- there needs to be background briefing for councillors on the committee on the economic, environmental and health and wellbeing impact of cycling eg evidence from growth of bike shops and people in the bike business in Sheffield, Cycle to Health, personal examples from people who cycle as well as the evidence from national sources like CTC, Sustrans – more examples please
- the cllrs are keen to determine what has been effective in Sheffield wrt cycling, eg cycle training for school students and Sheffield residents and workers, Bike Boost and bike loan schemes, examples of some of the cycling infrastructure on roads, mountain bike trail at Parkwood Springs – more examples please
SCC’s Scrutiny Committee for Environment and Economic Well-Being will inquire into cycling in Sheffield from August 2013 until March 2014.
A Scrutiny Committee is the local government equivalent to a Parliamentary Select Committee and this inquiry has the support of all the elected parties in Sheffield.
Scrutiny Committees have the power to request evidence from stakeholders outside and inside SCC.
The committee will take written and oral evidence from stakeholders with an interest in cycling in Sheffield as well as seek advice from interested parties outside Sheffield.
The committee would consider and evaluate the evidence and produce a report.
Initial thoughts are the committee’s final report would aim to:
- identify effective current effective practice in Sheffield wrt cycling;
- make recommendations for the effective development of cycling in Sheffield;
- make recommendations for an effective process of consultation about, and monitoring of, developments wrt cycling with cyclists.
So these could be the Committee’s Terms of Reference
Meantime current developments and developments wrt cycling, e.g. introduction of cycle audits, appointment of an officer with responsibility for cycling, will proceed. This scrutiny is not a delaying tactic and present developments in cycling should not be blighted.
Mick Nott, current Chair of CycleSheffield will be co-opted to collaborate as an adviser, alongside SCC staff, to the committee.
It is proposed that the advisor would consult with cycling groups and other stakeholders and advise the committee with:
- the scope the depth and breadth of the scrutiny (and giving it a name!);
- framing the scrutiny’s terms of reference;
- preparing briefings for committee members and identifying a range of stakeholders to give evidence;
- advising committee members before and during the taking of evidence;
- helping with the collation of evidence and advising during the writing of the report.
The final report would be agreed by the committee.
The recommendations in the final report would be considered by the cabinet of SCC’s Council.
For more details and/or advice please contact
Mick Nott
Chair, CycleSheffield
