Minutes of  Meeting of HICCA, 8 p.m., 13 South Road, Impington, 7 Feb 2008

Present: Ken, Siobhan, Niels, Nigel, Martin, Sarah, Hero and Steve

Apologies: Vanessa, Anna, Pam, Sandy, Malcolm

1. Follow-up from David MacKay

Nigel to investigate making 8 copies of the DVD which could then be lent out. He produced a finished copy which has gone via Anna to DM for confirmation. The possibility of putting clips of his talk on the Hicca website was also discussed.

2. Mark Lynas meeting, 8pm at the Methodist Church Hall on 13 March

Ken has confirmed the booking and made arrangements to collect the keys on Wed 12^th. Hollyoaks have kindly agreed to pay for hall rental.

All were content for ML to bring copies of his book for sale/signing. Ken reported that ML will appear on the Nat. Geog. Channel on Sunday ? [it can’t be the 27^th Ken as this is a Wednesday] Feb with ‘Six Degrees Could Change the World’.

Siobhan to ask St Andrews about borrowing a laptop and projector or Niels will sort.

Nigel will provide speakers/amp and is prepared to film the event if ML agrees.

Hero and Steve will put ML up on the night of 13^th.

Ken to explore small financial contribs from local businesses.

Hero to do the next stage of paperwork for opening a Hicca bank a/c.

Ken to arrange short article and photo for 29 Feb HI Crier and, possibly for Cambs Crier around same time. (A short article has already appeared in last week’s Cambs Crier thanks to Ken).

Ken will also email to this group brief text for others to use in publicising the event and explore getting it on SCDC website.

Siobhan to do Junior School newsletter, explore leaflet drop in local papers and publicity via CCF newsletter/EEDA channels. Also poster drill as before and the usual email circulation to Hicca Yahoo and wider lists from Hicca meetings.

Steve to contact local councillors and similar representatives.

Nigel to drop leaflets at Farmers’ Market.

Hero – Infant School newsletter.

All to email Ken ideas for a mini-questionnaire for possible circuluation at the meeting.

3. Possible future film event featuring Leonardo Di Caprio’s ‘The Eleventh Hour’.

Ken has pre-ordered the DVD. Movie comes on general release 15 Feb but is it being generally shown? All were generally supportive of the idea of a such a film-show but we need to sort out the licensing problem. Hero to approach Ron Day at the Baptist Church with this in mind.

4. Home Energy Evening as suggested by Niels

There was warm support for Niels’s idea that we should build not only on the speaker meeting strand of our activities but also the more practical side. A useful exploratory discussion ensued covering questions such as heat-mapping possibilities, possible speakers and structure.

Steve to book either Wed 30 April or Thurs 1 May at IVC for the meeting and to inform IVC that we shall not be needing the premises on 6/7 March.

Organising sub-committee (including Niels, Steve and ????) to meet at Niels’ house, 7 Villa Road at 8pm on Thursday 20 March.

5. Update from Niels on Parish Councils and Transport matters

Niels had attended a meeting with Parish councillors keen to canvass ideas for improving the transport situation in the villages.  David Jenkins very keen on ‘home zones’ idea and Dennis Payne agree that it might be piloted on the Unwin’s plot as Parish Council and developers eager to give the development some ‘green’ credentials. Niels suggested the desirability of putting together some sort of information sheet on home zones to continue the pressure and Steve suggested that he might contribute some findings from his existing researches to help with this.

With the Parish councils wishing to meet monthly with HICCA and others to develop ideas for their Parish plans on transport, green spaces etc., Niels stressed the need for a proactive approach to exploit this opportunity fully.

Spurred on by the news that a Section 106 agreement between developers and councillors should be able to release £600,000 for improving cycle safety in the vicinity of Arbury Park, Niels had drafted a letter to the Parish Councils recommending improvements for cycle safety at the B1049/A14 junction which was warmly endorsed by all. It was hoped that HICCA would also continue to campaign for the longer-term goal of a cycle bridge across the A14.

Responding to the news that money is available for a traffic survey in the villages with c. £4000 available to put in traffic gauges, Niels had drafted a further letter offering HICCA’s point of view as to the best locations. Once again, he was thanked for his effort and incisive thought.

HICCA also needs to devote attention to the question of Bus priority schemes since about another half  million is coming on stream from the Northern Corridor Area Transport Plan for this.

The inspiring DVD, ‘Copenhagen, City of Cyclists’ (kindly provided by Martin and currently with Hero and Steve) might be a catalyst to our thinking and dealings with the PCs. Feel free to borrow it.

Ken and Siohban to attend Parish meeting from 4.15 – 6 p.m. on Tuesday 4 March [is this what my notes meant at this point?]

6. Constitution.

Siobhan’s draft constitution was agreed with minor changes from Niels. Nigel agreed to be acting Treasurer and Hero acting Secretary.

Hero and Steve are happy to host AGM followed by summer social (date t.b.a.) unless anyone else would really like to host it themselves.