Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/195

Contact: Tom Flanagan, Localities, Policy & Programme Service Manager Tel: (01865) 815691

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Strategy & Infrastructure Planning (CMDE7).

The report seeks endorsement from the Cabinet Member for Environment for an exemption from procurement, to enable a proposal to extend the OXONBIKE cycle hire scheme beyond the current end date of June 2015 to February 2016. This would be funded from underspends elsewhere within the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) programme, totalling £36,713.

The OXONBIKE scheme has been very successful, despite the unexpected liquidation of the original operator in November 2013. The scheme was re-launched in June 2014 with a new operator, Hourbike, and membership numbers are approaching 400. OXONBIKE provides a low cost option for users to access employment sites in Headington from Thornhill Park and Ride and between employment sites by hire cycle, with benefits of sustainability and personal health. The scheme meets Oxfordshire goals of supporting jobs and housing growth and economic vitality, supporting the transition to a low carbon economy and improving public health, safety and individual well-being.

OXONBIKE is about to expand to other employment sites. An initiative from Oxford Health has resulted in additional grant funding from LSTF Business Travel Grants. From April 2015, there will be an additional 22 docking stations and 16 cycles at 3 new sites - Chancellor Court (for Oxford Business Park), the Littlemore Mental Health Centre and the Warneford Hospital, where match funding from Oxford University has also been agreed. The expansion is dependent on the continuation of the original OXONBIKE scheme beyond June 2015.

The proposal has been discussed with Procurement and Legal colleagues who have approved the submission of the proposal to the Cabinet Member for endorsement. The Managing Director of Hourbike has confirmed that he is prepared to operate the scheme at the existing level of payment from OCC. There are no staffing issues to consider.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve an exemption from procurement to enable a proposed scheme extension of the OXONBIKE cycle hire scheme from the scheduled end date of June 2015 until February 2016.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a report (CMDE7) which sought endorsement for an exemption from procurement to enable a proposal to extend the operation of the OXONBIKE cycle hire scheme from the scheduled end date of June 2015 until February 2016.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the proposal which would help encourage future increased use and the potential to expand the use of electric bikes. Therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him and the further considerations set out above he wished the scheme continuing success and confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve an exemption from procurement to enable a proposed scheme extension of the OXONBIKE cycle hire scheme from the scheduled end date of June 2015 until February 2016.

Signed……………………………...

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date…………………………………