Agenda item

To consider a progress report on delivery of the Tour de France Legacy

The Board considered an update report on the legacy of the Tour de France. In attendance to address the Board and answer Members’ queries were:

-  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Digital and Creative Technologies, Culture and Skills

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer, Culture and Sport

-  Mark Allman, Head of Service for Sport

-  Simon Brereton, Economic Development Programme Leader

-  Tim Draper, Principal Transport Planner – Influencing Travel Behaviour

-  Gill Keddie, Sport and Active Lifestyles Development Manager

The Executive Member and officers presented an overview of legacy activity since the previous report in July 2014, including key economic data and the ‘Three Inspirational Days’ report on the impact of the UK stages of the Tour de France. The Board was informed that recent research through the Citizens’ Panel would provide a good baseline of cycling activity in the city.

The following issues were raised in discussion:

·  Congratulations to Peter Smith on his MBE award

·  Members were pleased to note the amount and range of activity reported and stressed the need to maintain the momentum for the legacy to be successful

·  A suggestion that the display currently in the Civic Hall ante chamber would be seen by more people if it was housed in the museum, and confirmation that artefacts were being collected for a display at the Museum

·  Confirmation that the Countdown Clock was currently on public display at the Doubletree Hotel on Granary Wharf while a permanent home is found

·  A possible Sustrans bid to develop a cycleway from Crossgates to Thorner

·  Recent announcements about new national City Connect funding and likely allocations for West Yorkshire through the Combined Authority

·  Development of the tourist offer in Leeds, building on the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire

·  Parental concerns about children’s safety as a significant barrier to more children cycling

·  Work with British Cycling to target mothers as the key to increasing family participation in cycling

·  Issues about the behaviour of cyclists and pedestrians in shared areas and the need for considerate sharing of space

·  The availability of Bike to Work and other salary sacrifice and bike recycling schemes

·  Cycling should be for everyone; it should be normal and safe

·  The sea change needed in funding and attitudes if cycling is to really take off as a preferred mode of transport

·  Information about the Tour de Yorkshire from 1-3 May and the need to communicate with local residents and businesses as soon as the final route is announced on 21 January

·  Queries about the timing of the event so close to the General Election

·  Concern at the delay in establishing the Programme Board. The Scrutiny Board requested that resources be reprioritised to progress this and that an update be provided at their next meeting

RESOLVED

(a)  That a progress report on the establishment of the Cycling Starts Here Programme Board be brought to the Scrutiny Board’s next meeting; and

(b)  That a further progress report on the Tour de France Legacy be brought to the Scrutiny Board in 9 months’ time.

(Councillor Selby left the meeting at 3.20pm during the discussion of this item.)