Issue - meetings

This is the second report to update Members on the progress of the Cycling City Programme, it provides an update on the programme over the last 6 months and highlights a number of successes.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the Cycling City York programme be noted and that the aims and achievements of the programme continue to be supported.

                        (ii)        That a further update report be received in March 2010, at the end of the second year.

REASON:      To ensure that the programme stays on track and delivers the measures necessary to increase levels of cycling, and to ensure that funding is allocated to schemes most likely to deliver the programme’s aim and thus strengthen the case for future years’ funding and the benefits that brings, including reducing congestion and air pollution and having a healthy population.

Members considered a report which provided a second update on the progress of the Cycling City programme, including work completed over the last six months and successes accomplished so far.  Further updated information on growth in cycling had been circulated to Members before the meeting (this is now attached to the agenda on the Council’s website as an additional annex to the report).

Since the start of this period, governance structures had been agreed and a Steering Group had been formed, chaired by Cllr Steve Galloway and comprising key Council Officers and stakeholders.  Stakeholder project groups had been meeting on a regular basis and the first full Stakeholder meeting had taken place in June.  The programme would focus upon revenue works, improving the existing cycle infrastructure and creating new infrastructure.  A communications strategy had been developed to ensure more effective and proactive communication with stakeholders and the public, using the results of the city-wide consultation carried out in the spring.

The report highlighted a number of successful events and actions over the past few months, including a Biking Viking event in April, involving 70 school children, events during Bike Week, development and delivery of York’s first Festival of Cycling and completion and distribution of a new York cycle map.  Progress with the Schools Group and participation, work place and public initiatives was detailed in paragraphs 26 to 39.  The programme now had a ‘Bike It’ officer and would shortly have the services of a new co-ordinator, funded by CTC and Cycling England (CE).  Progress on the cycle infrastructure, detailed in paragraphs 41 to 49, included completion of the Clifton Bridge scheme and the Beckfield Lane to Manor School scheme.  Following a second CE meeting for the Cycling Towns / Cities, Officers had agreed to form a working partnership between York and Cambridge cycling programmes.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the progress made on the Cycling City York programme be noted and that the aims and achievements of the programme continue to be supported.

                        (ii)        That a further update report be received in March 2010, at the end of the second year. ¹

REASON:      To ensure that the programme stays on track and delivers the measures necessary to increase levels of cycling, and to ensure that funding is allocated to schemes most likely to deliver the programme’s aim and thus strengthen the case for future years’ funding and the benefits that brings, including reducing congestion and air pollution and having a healthy population.