Post by Bracken Van Ryssen on Jul 20, 2016 18:54:32 GMT
Solihull Bicycle Campaign AGM Minutes - 15th July 2016
1. Welcome and Introductions
Present: Bracken, Laura, Pam, Ian, Ansie, Brian.
2. Chair’s Report on Campaign and West Midlands
The campaign has grown well over the past year and we now have 37 campaign members, 42 email newsletter subscribers, 95 Facebook likes and 177 Twitter followers. The majority of our members have been recruited through events such as Fun in the Park and the Go Green Fair.
Our biggest campaign action of the year has been responding to the Solihull Transport paper in the Autumn of 2015. The consultation shows that 59% of respondents agree with the need for a comprehensive cycle network (the highest agreement rate out of proposed transport initiatives) and many suggest that these should be comprised of segregated lanes. This represents a significant mandate and opportunity in the near future.
The formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority means transport planning will be moved up to the regional level and the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority has stated that it wishes to facilitate the building of a strategic cycle network. Solihull now no longer has a cycle officer and instead responsibility is shared amongst several different officers.
Work has begun on identifying possible cycling champions in the major parties who will liaise with the bicycle campaign to bring cycling further into the political agenda.
3. Discussion and feedback session on campaign progress
a. Is the campaign active and effective enough?
Very few people know that the campaign exists and more should be done to spread the word, particularly be leafleting bike shops and taking part in more local events such as the Go Green Fair.
We should not necessarily target sports cyclists as very few feel any need to change the status quo and we should instead find methods to recruit more ordinary people who want to cycle more often.
b. Does the newsletter inform, inspire or motivate?
It was decided that the newsletter overall provides a good source of news and information and is worth the current effort of production.
4. Motions proposed
a. To move to either a paid membership subscription or a more formal membership structure with voluntary donations.
It was agreed that best method of obtaining funds would be to have a yearly subscription membership with discounts at local businesses. It was also decided to approach Pushbikes and explore the possibility of a joint membership structure so as to share the structural burden of a membership system.
Motion passed unanimously.
b. To move to a bi-monthly campaign meeting schedule on a Friday evening.
It was agreed that monthly campaign meetings on a Saturday morning represent a significant difficulty for people to find time to attend, as such the meetings would be better placed on a weekday evening and with greater gaps in between meetings.
Motion passed unanimously.
5. Election of committee members
a. Bracken Van Ryssen to continue as Chair.
b. Laura Yorke to continue as Secretary.
c. Remaining positions remain unfilled.
6. AOB’s
It was decided that an active member email or forum group would be formed to assist the committee in decisions and campaigning.
1. Welcome and Introductions
Present: Bracken, Laura, Pam, Ian, Ansie, Brian.
2. Chair’s Report on Campaign and West Midlands
The campaign has grown well over the past year and we now have 37 campaign members, 42 email newsletter subscribers, 95 Facebook likes and 177 Twitter followers. The majority of our members have been recruited through events such as Fun in the Park and the Go Green Fair.
Our biggest campaign action of the year has been responding to the Solihull Transport paper in the Autumn of 2015. The consultation shows that 59% of respondents agree with the need for a comprehensive cycle network (the highest agreement rate out of proposed transport initiatives) and many suggest that these should be comprised of segregated lanes. This represents a significant mandate and opportunity in the near future.
The formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority means transport planning will be moved up to the regional level and the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority has stated that it wishes to facilitate the building of a strategic cycle network. Solihull now no longer has a cycle officer and instead responsibility is shared amongst several different officers.
Work has begun on identifying possible cycling champions in the major parties who will liaise with the bicycle campaign to bring cycling further into the political agenda.
3. Discussion and feedback session on campaign progress
a. Is the campaign active and effective enough?
Very few people know that the campaign exists and more should be done to spread the word, particularly be leafleting bike shops and taking part in more local events such as the Go Green Fair.
We should not necessarily target sports cyclists as very few feel any need to change the status quo and we should instead find methods to recruit more ordinary people who want to cycle more often.
b. Does the newsletter inform, inspire or motivate?
It was decided that the newsletter overall provides a good source of news and information and is worth the current effort of production.
4. Motions proposed
a. To move to either a paid membership subscription or a more formal membership structure with voluntary donations.
It was agreed that best method of obtaining funds would be to have a yearly subscription membership with discounts at local businesses. It was also decided to approach Pushbikes and explore the possibility of a joint membership structure so as to share the structural burden of a membership system.
Motion passed unanimously.
b. To move to a bi-monthly campaign meeting schedule on a Friday evening.
It was agreed that monthly campaign meetings on a Saturday morning represent a significant difficulty for people to find time to attend, as such the meetings would be better placed on a weekday evening and with greater gaps in between meetings.
Motion passed unanimously.
5. Election of committee members
a. Bracken Van Ryssen to continue as Chair.
b. Laura Yorke to continue as Secretary.
c. Remaining positions remain unfilled.
6. AOB’s
It was decided that an active member email or forum group would be formed to assist the committee in decisions and campaigning.