[Members] Cambridge Market - Redevelopment plans, Thursday, 5pm, 28th Jan, City Council Environment Scrutiny Cttee.

[Wendy Blythe]

Dear All,

*Update 23 January, 2021*

*Cambridge Market - Environment & Scrutiny Cttee Meeting*

*Thursday, 28 Jan, 5pm - For Agenda see link below.*

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=476&MId=3787&Ver=4

*Deadline to register to speak is midday, 2 working days before. Contact
Democratic Services.*

*Cambridge Market Closure – Agenda items 5, 6, 7 *

If you have concerns or unanswered questions about the decision on 30
December to close Cambridge Market your chance to have your say is *Thursday,
28 Jan at 5pm *at the Scrutiny Committee.  Many of the traders lost money
because of the closure and because the decision was not due to government
guidelines they are not eligible for compensation. For these small
businesses this is hard. They say it does not bode well for them being
equal partners in the market square redevelopment plans.

*Cambridge Market Square Redevelopment plans **– Agenda item 9*

*See comments. links below*

A Splendid Victory and a Dire Threat to the Market by Glenys Self
<https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/A%20Splendid%20Victory%20and%20a%20Dire%20Threat%20to%20the%20Market%20-%20Glenys%20Self.pdf>
Cambridge Market Square Proposals – John & Kati Preston
<https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/CAMBRIDGE%20MARKET%20SQUARE%20PROPOSALS.docx>
Cambridge Market Square – Dr Annabel Keeler
<https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Cambridge%20Market%20Sq%20Concept%20Design%20(LDA)%20Appdx%20A%20-%20Dr%20Annabel%20Keeler.docx>

*We will post further comments from traders, shoppers and local residents
on the FeCRA website under Docs. *
<https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/A%20Splendid%20Victory%20and%20a%20Dire%20Threat%20to%20the%20Market%20-%20Glenys%20Self.pdf>

*Questions / issues arising from the Committee report on the Market Square
plans*

Item 9 on the Agenda lists the item as “Consultation Draft Vision and
Concept Design” but the item is headed Market Square Project – Consultation
Concept Design”.  1.2 says specifically that the council is going out to
consultation on the proposed project design. *Many residents are saying why
has there been no public consultation on the proposed vision?*

The report lists wards affected as “Market” *but residents say all
Cambridge people have an interest.** The petition to re-open the market for
essential foods was signed by over 7,330 people.*

3.3 RIBA Stage 1 (Preparation and Briefing) was completed last year, with
the publication of an initial site assessment report, which identifies the
issues and opportunities and associated feasibility and business need for
the market square project.”  *But there has been no PUBLIC (as opposed to
invited stakeholder) consultation at any stage:*

·         *There was no public consultation on the Council’s initial brief*

·         *When the Council published the Feasibility Assessment this was
subject to a specific rider saying that “*We are not inviting comments on
any aspect of the project at this stage”

*Many residents are asking why has the Council failed to involve the people
of Cambridge in this important project until such a late stage in the
process?*

3.6   Invited “stakeholders” only – *did not include shoppers, wider
public, local residents**. Reps attending as “stakeholders” were told
meetings were held under strict Chatham House rules. They were not allowed
to share information. *

3.7 c) “New, easily demountable standard stall design” *the design is
experimental yet people’s livelihoods are at stake. *

5.1 a)  report to be made available online with online survey form *but the
Council will decide the form and the questions. *

      b)  email / letter to “organisational stakeholders”

      c)  work with CMTA and NMTF

      d)  work with Communities and Housing teams to reach “targeted
communities”  *but not shoppers or wider Cambridge public?   *

*At the Council's on line committee meetings no one knows who else is
attending and you have to register in advance to speak*.

6. Background papers used in the preparation of this report:

• RIBA Stage 1 - Feasibility assessment report

• RIBA Stage 2 – Stakeholder engagement workshop output

https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/8381/market-square-redevelopment-stakeholder-workshop-findings.pdf
*But this only includes Jan 2020 workshops, there is no mention of Nov 2020
workshops, feedback from them, and no publication on the website as was
promised**. No mention either of GCP’s Community Sounding Group meetings on
city centre vision chaired by Faye Holland. *

Appendix A – Market Square Project Concept Design report

Appendix B – RIBA Stage 2 stakeholder engagement list

*No mention of shoppers or residents (apart from FECRA) *

Appendix C – Equality Impact Assessment

*No mention of the Quarterbridge repor**t** referenced in the Concept
Design Report (Appendix A)*

Traders have already shared concerns about the disturbing media reports
about Quarterbridge

https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Letter%20to%20CEO%20Cambridge%20City%20Market%20Matters.pdf
If you have concerns or questions the FeCRA committee suggest you write to
Rosy Moore, Exec Cllr for the Environment and City Centre & Market
rosy.moore at cambridge.gov.uk For the list of Committee members to contact
too , see link below
https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=3787 Alex
Collis is Lead Councillor for Sustainable Food and Deputy Mayor

alex.collis at cambridge.gov.uk

Anna Smith, is Deputy Leader of the Council and Exec Cllor for Communities
<https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/mgExecPostDetails.aspx?ID=195>
anna.smith at cambridge.gov.uk

Nicky Massey, is on the Transport & Planning Scrutiny Cttee, deciding on
spaces and movt strategy for city centre; nicky.massey at cambridge.gov.uk

Josh Matthews, is Lib Dem Spokes for Environment & City Centre
josh.matthews at cambridge.gov.uk

Others to write to, *we suggest both local MP’s*:

Daniel Zeichner, Shadow Minister for Food and the Environment is Co Chair
of the All Parliamentary Group for the East of England. He is focusing on
'transformational growth'. *See link to the event below. Where does the
city's MP see Cambridge's small businesses in this 'transformational
growth'?*

https://www.built-environment-networking.com/event/east-england-development-plans/

daniel at danielzeichner.co.uk

anthony.browne.mp at parliament.uk
Cllr Katie Thornburrow Exec Cllor, Planning Policy , Open Spaces
katie.thornburrow at cambridge.gov.uk



*Guidance for how to join virtual committees run via Microsoft Teams*:
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/have-your-say-at-committee-meetings

Website: http://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk

Email: democratic.services at cambridge.gov.uk r

Phone: 01223 457000



Best wishes,

Wendy


Wendy Blythe
Chair, FeCRA

www.fecra.org.uk
www.facebook.com/CambridgeRAs
www.twitter.com/fecra2
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