ICAG general meeting minutes, 11/7/12

Attendees: Jon Parker, Alison Dines, John Ackers, Stephen Taylor, Chris Ashby, Keith Macfarlane, Adrian Williams, Robert Harston, Marianne, Louisa, Deborah Maby.

Matters arising: -no contact with St Lukes since last meeting.
-	James Murrey has not yet been invited to attend a meeting. Alison to extend the invitation (?)
-	MP Jeremy Corbyn has not yet replied to our contact.

1)	Bike Week. Group concluded that LBI had not made sufficient effort to coordinate with ICAG over the Bike Breakfast, some members feeling that LBI/police had rather ‘hijacked’ the event and that the ICAG stall had been obscured by the other stalls, others that there had been ‘synergy’ despite the lack of coordination. The group also discussed the possibility of alternative venues for the Breakfast next year, in particular one in the north of the borough. No venue agreed upon at this stage.

-	Those who attended the Dr Bike at the N1 Centre felt that the stand would have benefited from signage, as it had too low a profile, with many not seeing it or not knowing what it was. 

-	Those at the Chapel Market Bike Doctor discussed the need for bigger, more visible ‘ICAG’ branding to distinguish the stand from being merely a Dr Bike stall. JP, for one, would also like the reassurance of better rain cover, perhaps in the form of a more watertight gazebo, or even an awning.

-	ACTION: Bike Week review to be revisited in February to shape plans nearer the next event. Signage, awning, etc to be discussed as part of a future discussion about how to spend budget surplus.

2)	Drayton Park. JA reported that Sustrans have pressured LBI into redesigning the junction as part of the Connect 2 plan. Gerhard Weiss and Ralph (something) don’t like it but ICAG have given the re-design the all clear. Sustran’s [someone] was surprised that ICAG and Living Streets weren’t able to shift LBI on their own. ACTION: JP to write press release for local media ‘welcoming LBI’s sensible decision to reconsider….’ (etc etc).

3) Connect 2. JA reports that councillors Theresa [something] didn’t get what Sustrans’ [something] is actually for, and appears increasingly disengaged with the process. JP suggested that at present ICAG and Living Streets may be viewed as ‘blocking’ proposals and appear to be obstacles to progress, whereas if we were to present an alternative design we would appear as ‘enablers’ helping the process, which would aid our chances of success and help our reputation.
- ACTION: JA to speak to LCC’s Gerhard W about consultants that ICAG could hire to produce an alternative design.

4) Surplus funds. To be discussed properly at a future meeting, but ACTION: AD to approach other group leaders about what the other groups have in this line, what works well and where the groups got their kit.  

5) Belgium House. The Belgian Embassy’s ‘Belgium House’ of live Olympic screenings with food and beer at Middle Temple, hass invited ICAG to organise a ride to the House. KM to confirm best date. 
Post script: it later transpired that event was ticket only, and the always too-good –to-be-true-sounding free food and beer was indeed to be good to be true. Enthusiasm fizzled over email conversation, and JP felt that the Embassy should at least have offered some free tickets to the ICAG volunteer group for its trouble. jp