Agenda item

7.1

The Committee considered a report of Councillor Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, which had been submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23^rd July 2014.  The report contained information on the Committee’s Cycling Inquiry and attached, as a appendices, a response from Councillor Bramall, which contained a number of proposed actions, and details of timescales in respect of such actions.

7.2

In attendance for this item were Dick Proctor, Transport Planning Manager, and Mick Nott, Cycle Sheffield. 

7.3

Prior to the consideration of the report, the Chair referred to a letter she had received from Councillor Harry Harpham, Deputy Chair, Cabinet, asking that the Cabinet’s thanks be passed to her, the other Members of this Committee and anyone else involved, for all the hard work in undertaking the Inquiry and for the outcomes achieved, which would hopefully drive forward cycling in the City, and build on the legacy from the recent Tour de France.

7.4

Dick Proctor reported on the recommendations from the Inquiry, together with the Cabinet Member response to each of the recommendations, and the following responses were made to questions from, and comments made by, Members of the Committee and Mick Nott, under the following headings:-

7.5

Strong Leadership

7.5.1

Dick Proctor stated that there was already evidence of cross-service working in the Council, together with broader networking, and that the recommendations under this heading would start to be progressed after the Summer holidays.

7.5.2

Mick Nott stated that he had already met with Councillor Leigh Bramall to discuss the issue of strong leadership, and had indicated that whilst Cycle Sheffield was pleased with the recommendations and the Cabinet Member’s response, the organisation would continue to lobby the Council in this regard.  He added that he was aware that  cycling was growing rapidly in Sheffield, but not elsewhere in the City region, and that he believed that the hard work undertaken by Cycle Sheffield in promoting cycling in the City had proved very beneficial.

7.5.3

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, Dick Proctor stated that David Caulfield, Head of Regeneration and Development Services, would be the responsible Council officer for driving the project forward within the Council, and that the Sheffield City Region leadership would take a collective approach.

7.6

Getting the Right Infrastructure in Place

7.6.1

Dick Proctor stated that the Council was giving particular prominence to the strategic network to start with, and was working with the public transport operators, although there were still outstanding issues regarding funding mechanisms.  There was a need to look at the funding balance from both a strategic and local point of view.  He stated that further work was required in connection with the arrangement of cycling and walking audits.

7.6.2

Mick Nott stated that whilst Cycle Sheffield was pleased to note the Cabinet recommendations, he believed that there should be an officer appointed in the Council, solely to deal with driving the project forward.  He also believed that funding should be targeted on specific projects, such as new schools and colleges.  He stated that whilst Cycle Sheffield was now being able to view some development plans much earlier, which provided a better opportunity for comment, he believed that officers needed training in connection with what cycling facilities would be appropriate as part of large-scale development schemes.

7.6.3

In response to questions raised by Members of the Committee, Dick Proctor stated that as there was only limited funding available at the present time, the Council needed to identify priority work and then work out what was practical using such funds.  He stated that the Head of Regeneration and Development Services was looking to see how the issue regarding the requirement for a Cycle Audit to be undertaken in connection with all development schemes could be written into the planning conditions.  The Chair added that there was a need to develop strategic plans to enable the Council to be able to make bids for funding for specific projects.

7.7

Getting People Cycling

7.7.1

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, Dick Proctor stated that it was important for people to start cycling at a young age, and that it was very important to ensure that the roads were safe.  The Council had invested in a number of 20 mph zones and was well aware of the benefits of officers visiting schools in order to educate children and young people on all aspects of road safety.

7.7.2

Mick Nott stated that there was an issue with regard to the safety of pedestrians, as well as cyclists.  He believed that there was a need for increased enforcement regarding speeding and that continued work was required with regard to developing more 20 mph zones, as part of a long-term strategy, which would involve the lobbying of Members of Parliament.  He concluded by expressing his thanks and appreciation to the Committee in terms of the Inquiry, particularly referring to the cross-party support.

7.8

RESOLVED: That this Committee:-

(a) notes the contents of the report submitted to the Cabinet on 23rd July 2014, containing a response to its Cycling Inquiry, together with the information now reported and the responses provided to the questions raised and, in particular, the support shown by the Cabinet in agreeing a new strategic approach to broaden and increase participation in cycling in the City; and

(b) requests that an update report be submitted to a meeting in 12  months’ time.