Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Brown, Hart and Herbert. 

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.

 

No declarations of interest were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 and 25 June 2012.

The minutes of the 21 June 2012 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

(i)                Typographical error in 12/30/EAC Open Forum question 1. Comments and action point attributed to Councillor Blencowe should be attributed to Councillor Bourke.

 

The minutes of the 25 June 2012 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.

Reference will be made to the Committee Action Sheet available under the ‘Matters & Actions Arising From The Minutes’ section of the previous meeting agenda.

 

General agenda information can be accessed using the following hyperlink:

 

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=147

(i)          12/16/EAC Matters & Actions Arising From The Minutes “Action Point: Councillor Sedgwick-Jell to respond to Dr Eva’s Riverside Place gritting concerns raised in ‘open forum’ section. Councillor Sedgwick-Jell to clarify position with Graham Hughes (Service Director, Growth & Infrastructure – County) to ascertain gritting schedule.”

 

          Councillor Sedgwick-Jell has followed up the gritting issue with County Officers, they have undertaken to make the Riverside Place cycle lane and road a priority 

 

(ii)          12/17/EAC Open Forum matter arising: Addenbrooke’s bus service concern.

 

Councillor Johnson and Councillor Sadiq met with Councillor Ward to discuss this issue.

 

(iii)          12/30/EAC Open Forum “Action Point: Councillors Bourke and Marchant-Daisley to meet with ward residents and shopkeepers to discuss drug and alcohol related street life anti-social behaviour in the area around Mill Road and Norfolk Street. Issues to be reported back to August East Area Committee (EAC).”

 

Councillor Bourke to meet with Inspector Poppitt and Mr Stamp to discuss Mill Road issues, in particular those affecting the Co-op. A mutually convenient date for the meeting was not possible prior to 2 August EAC.

 

This topic was revisited under minutes section 12/42/EAC Police and Safer Neighbourhoods.

 

(iv)          12/30/EAC Open Forum “Action Point: Councillor Johnson to raise EAC bus service concerns, specifically changes to the Citi 3 bus route, with Andy Campbell (Stagecoach Cambridgeshire Managing Director).”

 

Councillor Johnson passed on a response from Mr Campbell:

 

Mr Campbell stated that changes to the Citi 3 route were advertised two weeks before they took place, and that every bus had a poster advising passengers of the changes. He added that the poster pointed customers to the Stagecoach website for the new timetables. Mr Campbell also defended the changes to the Citi 3 route, explaining that "we were told prior to the changes that we had too many buses in Bridewell Road, others wanted a connection to Tesco; and Fulbourn wanted a more direct service. We managed to accommodate all these requests."

 

(v)          12/30/EAC Open Forum “Action Point: Councillor Herbert to respond to Mrs Deards EIP question after liaising with Andrew Preston (Project Delivery & Environment Manager).”

 

Councillor Herbert has liaised with the Project Delivery & Environment Manager. The County Council have raised no objections to the lines, so they should be implemented imminently.

 

(vi)          12/30/EAC Open Forum “Action Point: Councillor Hart to liaise with Clare Rankin (Cycling & Walking Officer) and respond to Dr Eva to clarify if the River Lane Community Centre has cycle racks or alternatives.”

 

Councillor Hart has liaised with the Cycling & Walking Officer.

 

Councillor Blencowe is pursuing the implementation of a cycle rack outside of the Cherry Trees Day Centre.

 

(vii)          12/30/EAC Open Forum matter arising “Action Point: Councillor Johnson to raise drug users and drug dealing in the Riverside area as a Police priority at August EAC”

 

Councillor Johnson invited Mr Catto, of Riverside Residents Association, to attend EAC and give further background to the alleged problems in support for making this a police priority.

 

This topic was revisited under minutes section 12/42/EAC Police and Safer Neighbourhoods.

 

(viii)          12/30/EAC Open Forum matter arising “Action Point: Councillor Johnson to raise request for double yellow lines along Riverside with Brian Stinton (Area Manager - County).”

 

Councillor Johnson has raised the request for double yellow lines along Riverside with Brian Stinton (Area Manager - County). The County Council felt the suggestion was reasonable, but not a funding priority. The suggestion has now become an environmental improvement project priority.

 

(ix)          12/30/EAC Open Forum matter arising “Action Point: Councillor Blencowe to raise resident’s concerns with the choice of colour for Riverside railings with the Project Delivery & Environment Manager.”

 

Work on hold pending the outcome of the current moorings consultation.

 

(x)          12/35/EACa 12/0260/FUL: Ryedale House, 40 Cambridge Place

 

This item was deferred to Thursday 6 September 2012 because amendments were required to overcome the concerns raised by the owner of Bodyworks dance studio.  These have now been received.

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

1.      Mr Green raised the following points about the City Council Planning Policy Issues and Options Paper:

·        Requested Councillors to question policies in the Plan, particularly those in Chapter 12.

·        The City and County Councils were consulting on ways to reduce car usage. Mr Green felt that people’s car needs were not reflected in the plan and believed the model policies were based on was flawed.

·        Cambridge does not have alternatives for surface traffic travel options.

·        Requested a referendum on private motoring.

 

Councillor Smart responded:

·       The Issues and Options Paper first stage had just closed, but responses were welcome to future consultation stages.

·       Car needs for people who drove occasionally could be addressed through car clubs.

·       A study by a Cambridge academic suggested an underground travel system in the City was feasible.

 

Councillor Blencowe said that Councillors were mindful of responses to the Issues and Options Paper consultation process.

 

Councillor Blencowe said that Councillors should set long term priorities based on responses to the Issues and Options Paper consultation process. They should not concentrate solely on short term options.

 

2.      Mr Carpen asked why Councillors did not make greater use of social media to communicate with residents.

 

Councillors said that the Authority used social media, but individual councilors were not obliged to. Councillors could be active in other ways, such as surgeries. Jonathan James (Head of Customer Services) was the nominated City Council social media contact.

 

3.      Mr Gawthrop expressed concern regarding the lack of progress on implementing traffic calming measures in Tenison Road. Specifically as further through traffic was expected in future.

 

EAC felt progress on Tenison Road traffic calming measures was unsatisfactory, particularly as additional Anglian Ruskin University students are expected to travel along Tenison Road in the near future. EAC recognised County Council staff issues impacted on project delivery, but the Committee expected progress. EAC undertook to monitor project progress.

The Committee received a report from Inspector Poppitt regarding the policing and safer neighbourhoods trends.

 

The report outlined actions taken since the Committee on 12 April 2012. The current emerging issues/neighbourhood trends for each ward were also highlighted (see report for full details). Previous priorities and engagement activity noted in the report were:

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots and focussing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Coleridge.

(iii)            Vehicle crime, such as theft and vandalism, in East of City.

 

The Committee discussed the following policing issues:

 

(i)                Declining levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Romsey due to Police intervention.

(ii)              Vehicle crime such as vandalism in the East area.

(iii)            Drug users and drug dealing in the Riverside area.

(iv)            ASB linked to street drinking.

(v)              Street life ASB in east of city. Specifically relating to alcohol, drugs and threatening behaviour. Geographic areas of particular concern were identified as Mill Road, Mill Road Cemetary and Norfolk Street in the east of the city; as well as related issues in Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street.

(vi)            Greater emphasis on licensing agreement terms to prevent the sale of alcohol to people who were already intoxicated. Licence holders should feel supported that they can refuse to sell alcohol when it would be inappropriate to do so, and that they have a responsibility not to do so under licensing terms eg when someone is intoxicated. Concern was expressed over the sale of high strength alcohol. It was noted that Licensees could lawfully sell high strength alcohol unless their licensing conditions prohibited it.

(vii)          The need to address ASB through joined up multi-agency action. For example, provision of support and facilities for the street life community, as well as the option for Police and Licensing Officers to take enforcement action. Greater focus on education, encouragement and support.

(viii)        The re-introduction of section 30 dispersal orders.

(ix)            People should report crimes in order to help the Police collect evidence and trend information. Residents expressed concern regarding response times to the 101 contact number and asked for alternative ways to report crimes.

 

          Inspector Poppitt undertook to liaise with Councillor Benstead regarding targets for response times to the 101 number.

 

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

 

1.      Ms Wright raised concerns about :

·        Street life ASB in east of city. Specifically relating to alcohol, drugs and threatening behaviour from the street life community or their dogs in Norfolk Street.

·        The sale of high strength alcohol as a contributing factor to ASB and littering.

·        Referred to difficulties when reporting crimes to the Police.

 

Councillor Benstead said that the City Council was the City Licensing authority. Any concerns regarding licencee practices should be referred to Licensing Officers.

 

2.      Ms Dean made the following points:

·        Raised concerns about street life ASB in east of city. Specifically the impact of ASB in Norfolk Street on primary school children.

·        Raised concerns about the sale of alcohol to people who were already intoxicated.

·        Requested the re-introduction of section 30 dispersal orders.

·        Requested that street drinking be made an offence in Cambridge either for a set period or indefinitely.

·        The length of time required to report crimes through the Police 101 contact number.

·        Supported the work of Jimmy’s Night Shelter. Street life community members needed better support for the treatment of issues. The Police would benefit from alternative powers to the Council to stop habitual drinking problems.

·        Suggested that if one premises needed a licence review in an area, nearby premises should have one too by default as they would be likely to be using the same practices.

 

Inspector Poppitt responded:

·       The Police would undertake a licence review if given evidence to justify one.

·       A geographic specific public area alcohol drinking ban would help address issues.

 

Councillor Benstead said a licence review of one premises would not trigger a review of others in the locality, as different premises could have different licensing conditions. Reviews were triggered when licensing conditions were broken.

 

Councillor Blencowe said that Mill Road had been a Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods priority for over two years. It was clear that the problem was being managed, but not reduced as issues kept reoccurring in Mill Road, Mill Road Cemetary and Norfolk Street (plus related issues in Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street). Councillor Blencowe recommended that if Police records evidenced there was a need, the Police should recommend the reintroduction of section 30 in these specific geographic areas to the Leader of the City Council.

 

This proposal was carried unanimously.

 

Action Point: East Area Committee Chair, Vice Chair and Spokes to meet Inspector Poppitt to discuss implementing a specific street drinking order on a zonal basis.

 

3.      Mr Gawthrop made the following points:

·        Reiterated points made by Ms Dean and Ms Wright.

·        Raised concerns about street life ASB in Mill Road Cemetary.

·        Supported the Police’s objections to Hobby Home alcohol licence application in Mill Road at the 18 June 2012 Licensing Sub Committee. This was turned down due to the impact on the Cumulative Impact Zone.

 

4.      Mr Catto raised concerns about drug dealing in the Riverside Area and associated ASB such as littering of used needles.

 

5.          Councillor Johnson said the City Council was not in a position to offer the Police CCTV evidence unless it was requested. He asked if this policy could be amended.

 

Inspector Poppitt welcomed the use of CCTV evidence. He undertook to speak to Council and Police colleagues to review if the policy could be amended or enhanced so evidence could be more easily provided to the Police.

 

6.          Councillor Owers queried contact details for Licensing Officers whom Councillors and residents could report concerns to.

 

Action Point: Sarah Steggles (Senior Anti-Social Behaviour Officer) to send East Area Committee Members a list of contact numbers for reporting different types of anti-social behaviour. These in turn can be passed to residents.

 

Councillor Owers requested a change to the recommendations. Amendments are shown in bold text.

 

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots (including Mill Rd, Mill Rd Cemetery and Norfolk Street plus drug dealing in the Riverside Area) and focusing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Riverside, Coleridge and Abbey areas.

 

The amendments were unanimously agreed.

 

The following priorities were unanimously agreed:

 

(i)                Alcohol and drug-related street ASB in the East, targeting known hot spots (including Mill Rd, Mill Rd Cemetery and Norfolk Street plus drug dealing in the Riverside Area) and focusing on education and enforcement to address licensed premises selling alcohol to the intoxicated.

(ii)              ASB use of mopeds in Riverside, Coleridge and Abbey areas.

(iii)            Vehicle crime, such as theft and vandalism, in East of City.

The Committee received a report from the Project Delivery & Environment Manager regarding the Environmental Improvement Programme. The report outlined progress of existing schemes and new suggested schemes for 2012/13.

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager referred to typographical errors in his report:

(i)                P41 Appendix A EIP Scheme 13 Palmer’s Walk was incorrectly labelled as Paradise Walk.

(ii)              P41 Appendix A EIP Scheme 14 Burnside/Brookfields Parking Issues was incorrectly labelled as Petersfield instead of Romsey.

(iii)            P41 Appendix A EIP Scheme 16 Mill Road Right Turn into Coleridge Road was suggested by Councillor Moghadas, not Councillor Marchant-Daisley.

(iv)            P41 Appendix A EIP Scheme 17 Coldham’s Lane was incorrectly labelled as Coldman’s Lane.

 

Existing Schemes: Progress

The Environmental Projects Manager referred to suggestions passed on or not feasible as projects:

(i)                HGV weight restrictions for Romsey Terraced streets similar to Catharine Street.

(ii)              Rayson Way Verge Protection using bollards.

 

New Schemes That Require Decisions

Members considered a number of 2012/13 schemes put forward for approval.

 

In response to Member’s questions the Project Delivery & Environment Manager answered:

(i)                Riverside Railings EIP was on hold pending consultation.

(ii)              The South Area Radial Review would affect road projects in Appendix C of his report.

 

Members of the public asked a number of questions as set out below.

 

1.      Mr Rogers asked why the implementation of Rayson Way Verge Protection using bollards was delayed.

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager said a consultation exercise was required prior to undertaking action to determine if bollard implementation was the best method of protecting the verges.

 

2.      Mr Rogers said that Whitehill Close Neighbourhood Watch had been established to address issues in the Close. Now these had been resolved, residents wanted the Whitehill Close Planting environmental improvement project (EIP) to go ahead, but with flowerbeds instead of flowers in grassed areas as proposed by the EIP.

 

Mrs Peachey stated that residents would be willing to maintain the flowerbeds.

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager has liaised with Mr Rogers, residents and Ward Councillors. Flowers in grassed areas as proposed by the EIP would save £2,000 - £3,000 per year in maintenance costs compared to flowerbeads.

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager said the EIP could be amended to include flowerbeds (instead of flowers in grassed areas) that residents would be responsible for. In this case, the Council would only be responsible for the provision of bulbs, not replacements. If the flowerbeds were not maintained, they would be returned to grass.

 

EAC suggested retaining the project on the EIP list at its present level of funding, but returning it to EAC for discussion in future.

 

ACTION POINT: Project Delivery & Environment Manager to amend Whitehill Close Planting environmental improvement project and return it to East Area Committee for consideration post discussions with residents.

 

3.      Mr Catto expressed concern regarding the path near Tescos, covered by the Riverside Parking Issues EIP. The Resident Association would like the area enhanced.

 

The Project Delivery & Environment Manager said a consultation exercise was required prior to undertaking action to determine if any objections will be raised to the EIP.

 

Councillor Blencowe said the issue would be raised at the next Area Joint Committee meeting.

 

Councillor Blencowe requested to that the following project be added to the list set out in Appendix A of the Officer’s report. The project was Mill Road Hanging Baskets for £7,500.

 

Councillor Blencowe proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendations:

(i)                To further investigate alternative funding options for the Palmer’s Walk/Petersfield Square proposal.

(ii)              To reduce the budget for Coldman’s Lane, Ross Street and Catharine Street Tree Planting EIP from £20,000 to £11,550.

 

This amendment was carried unanimously.

 

Following discussion, Members resolved (unanimously) to:

 

(i)                Approve Mill Road Hanging Baskets project proposed by Councillor Blencowe.

(ii)              Allocate funding of up to £56,200 to the list of proposed projects in Appendix A of the Officer’s report, except for Palmer’s Walk/Petersfield Square.

(iii)            Approve the projects for implementation, subject to positive consultation and final approval by local Ward Councillors.

(iv)            Note the progress of existing schemes listed in Appendix C of the Officer’s report.