Issue - items at meetings - Cycling Demonstration Town - Funding

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

1.     That the Cabinet Member welcomes that the City Council has been successful in retaining its designated status as a Department for Transport Cycling Town.

2.     That the Cabinet Member gives delegated authority to the Director of Environment to enter into a Funding Agreement on behalf of the City Council with Cycling England upon formal notification of funding.

3.     That the Cabinet Member approves that a further report is brought to a future Cabinet Member Meeting that details a programme of works in relation to specific schemes.

53.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning a further external funding award to enable the Council to build on its status as a Department for Transport (DfT) Cycle Demonstration Town (CDT) to a Cycle Town (CT) (for copy see minute book).

53.2       The Cabinet Member stated that the Council’s achievements and recognition from having the status as a CDT had secured a further three years funding from the DfT and earned the new designation as a CT. The Cabinet Member was pleased that the Council had been successful in this important cycling initiative and that it would enable the Council to build on the earlier achievements and deliver improvements in health, air quality and travel choice across the city.

53.3       Councillor Mitchell welcomed the investment and looked forward to hearing how the funding would be spent.

53.4       Councillor Davey also welcomed the further funding, but felt that more needed to be done to improve cycling throughout the city; in particular more stakeholder involvement was required.

53.5       The Assistant Director for Sustainable Transport stated that the Cycle Forum, which included councillors, had been successful and assured Councillor Davey that officers would attend on a regular basis. He added that other successes included personal travel planning, changes to junctions and infrastructure and bikeability training, and that Brighton and Hove was considered an exemplary city for cycling.

53.6       RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That it be welcomed that the City Council had been successful in retaining its designated status as a Department for Transport Cycling Town.

(2)       That the Director of Environment be given delegated authority to enter into a Funding Agreement on behalf of the City Council with Cycling England upon formal notification of funding.

(3)       That a further report be brought to a future Cabinet Member Meeting detailing a programme of works in relation to specific schemes.