Project Updates

Thank you to everyone who took part in the cycling consultation back in 2020. We used your feedback as part of the evidence for our funding bid from British Cycling in 2021. As a result of this successful bid we are now developing a cycling hub at Summerhill Country Park which will provide accessible, traffic-free community cycling facilities and opportunities. The project is aimed at young people, families, disabled people and women, to enable them to cycle more safely, more often. The project will also support people to further develop their cycling skills in track and BMX, in partnership with several local clubs when construction is complete.

Work has now started on the site and we hope to have the works finished by late spring/early summer 2022. When completed, the site will include:

• A 750-metre “free-form” tarmac, fenced and floodlit cycle track. Set on and across gently sloping terrain, incorporating varying elevations and degrees of cornering difficulty as shown within the track design, the track will be suitable and safe for riders of all ages and abilities.

• A dedicated balance bike and learn-to-ride area, for younger people keen to learn new skills which will be sighted on the grassed area to the side of the Visitors Centre.

• Spectator fencing, “warm up/cool down” area and improved corner banking, to enhance the BMX track.

• 2 Secure cycle storage containers

We will continue to provide further updates as the project progresses.

Thank you to those who took part in the consultation. The feedback on the proposal for the library relocation was positive.

You also told us that you were interested in activities and social groups which could take place in the building in addition to the main library service. As a result of what you told us; we are now planning a programme of events which will take place in the relocated space. The new space lends itself to use as for a range of activities so look out for details.

We will soon be relocating the books to the new building and details of the opening of the new library and the range of activities and services offered will be published as soon as they are confirmed.

The results of the survey were presented to the Council's Constitution Committee in November 2021 as follows:

The majority of respondents to the survey were in favour of keeping all the existing Member Champion roles:

• Heritage Champion - 75% in favour
• Mental Health Champion - 85% in favour
• Older Persons' Champion - 85% in favour
• Refugee Champion - 60% in favour
• Children in Care Champion - 90% in favour
• Animal Rights Champion - 70% in favour
• Anti-social Behaviour Champion - 75% in favour
• Community Wealth Building Champion - 70% in favour

Following input from the survey, the Committee decided that the Member Champion roles should be allocated to the Chair or Vice Chair of the appropriate Committee, unless it is considered more appropriate for another member of that Committee to be appointed to the role.

A number of suggestions for potential new roles were received in the survey, most particularly the idea of creating an environmental or climate change champion, which was suggested several times. However, the Committee felt that this role should be across all the committees rather than falling on one individual.

Responses to the consultation were received from members of the public who had experienced homelessness, members of the Homelessness Prevention Partnership, social landlords, mental health service providers, police, housing advice agencies, specialist support providers and council staff / departments.

All responses that were received agreed with the key proposed objectives which were to:

• Prevent and relieve homelessness
• End rough sleeping
• Provide temporary accommodation, support people to move on and increase housing options
• Support complex adults

A number of suggestions for additions / actions were proposed by respondents to the consultation including:

• Clearer descriptions of what council services are already in place to alleviate homelessness and rough sleeping
• Explanations of how and when temporary accommodation is used (including Bed and Breakfast)
• Clarification of how homeless young people are supported
• An understanding on licensing and landlord accreditation as a means to tackle homelessness
• Assurances around sufficiency of provision for victims of domestic abuse
• Work with the most complex service users needed further attention by the very nature of their presenting needs (mental and physical ill-health, substance misuse, financial hardship etc)

A report detailing the results of the consultation and the suggested additions was submitted to Finance and Policy Committee on the 15th November 2021. The Committee decided that (subject to the reference to landlord accreditation in the Strategy being amended to reflect that this work was being undertaken by the Audit and Governance Committee) the homelessness reduction and rough sleeping strategy be approved.

Read the committee report and decision here.

Download the final version of the strategy here.