Agenda and minutes

1. Apologies – John Richards (City Council) and Mike Davies (Cambridgeshire County Council)

2. Minutes of the last meeting 16^th July 2015 and matters arising.

·       Camsight tandem shelter. CR contacted various manufacturers following concerns regarding the required size but none offered anything suitable. Camsight have decided to approach a local builder for a bespoke shelter. If unsuccessful, Cllr Blencowe suggested ‘Borley Brothers Engineering’ could be approached as a local firm who have worked for the City Council on a variety of small projects.

·       Station Area. CR has met with Abellio and Brookgate regarding additional cycle parking near the station building. This was not supported due to a management issue. Three more cycle parking blocks have been added to the existing temporary cycle park with access improved. Network Rail are looking into improving the area outside the Mott Macdonald building where bikes are randomly parked.

·       ACTION: Cllrs Blencowe and Robertson to continue to raise cycle parking at their regular contractors’ meetings. (Jonathan Tym of Network Rail has confirmed his attendance at the next meeting.)

With random cycle parking likely to continue after the completion of the new cycle park, the Group agreed there would need to be careful promotion of the new (free) facility to minimise this as far as possible.

Cllr Moore highlighted the issue of the various signal control boxes and other obstacles and trip hazards around the station that makes navigating the area extremely dangerous for the ambulant disabled and partially sighted. 

ACTION: Access officer Mark Taylor to assist in an audit of the station area in order to explore where short-term improvements can be made.

·       South East Cycle route signage. Cllr Robertson had been referring to the route between Mill Road, Natal Road and Burnside heading into the city. CR confirmed the Tins Path improvements should be complete by December.

·       ACTION: CR to audit the existing signage of the route and identify gaps.

3. Promotion Grant Funding

·       Cambridge City Locality Bicycle Project.

The project would be aimed at children or young people who may have had difficulties socially or at school and are risking exclusion. All bikes would be donated, with funding to be used for young people to train in cycle maintenance with the aim of achieving a recognised qualification and to pass on their skills to others. Four projects would be run per year comprising of six sessions with at least four participants per project. (Total cost £1,427)

The Group’s comments:

Although the outcome of this project is unknown, (and there was some reservation expressed regarding using City Council funds for a County-led project) the Group felt this was nevertheless a good concept that could be of real benefit to young people for relatively little cost.

APPROVED (unanimously) (approx. £5000 remaining in the budget)

The Group went on to discuss other potential cycle-related projects.

·       ‘Espresso Library’. Cycle parking provision was proving to be problematic due to Highways issues according to RdB. Cllr Smart suggested the café was at a good location for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.