Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Councillors pertaining to items on the agenda.

No declarations were received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 9 January 2012, for signature by the Chairman.

The minutes of the previous meeting were noted and signed as a correct record by the Chair. 

It was noted that it was not good practice to review each point within the minutes in the meeting, owing to the issues having not been formally advertised for discussion. At future meetings any requests for further information must be sent to the clerk for an update outside of the meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene will welcome those present.

Councillor Harrison, cabinet member for Highways and Street Scene welcomed those present to the meeting.  He described the work that the current administration was doing in order to promote cycling in the Borough and the monies being invested to that end.

He reminded the group that although cycling constituted only 5% of journeys made in the Borough it constituted 15% of the transport budget and this was a reflection of the level of commitment that the current administration had to raising the number of cyclists and journeys conducted by cycle.

He hoped that this meeting of the Cycling Liaison group (CLG) would input and comment on LBRuT draft strategy to broaden the reach of cycling and cycling projects in the Borough.

He thanked Powabike for the demonstration of electric bikes and trikes before the CLG meeting that evening.

To introduce those present and discuss the aims of the London Borough of Richmond Cycling Strategy and the promotion of cycling in the borough.

The Chair, Councillor Harborne addressed the Group.  She referred to her hopes for the group and how she hoped it might become more influential in the cycling policy arena in the future.  She described the ways in which she wanted to reinvigorate the work of the group, starting with the meeting this evening which would be, as per the agenda, almost wholly devoted to discussion of the draft cycling strategy.

Cllr Harborne went on to talk about some of the projects currently enjoying success in the Borough as examples of what could be achieved in the realm of cycling and cycling promotion when groups, agencies, public bodies and the council all worked together; such as:

• Cycle Safety Training provided by the council to all the boroughs school children
• Summer of Cycling a scheme to double the number of people cycling over summer 2012
• Richmond Station Bike Hub a bike hire scheme for Richmond Station developed through a partnership between South West Trains and Central Government
• Richmond Skyrides, run by British Cycling and Sky with Richmond Rides being some of the most popular in the country. This year the scheme would be funded by NHS Richmond as part of their priority to tackle mental health and obesity
• Breeze Rides to encourage more women to cycle
• Strictly Cycling introduced competitive cycling in local schools and encouraged participation in cycling
• Companion Cycling a charity enabling people with special needs to cycle on specially adapted cycles in Bushy Park, supported by volunteers

To identify issues for Cycling in the Borough and discuss ways of addressing these issues.

The floor was opened for discussion on the strategy.  The group looked at the aims and opportunities identified within the current version of the draft strategy and was asked to provide ideas on other important areas that might be considered for inclusion in the final version

The group identified the following themes as relevant to the strategy

(i)      Getting more people taking short journeys by bike.  Increase the percentage and put realistic and open targets in place.

(ii)    Increasing women cyclists & children & schools

(iii)   Creating safer routes & environment for cyclists

o        prioritise main roads over leisure spaces

o        create cycle friendly high streets

(iv)  Creating green transport plans

(v)    Considering barriers to cycling and addressing them

(vi)  Creating coherent pathways into cycling – and ‘upgrading’ journeys from leisure to ‘business’

(vii)Using cycling to tackle health inequalities

(viii)Linking the strategy to deliverable objectives

(ix)  Addressing old by-laws that may inhibit cycling

(x)    Raising the status of cycling

(xi)  Becoming a cycling borough

(xii)Treating cycling organisations as stakeholders and creating links to consultation routes for those interested in responding.

Councillor Harborne thanked the group for their comments.  She was pleased to see that although Richmond had the 2^nd highest number of journeys conducted by bike of all the London Boroughs their was still appetite within the cycling community to increase that number.

During the discussion the following issues were raised and comments made:

(i)      that some of the suggestions were strategic aims and some were more practical considerations that would be important in achieving strategic aims

(ii)    that in order for the group to become more efficient it should be better aligned within the local government structure – this would hopefully lead to better pathways for consultation and better communications in general.  It was considered realistic by officers present that the group be consulted on new road projects that may affect cyclists in the future.

To discuss the criteria by which the group can identify projects that meet the aims and objectives of the group, or which can help to address issues identified.

After identifying the themes and aims that were important to the group and agreeing that those included already were also relevant the group was asked to look at specific projects which might go some way to achieving any or all of the strategic aims identified. Each member of the group was asked to vote for a 1^st and 2^nd preference for which they would wish to see the group support. 

Project ideas suggested and ranked in order of priority:

(i)      Cycle to work day [possibly as part of Bike week]

(ii)    Creating / supporting social cycling

(iii)   Create cycle routes to and from the Borough and improve safety and timeliness of journeys

(iv)  Continuation of Strictly Cycling &  Creation of an Annual Road race

(v)    Inclusion of cycling in GP referral schemes

(vi)  Increasing publicity for projects (such as skyride

(vii)Encourage the introduction of Boris Bikes in the Borough

(viii)                       Further promote social cycling events to encourage people to return to cycling

(ix)  Create a ‘what’s new’ website – co-ordinate information

(x)    Run a Borough wide consultation on cycling with postcodes to identify issues in each locality.

(xi)  Linking in to Bike Week

(xii)Creating partnership arrangements with businesses [to encourage cycling to work]

(xiii)Creation of Off road route at Bushy Park

(xiv)Create secure parking on allotments

(xv)Create cycling ambassadors

(xvi)Breeze cycling groups – encourage / create

To discuss how the group can push forward identified priorities and supported projects.

Following some further discussion of the votes received it was agreed that the Group would support a ‘cycle to work day’ and that this if possible would coincide with national Bike week.  It was noted that this would be a change of direction for the group and that a ‘working meeting’ may have to be arranged in order to plan the event.

The Chair thanked those present for an effective and helpful meeting and hoped that the group could continue to grow in this vein.  In the future the membership of the group would continue to be encouraged to grow and the following actions considered and implemented where possible:

• Consultation with the group to be formalised and conducted on all road projects of a certain size, to be agreed
• Web pages be reviewed in order to create a more user friendly access to the group its papers and links to other cycling issues
• Review of the groups terms of reference and membership and status within the council be undertaken and reported to the Group
• Meetings continue to be strategically focussed with ‘working meetings’ for project work – other enquiries to be redirected so as not to use valuable meeting time.

The meeting was closed at 8:15pm