You may be aware that businesses and other organisations in the city centre are proposing the establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID).

The proposal they have initiated would improve their ability to fund contributions to initiatives in the centre like the Christmas Lights and the St Andrews Street taxi marshalls and make new contributions, including to add extra street cleaning to that already provided by the City Council. It would also try to improve the way the centre welcomes visitors and to provide some mutual benefit between businesses through joint procurement.

The BID would see the organisations’ current voluntary contributions to such schemes replaced by a 1% levy on business rates which all would pay according to their rateable value. For this reason all the business ratepayers will be voting on the proposal during October and the result will bind them all. The prospectus for the BID being put to business ratepayers has just been released and can be seen via this link: http://www.cbbid.co.uk/

Business ratepayers in the city centre include the City Council, the University, several colleges, as well as the many retail shops and stores: none of these has a dominant say and the result of the vote is quite open. Though it is essentially a decision about the organisations’ willingness to accept the levy system, which they alone would be paying, the Council has suggested to the BID team that they provide an opportunity for residents to find out what is being proposed.

In response, an information evening has been arranged on this coming Thursday, 20th September, from 7pm till 9pm in the Hilton Doubletree Hotel (formerly the Garden House) in Granta Place, Mill Lane. We recommend attending if you are interested to find out more.

This is just a quick note to thank those residents who took the time to come to the West/Central Area workshop on Thursday evening. I was really pleased by all the ideas that were generated.

We will be reporting a summary of all the suggestions to the next meeting of the West/Central Area Committee on 1st November, identifying which ones would be eligible for developer contributions funding and could be delivered within the next 12 to 18 months. The Area Committee can then decide which projects to take forward as priorities for the area.

As I mentioned last night, this is the start of an on-going process. It won’t be possible for the Area Committee to take forward all the ideas that have been suggested and we should not expect changes to happen overnight. That said, I think that we have made a really good start and I look forward to the delivery of a number of new or improved facilities that will make a difference to the lives of local residents in our wards.

If you were unable to attend the workshop but have an idea that you would like to be considered as part of this process, please email s106@cambridge.gov.uk.

Thank you

Cllr Andrea Reiner
Chair, West/Central Area Committee

I just received a flyer about an event that looks like it will be a lot of fun. Kettle’s Yard is hosting the first Castle Hill Open Day. It is being advertised as “a day of talks, tours and family events exploring the history, heritage and art of the Castle Hill Area…. It’s a chance to explore the history, heritage and art of the Castle Hill area of Cambridge, from the Romans to present day.” The day will conclude with a reception and the unveiling of a Blue Plaque for Kettle’s Yard founder Jim Ede.

Events are taking place at Castle Mound, the Folk Museum, Kettle’s Yard, St Giles’ Church and St Peter’s Church.

Free events for all ages including talks, tours and drop in activities + refreshments
Saturday 22 September
12-5 pm

More information on their website.

Cllr Sarah Whitebread has been working for some time with residents groups and the city and county council to improve signage of the 20mph limit along Maids Causeway and Newmarket Road.  £7,000 of joint City and County Council funding has been allocated to this work, and a meeting is going to be held on the 27th September at 5.15pm in the Guildhall, Room 3, to discuss the detailed plans.  Sarah and fellow ward councillor Colin Rosenstiel will be there, along with representatives from the Brunswick and North Kite residents Association (Brunk), the Cycling Campaign and the Police.  City and County Council staff will also be there.  Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting – if you would like to come, please let Sarah know via email (swhitebreadATgmail.com) so that we have an idea of numbers.

Improvements will likely involve larger repeater signs, on road roundels, and measures to increase the prominence of signage at the boundaries of the limit.  At the time of writing councillors have not yet seen detailed plans.

Sarah commented “This meeting is the next stage in what has been a rather lengthy process.  I hope we will agree on new signs that all parties involved are happy with.  I am particularly pleased we have secured involvement from the Police.  It is important that they feel the signs are adequate and start properly enforcing the limit.”