Council and democracy
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Minutes:
1. Apologies – Mike Davies.
2. Minutes of the
last meeting Wednesday 28th September 2016 and matters arising.
Minutes
agreed.
DA
was welcomed as the new Lib Dem representative on the Group for this municipal
year.
MS
requested that the next meeting include a presentation on regulations related
to cycling on pavements.
3. Palmer’s Walk –
update (AF)
A
total of 62 responses were received following the re-consultation in
September/October 2016. This was 3 times more than the original August 2015
consultation. On the question of the proposed widening, 41% of respondents
supported the proposal to widen the footpath in some form, although 59%
supported the option to maintain the current path width of 1.2 metres. These
results were taken to East Area Committee 12th January.
On
the separate question of whether there should be a cycling ban on Palmer’s
Walk, 59 responses were received with 46 (or 78%) supporting the proposal for a
ban.
LW
made a brief statement to the Group urging it to support the erection of a ‘no
cycling’ sign on Palmer’s Walk similar to those currently in use on Christ’s
Pieces and which according to LW are effective. If cycle traffic is removed she
stated that there would therefore be no justification for the widening of the
path and that this proposal in the view of the majority of residents should be
abandoned. LW asked for an assurance that any future proposal to change the
width of Palmer’s Walk footpath would be the subject of public consultation.
NB: Following the
meeting the Chair gave this assurance.
MS
highlighted the need for consistency in signage across all the open spaces
instead of an ad hoc approach and that in his view, there was some doubt that
the erection of this sign in isolation would be effective. The cost of widening
the path would likely be more than the original £20,000 estimated in 2015
according to JR but a detailed estimated cost had not yet been carried out.
KB
reported that East Area Committee Members were happy for the Group to point the
way forward regarding this situation. The issue of whether cycling should be
prohibited was discussed but this issue was outside the context of the
consultation. MS suggested re-visiting the cycling issue again; approaching it
holistically with input from ARU, whereas DA stated that he would support the
widening of the path but that this should include segregation in order that
cycling in a city such as Cambridge is encouraged.
RECOMMENDATION: The
Palmer’s Walk footpath to remain unchanged to reflect the majority of views
recorded by the 2016 re-consultation.
The separate issue of
prohibiting cycling along the footpath to be revisited later in the year.
4. Promotion grant
funding
Although
the total amount being sought by applicants amounts to
£27,000, the Group were informed that only £5,020 remained in the budget
following the cycle parking audit and the re-printing of the City Cycle Map
which is badly in need of updating.
KB
stressed that the remit of the Group was to fund projects that would increase
interest in walking and cycling and that due to the budget constraints,
these would have to take priority over projects that would largely benefit
existing users.
·
Historyworks.
£3,950
is being sought to fund staffing and the designing and printing of promotional
material inviting local residents to 4 public events encouraging Cambridge
residents to explore their local area on foot.
VERDICT – APPROVED.
This innovative project is intended to encourage walking and in particular
encourage young people to explore and appreciate their local area. Staffing
costs could be higher than estimated but the number of days
of activity are limited. The project could potentially be extended to
other areas within the city. (£3,020 awarded)
·
Mayfield and Milton
Road Primary Schools
£5,000
(each) is being sought to improve cycle/scooter parking provision and therefore
increase sustainable travel.
DECISION DEFERRED.
ACTION: CR/Mike
Davies to clarify whether alternative funding could be used for schools.
·
Cambridge Council for
Voluntary Service (CCVS) - cycle parking.
£3,456
is being sought for the provision of secure cycle parking for staff and
visitors to their Arbury Court offices.
There is an issue of
land ownership related to this project according to CR with negotiations
ongoing with the City Council’s Housing service. The applicant could also be
encouraged to opt for an alternative style of cycle rack that would be less
expensive and therefore require a smaller bid.
DECISION DEFERRED –
subject to the outcome of current negotiations.
·
Cycle parking audit.
A
bid from ‘ParkThatBike’ www.parkthatbike.com had already been
tabled at the last meeting but at the meeting it was agreed that the Cambridge
Cycling Campaign (Camcycle) should be given the
opportunity to submit a proposal and this was presented at the meeting by RdB.
Concerns were raised
by the Group regarding Camcycle’s proposal; with its
final report and list of recommendations that would likely be more aspirational
than practical. The need for a robust approach was emphasised.
VERDICT – The cycle
parking audit to be awarded to ‘ParkThat Bike’
·
Camcycle (RdB)
o BUG guide (Bicycle User Group)
To work with the larger employers in
Cambridge to promote cycling to work. The guide would be provided to staff to
help develop small campaign groups and would include case studies, policies and
information on accessing LA resources etc. (RdB
confirmed that negotiations for City Deal funding were progressing.)
The Group questioned
the effectiveness of this guide that without a champion in each firm was
unlikely in the Group’s view to reach its target audience. There are also
similar guides currently being provided by organisations such as www.Sustrans.org.uk etc.
VERDICT – Bid unsuccessful
o Cycle Parking Guide
Intended as a guide for local businesses on
how to improve cycle parking, this would build on the detailed and technical
cycle parking policy and guidance provided by the City Council. First printed
in 2008, the updated guide would place more emphasis on provision for
non-standard and child carrying bikes. £3,500 is being sought (total estimated
budget £10,000.)
VERDICT – APPROVED.
Although Camcycle would need to be clear as to who
this guide would be targeted towards (and that specifications on measurements
and the use of space would need to be realistic) this guide was supported by
the Group. The need for the guide to be Cambridge-specific was also emphasised.
(£2,000 awarded)
o Women’s Cycling Conference.
To promote, celebrate and encourage cycling
among women in Cambridge. This would be a festival of events across the city
involving schools etc. Phase 1 would focus on sponsorship, Phase 2 on the
organisation. (£3,500 being sought for the project management, venue costs and
printing/promotion costs.)
VERDICT – Bid
unsuccessful. The Group felt that such a conference would have more of a
national rather than a local relevance and would likely incur large
accommodation costs. The ability of such an event to increase cycling numbers
was questioned. It was therefore felt the approval for funding could not be
justified.
5. Cycleways programme.
CR
and JR requested steer from the Group regarding how current project should be
prioritised in terms of funding.
·
Maids Causeway
roundabout. Improvement to the pedestrian and cycle
crossing linking to Midsummer Common and other safety improvements that could
be undertaken within budget. RETAIN.
·
Snakey Path. Although regarded as a critical route, this
is currently badly overgrown and hazardous for both pedestrians and cyclists. RETAIN
·
Storey’s Way. Redesigning the pinch
point for improved cycle safety. RETAIN
·
Solar lights. This has already been
trialled on Lammas Land and officers are considering further provision.
Responses so far to the EIP consultation have been positive according to JR
although there are concerns regarding the over-urbanisation of Cambridge’s open
spaces. Solar lighting is very cost-effective but tends to polarise views.
Approval would be needed from the Exec Councillor. RETAIN
·
Dawes Lane. To improve the route heavily used by
residents travelling to and from Netherhall School. RETAIN.
·
Tins Path. To improve surfacing
and signage on this key route. RETAIN.
·
Wadloes Road to Ditton Meadows path. This is a mandatory
cycle lane. RETAIN
·
Bateman Street. The use of double
yellow lines to prohibit parking onto the cycle lane would need TRO funding. RETAIN.
·
Grantchester Meadows
access. Located
in an area beyond the adopted highway (and privately owned by St Catharine’s
College), CR will need to have a dialogue with the College Bursar regarding
proposed improvements. RETAIN (but as a
lower priority)
·
Davey Road. Reduction in parking
for an improved cycle route. The Group agreed that parking regulation in this
area could be improved but that it would need dialogue with local ward
Councillors. The new station to the north of the city could reduce the volume
of cars parked by commuters. RETAIN (but
as a lower priority)
·
Garret Hostel
Lane/Senate House Passage. This is a key route between West Cambridge and the city
centre. Improvements to surfacing for Garrett Hostel Lane was really a
maintenance issue and could be considered as setting a precedent. Any changes
to the Senate House Passage may meet opposition. RETAIN (but as a lower priority)
ACTION: Nuns Way
Pedestrian/Cycle route to be added to the Cycleways
programme. The Group would be happy to include other projects put forward
either by Councillors or residents as appropriate.
6. City Cycle
Schemes.
·
MS
enquired as to the Arbury Road scheme and why the section nearest to Milton
Road had not been included at the outset. CR stated that the issue of residents’ parking would have caused problems
regarding the deliverability of the project and for that reason this section of
Arbury Road was deferred for a future scheme (currently being considered for
the next tranche if City Deal funding)
·
Green
End Road/Nuffield Road scheme. This is a City Deal project and the public
consultation was being undertaken with an event at Brown Fields Community
Centre on 14th February.
7. Date of next
meeting - 15th June 4.30pm in the Members Lounge, Guildhall.