Agenda item - Brighton Bikeshare

Report of the Acting Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy to follow).

That the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee:

1)            Approves the tendering of a concession agreement for a BikeShare scheme for a term of three years with the option to extend for a period of two by two years (with a maximum potential extension period of four years), within which the operator, not the council, will take on the liability for any revenue losses during the first 3 years of the concession agreement.

2)            Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing –

(i)      to carry out the procurement of the concession agreement referred to in paragraph 2.1 above including the award and letting of the concession agreement; and

(ii)     to grant up to two extensions to the concession agreement referred to in paragraph 2.1 above of two years each should he/she consider it appropriate at the relevant time.

3)    Welcomes and fully supports the positive recommendations being made by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership [LEP] to its Local Transport Body [LTB], as set out in paragraph 3.4 of this report, to fully approve the council’s bid for Sustainability funding for a BikeShare scheme.

4)    Agrees that consultation should be carried out with councillors, residents, businesses and relevant partners and stakeholders in the proposed scheme area as set out at section 5 of this report.

5)    Notes that all of the recommendations above are subject to a successful outcome of the C2C LTB decision on providing full approval for funding from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) budget for the BikeShare scheme at the meeting due to be held on 26^th November 2015.

6)    Supports the recommendations being made by the LEP to the LTB, as summarised in Appendix 2 of this report, with respect to:-

a) LTB policy on Value for Money;

b) Crawley Area Sustainable Transport Package;

c) Sustainability schemes; and;

d) Resilience schemes.

7)            Agrees the recommendations referred to in paragraphs 2.3 and 2.6 above may be subject to minor variations tabled at the Local Transport Body, which do not alter the substance of the decision.

8)            Agrees that if an alternative (or new) recommendation is tabled during the Local Transport Body meeting which alters the substance of the original recommendation, a further decision will be sought from the Committee prior to proceeding.

46.1.    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing that sought approval for the tendering of a concession agreement for the provision of a BikeShare scheme for the city subject to approval by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) at its Local Transport Body (LTB) meeting scheduled for 26 November 2015. The report also sought agreement for the position of the council’s representative to the LTB on a series of other recommendations for consideration at the same meeting.

46.2.    Councillor Janio expressed his support for the proposals.

46.3.    Councillor West welcomed the proposals and expressed credit to former Councillor Davey who had been instrumental in pursuing funding. Councillor West stated that he felt Preston Park station should be included in the scheme as it was an important link with the university base at Falmer and adjoined key cycle lanes.

46.4.    The Chair stated that officers would pursue the proposals suggested by Councillor West.

46.5.    Councillor Robins asked if there was an intention to take the scheme further westward to include Portslade Station as it would provide greater access to the west of the city and was a key link to the South Downs National Park.

46.6.    Councillor Miller asked what percentage of revenue would be retained by the council as it was not detailed in the report and assumedly would be part of the tender process and also whether the procurement process would be ‘open book’.

46.7.    The Principal Transport Planning Officer stated that in terms of revenue, it was difficult at this stage to pinpoint what revenue would be generated that would be detailed through the procurement stage as there were a variety of options for scheme operation.

46.8.    RESOLVED- That the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee:

1)        Approves the tendering of a concession agreement for a BikeShare scheme for a term of three years with the option to extend for a period of two by two years (with a maximum potential extension period of four years), within which the operator, not the council, will take on the liability for any revenue losses during the first 3 years of the concession agreement.

2)        Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing –

(i)        to carry out the procurement of the concession agreement referred to in paragraph 2.1 above including the award and letting of the concession agreement; and

(ii)       to grant up to two extensions to the concession agreement referred to in paragraph 2.1 above of two years each should he/she consider it appropriate at the relevant time.

3)        Welcomes and fully supports the positive recommendations being made by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership [LEP] to its Local Transport Body [LTB], as set out in paragraph 3.4 of this report, to fully approve the council’s bid for Sustainability funding for a BikeShare scheme.

4)        Agrees that consultation should be carried out with councillors, residents, businesses and relevant partners and stakeholders in the proposed scheme area as set out at section 5 of this report.

5)        Notes that all of the recommendations above are subject to a successful outcome of the C2C LTB decision on providing full approval for funding from the Local Growth Fund (LGF) budget for the BikeShare scheme at the meeting due to be held on 26^th November 2015.

6)        Supports the recommendations being made by the LEP to the LTB, as summarised in Appendix 2 of this report, with respect to:-

a)     LTB policy on Value for Money;

b)     Crawley Area Sustainable Transport Package;

c)     Sustainability schemes; and;

d)     Resilience schemes.

7)        Agrees the recommendations referred to in paragraphs 2.3 and 2.6 above may be subject to minor variations tabled at the Local Transport Body, which do not alter the substance of the decision.

8)        Agrees that if an alternative (or new) recommendation is tabled during the Local Transport Body meeting which alters the substance of the original recommendation, a further decision will be sought from the Committee prior to proceeding.