The City Council has a fund for public art funded by a levy of 1% on those developing new buildings. Perhaps this pole could be a candidate for an artistic makeover turning it into an attractive feature.

Perhaps it could be painted green at the bottom and blue-grey at the top in an effort to make it disappear.

As we’ve got it I’d like to see the public art fund spent on improving the quality of functional items, though I don’t think that currently we ought be imposing such a levy which makes it harder for developers to build. Ultimately it makes homes more expensive. Having so much money swilling around results in silly projects being dreamed up and large payments being made to those “artists” capable of working with the bureaucracy of local government.

Other ideas for using public art funds on the Common:

*Ensuring any new recycling litter bins are as in-keeping, high quality and interesting as possible.

*Perhaps more funding for tree planting could be obtained if it could be argued the trees were to be planted in an artistic manner?

The council hold that information on a tree database. I asked for it to be made publicly available online at a recent Community Services Scrutiny Committee at which Cllr Julie Smith said she would investigate if it could be done.

Opposition councillors have been asking for clear presentation of the councils tree works proposals: on the council website; in consultations with local residents; and via notices on trees. Hopefully some of these items will make it into the council’s proposed new policy on making decisions regarding trees.

(a) trees within the purview of the City Council
(b) trees which are marked for felling (+dates)
(c) locations of new tree plantings (+dates)

Cambridge