To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mark Powell, Steven Shepherd, David Usher and Chris Haywood.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To confirm the Part I minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2016 be approved, subject to the following amendment:

The Ascot to Windsor Cycle Route on p.8 to read: ‘A route already in place on the other side was interrupted by roads and driveways’.

To receive the above report.

1.    Gordon Oliver, Principal Transport Policy Officer introduced the Cycling Strategy 2016-2026 (Consultation Draft) to Members of the Forum and highlighted the following key points:

Ø  The pre-consultation draft had been circulated to Members and then to the Forum.

Ø  It was a ten year strategy

Ø  The strategy draws on best practice.

Ø  3% of residents used bikes and cycling as a way of transport.

Ø  There were significant variations in cycle use across different areas of the Borough

Ø  There was also a difference in gender with four men to every woman cycling.

Ø  The strategy set the vision for cycling to be seen as a safe, attractive, healthy and normal form of everyday transport.

Ø  A key focus of the strategy was to connect residential areas to destinations.

Ø  The strategy used smart objectives which included:

o   15% increase in cycling

o   10% reduction in cycling related injuries

o   60% cyclist satisfaction.

Ø  The strategy aimed to tap into Public Health and Developer Contributions where possible to implement the strategy.

Ø  KPIs used for monitoring included:

o   Increase in cycling levels

o   Increase in the number of female cyclists

o   Reducing casualties

o   Satisfaction with cycling provision

o   Training children through Bikeability schemes

o   Reducing cycle thefts.

2.    The strategy divided the Borough into 10 areas and looked at existing cycling data and where casualties were occurring, the Borough’s cycling team had also consulted local Neighbourhood Plan Groups and requested their input. The draft Cycling Strategy gave the Forum the chance for early comment and feedback from members of the Forum were requested no later than 24 October 2016. Following that deadline, and once feedback had been collated, the strategy would then go out to the wider public.

3.    General comments made by the Cycle Forum Members on the Cycling Strategy included:

Ø  Paragraph 1.2 should read: This strategy builds and identifies our priorities for capital and revenue investment in cycling for the period 2016/17 to 2025/26.

Ø  Paragraph 1.3 should read: We will achieve this by providing a network of safe, convenient, connected and legible cycle routes and by improving road conditions so they are safer for and encourage cyclists.

Ø  Page 2 of the Cycling Strategy under Partnership Working should have a bullet point on liaising with schools and encourage children to cycle to school if safe to do so.

4.    Members of the Forum requested exact figures on how much funding per head of population the Borough was planning to spend on cycling and requested confirmation of whether or not the Borough was above the national average for the country. Susy Shearer stated that due to Crossrail, possible expansion of Heathrow and close proximity to London, it would be good to the funding per head of population looking more like the figures for London at £10 per head spent. The Principal Transport Policy Officer estimated that at the present time, spending equalled the national average at approximately £1.30 per head.

v  Action:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To include:

Ø  Police action against drivers who close pass cyclists

Ø  Signage of cycling danger spots

Ø  Cycle Forum communications

Ø  Cycling in Peascod Street

Ø  Gordon Oliver, Principal Transport Policy Officer introduced the Cycling Strategy 2016-2026 (Consultation Draft) to Members of the Forum and highlighted the following key points:

Ø  The pre-consultation draft had been circulated to Members and then to the Forum.

Ø  It was a ten year strategy

Ø  The strategy draws on best practice.

Ø  3% of residents used bikes and cycling as a way of transport.

Ø  There were significant variations in cycle use across different areas of the Borough

Ø  There was also a difference in gender with four men to every woman cycling.

Ø  The strategy set the vision for cycling to be seen as a safe, attractive, healthy and normal form of everyday transport.

Ø  A key focus of the strategy was to connect residential areas to destinations.

Ø  The strategy used smart objectives which included:

o   15% increase in cycling

o   10% reduction in cycling related injuries

o   60% cyclist satisfaction.

Ø  The strategy aimed to tap into Public Health and Developer Contributions where possible to implement the strategy.

Ø  KPIs used for monitoring included:

o   Increase in cycling levels

o   Increase in the number of female cyclists

o   Reducing casualties

o   Satisfaction with cycling provision

o   Training children through Bikeability schemes

o   Reducing cycle thefts.

Ø  The strategy divided the Borough into 10 areas and looked at existing cycling data and where casualties were occurring, the Borough’s cycling team had also consulted local Neighbourhood Plan Groups and requested their input. The draft Cycling Strategy gave the Forum the chance for early comment and feedback from members of the Forum were requested no later than 24 October 2016. Following that deadline, and once feedback had been collated, the strategy would then go out to the wider public.

Ø  General comments made by the Cycle Forum Members on the Cycling Strategy included:

Ø  Paragraph 1.2 should read: This strategy builds and identifies our priorities for capital and revenue investment in cycling for the period 2016/17 to 2025/26.

Ø  Paragraph 1.3 should read: We will achieve this by providing a network of safe, convenient, connected and legible cycle routes and by improving road conditions so they are safer for and encourage cyclists.

Ø  Page 2 of the Cycling Strategy under Partnership Working should have a bullet point on liaising with schools and encourage children to cycle to school if safe to do so.

Ø  Members of the Forum requested exact figures on how much funding per head of population the Borough was planning to spend on cycling and requested confirmation of whether or not the Borough was above the national average for the country. Susy Shearer stated that due to Crossrail, possible expansion of Heathrow and close proximity to London, it would be good to the funding per head of population looking more like the figures for London at £10 per head spent. The Principal Transport Policy Officer estimated that at the present time, spending equalled the national average at approximately £1.30 per head.

v  Action:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.