Agenda and minutes

The Chair gave permission for Richard Taylor to film the meeting. It was confirmed that the filming would cease if members of the public or speakers expressed a desire not to be filmed. Members of the public were given an opportunity to state if they did not want to be filmed.

Apologies were received from Councillors Sales and Scutt.

 

The Chair welcomed the public and explained the format of the meeting.

 

No interests were declared.

 

Action List

 

The Committee reviewed the progress of the single item remaining on the action list:

 

Developer Contributions and Devolved Decision Making - First Round Priority-Setting for Play Area Improvement

 

Alistair Wilson to bring back a report to a future committee meeting on how surplus play equipment from the VIE Estate can be distributed around the north area.

 

This matter has now been escalated and an update requested for the next meeting.

 

Minutes

 

The minutes of the meeting of the 3^rd October 2013 were agreed subject to the following correction:

 

13/69/NAC; Action list amended as follows:

Councillor Manning confirmed that the speed tables and white lines on Elizabeth Way Chesterton High Street should be completed in the next week.

 

 

 

1.   Richard Taylor: Expressed concern about the way his request to film had been treated at the last meeting. Unhappy that he was accused of using anti-social behaviour when he tried to film speakers.

 

Councillor Manning stated that the Chair had been defending a member of the public’s right not to be filmed when that person had addressed the Committee from the floor.

 

The Chair apologised if he had overstepped the mark on that occasion.

 

Mr Bond, supported by other members of the public, stated that he was unhappy about private individuals holding footage of members of the public attending meetings.

 

2.   Richard Jennings: Requested that Councillors support a high quality, non-shared use, cycle route on Cowley Road. Buses and lorries needed to be separated from cyclists.

 

Councillor Manning stated that the existing proposal was currently illustrative. The final proposal would be revised. Councillor Manning agreed to follow this up and to seek an assurance from the County Council regarding safety concerns.

                                    

Action point: Councillor Manning to seek an assurance from the County Council regarding safety concerns.

 

3.   Hester Wells: What plans are in place for the education/enforcement of the new 20mph zone coming in at the beginning of the year? Previously, the Police have been reluctant to enforce this. The outcomes in the North will affect consultations in the three other areas.

 

Councillor Ward stated that both the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner had made a commitment to enforcing the 20mph limit with the same vigour as the 30mph limit. It was hoped that, as more and more streets became 20mph zones, motorists would begin to see this as the norm.

 

4.   Lil Speed: Raised concerns about councillors were not listening to the concern of local people. Councillor Kerr does not live in the area and had a low profile.

 

Councillor Kerr stated that she was active in the East Chesterton area on behalf of residents. Councillor Kerr also stated that she would be happy to accompany Mrs Speed on a walk around the area to discuss any issues of concern.

 

5.   Lil Speed: Councillor Manning had not responded to a letter from Mr Speed regarding empty properties in Water Lane.  Could they be used as temporary accommodation until they are scheduled for demolition?

 

Councillor Manning stated that he would investigate the empty properties, the redevelopment timeframes and would respond to Mr Speed’s letter in due course.

 

Action point: Councillor Manning to investigate the matter.

 

6.   Lil Speed: Concerned about remarks that had been circulated on twitter.

 

Without seeing the offending tweets, the Committee were unable to comment.

 

7.   Leila Dockerill: The recycling area near Tesco’s in Campkin Road is poorly managed and untidy. Empty cooking oil drums have left in the area and rubbish is spreading into the street.

 

The Chair suggested that City Rangers be asked to tidy up the area.

 

Action point: Committee Manager to contact the City Rangers and ask for the area to be tidied up.

 

8.   Shirley Fieldhouse: On the 10^th October the Association of Chief Police Officers refreshed guidance on speed enforcement. The new guidance suggests that speed awareness courses can now be offered for offences in 20pmh zones. Are Cambridgeshire Police proposing to set up such courses?

 

Councillor Ward welcomed this information.

Councillor Manning suggested that the Chair of North Area Committee should write to the Police formally requesting enforcement of the 20mph limit and the use of Speed Awareness courses. This was agreed.

 

Action Point: Councillor Pitt to write to the Chief of Police requesting enforcement of the 20pmh limit as detailed in the new guidance.

 

9.   Michael Bond: Can Stagecoach be asked to justify the delays to the Citi 2 service and the frequently incorrect ‘real time passenger information’ displayed on bus stops.

 

The Chair suggested that Andy Campbell of Stagecoach would be invited to attend a North Area Committee meeting. 

 

Action Point: Andy Cambell would be invited to attend a future North Area Committee

 

10.               Klaus Bruman asked the Committee and the public to support a campaign for improvements to the proposed road layout for the Nuffield Road area. Nuffield Road could become one of the main walking and cycling routes to the Science Park. However, the current proposals for the new Guided Busway and associated changes to the road layout will create dangerous crossing points and lane changes. An on-line petition can be found at: http://bit.ly/ChestertonTrafficReduction.

 

Councillor Manning expressed support for the campaign and stated that it was also supported by the Head of the Shirley School and local businesses. He suggested that the plan would be improved if the guided bus was not guided for this section of its journey.

 

 

11.               John Hall asked why he had never seen any enforcement of the 20mph speed limit and asked Councillors to seek action from the Police to protect other road users and pedestrians.

 

Mr Bond supported this request and suggested that a speed limit of 20mph aided smooth traffic flow as there was less stop start delays. Removal of unnecessary street furniture also aided safe traffic flow.

 

Councillor Ward confirmed that slower speeds increased traffic flow. However, the removal of traffic lights would be harder to achieve.

 

12.               Richard Taylor asked for action to be taken to address the poor condition of cycle signage in the area, in particular in the Milton Road Campkin Road area. He stated that it was often unclear where pavements where in use.

 

Councillor Onasanya stated this had been requested in the past. She agreed to look into this and to request action.

 

Action Point: Councillor Onasanya would request action to improve cycle signage in the North Area.

 

13.               Richard Taylor asked why violent crime was not separated out to facilitate priority setting in the Police statistic presented to area committees.

 

Councillor Manning stated that the Police were working on the best ways to present complex information to area committees.

 

Councillor Price stated that local priority setting was about areas of concern to local communities. Issues such as violent, and other mayor crimes, would always be a priority for the Police and therefore do not need to be local priorities.

 

14.               Richard Jennings asked the Committee to support a request for extension of the time allowed for pedestrians to cross the road at pelican and Toucan crossings.

 

Councillor Bird supported this suggestion.

Councillor Todd-Jones suggested that County Councillors could press for action on this matter.

 

Kay Harris stated the Highways Authority were already looking into this matter and that some timings had been extended.

 

Michael Bond stated that motorists exacerbate the problem by crossing when the lights were changing to red and shortening the safe crossing period.

 

Councillor Ward suggested that this could be a future agenda item to allow a full discussion of the issue.

 

An opportunity to get your concerns on the agenda of future meetings. The Committee will be seeking your views and ideas on any items for consideration at a future meeting.

 

The following items were suggested as items for discussion at future meeting:

 

1.           Invite Stagecoach to comment on bus performance and timetable /route changes.

2.           Invite County Council Officers/Members to comment on Highway repairs.

3.           Discussion on pavement damage/repairs including problems with tree roots.

4.           Dual use crossings and the timings of traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing.

5.           Report on changes to Brownfields and the impact of changes to the Children and Young People’s Participation Service (ChYpPS).

6.           S106 Transport Corridor Workshop feedback.

7.           Resident Parking.

8.           Play Areas including a progress report on Hawkin Road.

9.           Location of recycling areas.

10.       Improvements to Cycle Paths Yellow Lines

11.       Community Events section on every agenda

12.       Fen Road

13.       New Bridge over the River Cam.

14.       Progress on New Primary School.

15.       20mph data monitoring.

16.       Recognition that a large section of the attendees at this meeting do not wish to be filmed.