.

     ii.          That the total cost of the scooter park project remains at £30,000 which is funded from developer contributions.