Agenda and minutes

·       Terms of Reference. CR has reviewed and amended the Terms of Reference following an email from Cllr Tucker. A ‘track changes’ version of the Terms has been circulated among the Steering Group. Changes include the removal of reference to the Traffic Management Area Joint Committee. The new Terms of Reference will need to go before Environment Scrutiny Committee.

ACTION: CR to further amend the Steering Group Terms of Reference to state that the Cambridge Cycle Campaign can nominate an attendee.

·       Bishops Court Cycle Parking – presentation by Anthony Bow and Martin Ball of Bishops Court (Trumpington) Residents’ Co Ltd.

Bishops Court needs improved cycle storage facilities due to increasing demand. The application is for a 20 capacity cycle shed located close to residents that would be both well lit and secure, reflecting the needs of residents. The existing 14 spaces would be retained. Total cost is estimated at £5000 with the installation undertaken by the residents themselves.

The Steering Group debated whether there were any issues of policy or principle that would deny funding to private residents’ schemes. The question of public benefit could be relevant here. All agreed there would likely be more applications of this nature coming forward as the arrival of the Tour de France in Cambridge in 2014 heightens awareness of cycling.

ACTION: The Steering Group to seek officer advice on whether funding can be provided to private residents’ groups.

NB: Legal advise was that this kind of bid did not sufficiently benefit the general public and so the group was not awarded the grant, however the County Council are likely to contribute some funding.

·       ‘Reworks’ Bikewiser Community Interest Company - presentation by Austin Whiteside.

The organisation is currently without premises due to acquisition by developers. Once premises has been sought, the funding would provide three fully equipped cycle work bays, accessible to the public for maintenance and training needs. The £4850 being applied for would also fund new equipment and staffing for 1 day per week for a year.

The Steering Group concluded that approval for funding could only be on the basis that the organisation finds new premises. Funding earmarked for this financial year could be carried over into the next.

·       ‘Page to Performance’

The application is for £3,500 to fund poetry workshops.

The Steering Group require further information on the total value of the project including a breakdown of costs, as this was not included as part of the application.

NB: this information has since been provided and the grant was awarded.

The Steering Group discussed all three applications and concluded that there would be funds available to support two out of the three proposals. Mike Davies confirmed that some funding towards these two schemes could be sought from the County Council.

·       Pushchair funding scheme (CR). The seven single pushchairs and one double pushchair made available to the public at the Grand Arcade need replacing at a cost of £935.

Funding approved, although the Steering Group would recommend that officers approach the Grand Arcade regarding the possibility of financial support.

·       Reach Fair ride leaflet funding (CR). The cost of reprinting the leaflets would amount to £250.

Funding approved. All agreed the publicity surrounding the Reach Fair cycle ride has made a significant difference to traffic congestion on the day.

·       The County Council have begun work and assigned Paul Rawlinson as Project Manager. The Steering Group have met and are keen to take things forward and maximise the route’s potential following the 2009 Atkins report. Discussions will be needed with Network Rail in order to formalise the scheme and they will appoint their own Project Manager. This is seen as a very complicated project with a number of risks.

·       The two sections of the project currently being progressed are the new bridge over the Cam and the section between Cambridge Station and Hooper Street that impacts on the City Council’s Mill Road Depot. This site may be coming forward for development and officers have been made aware of the need to reserve some land for the Chisholm Trail should this development go ahead. There are also issues surrounding the Trail and the Travis Perkins site on the opposite side of Mill Road, as this is also coming forward for development.

·       Bike Friendly Cities – European Project. This includes the proposal for a city barometer for measuring cycle movements. This would be situated in a prominent location such as Gonville Place. Marshall’s have indicated that they would be interested in contributing to the cost of the barometer. CR confirmed that she had met with City Council Open Space Officers on site and that an area on the highway, near to the map board had been identified. This would need go to the South and West/Central Area Committees for information although would not require planning permission as it would be permitted development. According to Cllr Ward, data on traffic movements is already being gathered in the north of the city as part of the 20mph Project. Cycling data could be extracted from this should the results of the barometer need to be supplemented.

·       Catholic Church junction (Hyde Park Corner) improvements. Funding has been approved for new cycling and pedestrian enhancements. Approval is still needed for the proposed Green light cycle sign however as debate continues as to whether such interventions would make any difference to safety. Issues persist regarding process and public engagement on improvements in this area according to MD.

·       Gilbert Road. The removal of a traffic lane to allow for the extension of the cycle lane has proved successful. Officers are now looking into applying this on Milton Road. The currently underused right turn into Warwick Road could be turned into a cycle lane.

·       DFT Cycle Ambition Grant. The County Council has until the end of April to submit a bid for some of the £5 million that is to be made available over the next two years. To be successful, the bid would have to demonstrate a project’s ability to produce ‘transformational change.’ Cambridge will be in competition with other cities such as Brighton. Areas within South Cambridgeshire could be considered as part of the City Deal. The County will aim for the bid to make links with the Public Health Strategy, as this is to come under the County Council’s remit.

·       Downham’s Lane. This now has ‘restricted byway’ status. A Project Officer is currently working on lighting proposals with commencement of work in late spring, early summer.

·       Brookland’s Avenue. Reconstruction work is to go ahead in April.

·       Green Dragon PH bridge and Jesus Green. A Project Officer has been assigned to the Jesus Green work and will work closely with Tree Officers. Officers examining the pedestrian/cyclist conflict at the Green Dragon pub are looking at options to widen the ramp. Officers will draw up proposals and engage with local residents’ groups.

·       Radegund/Perne Road. A Project Officer is working on a design in anticipation of funding from the DFT.

NB:  The DfT has since announced that this scheme has been awarded funding.

·       The County Transport Strategy for the City and South Cambs. CR is working in collaboration with County officers on a map highlighting key routes and junctions in need of improvement etc. For future discussion. This will be amended as issues are progressed.

·       West Cambridge Design Guide. This outlines the design of primary routes across the site. Routes will be designed to be set back, giving cycle lanes priority. Only primary routes and the ridgeway are being adopted. This was discussed today at the Cycling and Pedestrian Liaison Group. A footway will separate pedestrians from cycles to minimise conflict.

·       Fen Road Steering Group. The Joint Cycleways Budget has been approved.

·       The 20MPH Project is going before North Area Committee next week.

·       City Bike Parking Project. Approval has been given to start work. A Project Board is being set up.

·       Travel To Work. The County Council has published its census results.