Minutes:
The Director of City Regeneration and Development provided an update on the progress of the physical elements of the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme, which included propositions on how to proceed with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Sustainable and Active Travel elements of the fund.
She provided an update under the following headings:
· Re-Imagining the Public Realm – City Centre Interventions;
· DfI Sustainable and Active Travel Fund - E-cargo bike pilot, Active/Sustainable Travel Hubs, City-wide covered cycle stands, Belfast Bikes; and
· DfI Response to Questions on Segregated and Pop-Up Cycle Lanes.
The Strategic Director reminded Members that the report was restricted, however, he advised that the restriction would be lifted in relation to the section on the Belfast Bikes, once the decisions had been ratified by the Council, at its meeting in June.
During discussion, Members raised concerns in relation to the location of Belfast Bikes and the lack of provision in some areas of the city, together with the impact of health inequality. It was highlighted by a number of Members that the level of cycling infrastructure investment in North and West Belfast was disproportionate to that of the other parts of the city and that cycling provision should be brought forward to address the greatest need and not allocated geographically. It was also highlighted that, although some quadrants of the city had large elements of cycling infrastructure, this was not representative of the coverage of the total geographical area with significant areas with little to no infrastructure.
The Directors answered a range of questions in relation to the locations of the proposed new bike stations, the need to link active travel sites across city, secured city centre cycle cage and city wide cycle stands, active travel hubs, pavement café licences and the impact on accessibility together with the reporting of issues, eCargo bike trial and eScooter legislation. The Director for City Regeneration and Development highlighted that further information would be brought into the Committee following the completion of the proposed procurement activities relating to covered cycle stands including type and locations of the covered cycle stands including the secure cycle unit option.
The Strategic Director advised that feedback would be provided to the Customer Hub Team regarding the signposting of how the public could report issues in relation to pavement café licenses.
In relation to the response from DfI regarding the linear meters of segregated and pop-up cycle lanes that had been developed in the city since 2016, at the request of a Member, it was suggested that the Committee write to the Department to express the Council’s disappointment in the Departments lack of ambition and ability to prioritise the provision of segregated or pop cycle lanes, cycle infrastructure and road reallocation, extended pavements and pedestrianisation access in the past year, in comparison to the progress and work undertaken by other cities. Further suggestions for inclusion in the letter included the importance to progress such works in consultation with local communities and businesses directly impacted by the interventions, and also a request for an update on eScooter legislation and the need for the trial of eScooters to progress in Belfast as soon as possible.
The Members of the Committee recommended that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to:
· Note the updates on the DfC Revitalisation Programme projects contained within this paper and note also the continued importance of the use of streets and spaces to assist businesses and communities as part of a wider programme of work focused on Reimagining the Public Realm;
· Agree to the allocation of the project funding within the DfI Sustainable and Active Travel element of the Revitalisation Programme, as outlined in the report;
· Note that these approvals would not be subject to call-in to enable the procurement process to commence and complete within the timeframe of the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme;
· Note the response from DfI following questions raised at the November 2020 Special Meeting of the Committee in relation to cycle lanes;
· Feedback to be provided in relation to the signposting of how the public could report issues regarding pavement café licences; and
· Write to the Minister for Infrastructure to express the Council’s disappointment in the Departments lack of ambition and ability to capitalise the modal change brought forward through the pandemic year. The letter should express Members concerns regarding the low level of provision of segregated or pop-up cycle lanes, cycle infrastructure and road reallocation, extended pavements and pedestrianisation in the past year in comparison to the progress and work undertaken by other cities. Members agreed to ask the Minister to prioritise these interventions, while also highlighting the importance to progress such works in consultation with local businesses and communities that would be directly impacted by the schemes, and to also request an update on eScooter legislation and that the trial of eScooters to progress in Belfast as soon as possible.