Chief Officer Decisions

Is is significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards.

If yes, Identify the Forward Plan Reference Number. 

If yes, confirm that notice of the decision has been on the Forward Plan for at least 28 days in advance of the Decision Date.

If yes, identify the date that the decision is to be placed in the public domain.

If yes, identify the date that the decision will be implemented if not called in.

Details of decision

(To be recorded as soon as practicable and be available for inspection along with all background papers that have been used to inform the decision unless exempt from publication. If exempt include details of the exemption relied on here.  Decision to be retained indefinitely in accordance with Records Management Policy)

That the Chief Officer approves the implementation of the Dockless e-bike rental trial via Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO), and agrees specific rental bay locations for Phase 2 of the scheme and a supplementary location for Area 1 to replace a site that was previously proposed, as detailed in the Appendices to this report.

Reasons for the Decision

Background

Within the last few years, dockless e-bike rental schemes, have been successfully introduced across significant parts of London. 

Dockless cycle schemes have either been instigated through formalised arrangements between boroughs and operators, or sometimes without borough consent, given the limited legislative powers that currently exist for dockless bikes. Until May 2023, the Council did not have an agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place with any dockless bike operator. The previous agreement with Mobike to operate a ‘free floating’ cycle hire scheme was terminated in 2020, with Lime operating an unauthorised scheme in parts of the borough. 

Having formal arrangements in place with dockless bike hire companies can enable boroughs a stronger role in shaping how the scheme operates and reduce the risk of issues arising. It enables the borough to agree areas of the footway/kerbside that are designated for this purpose, which minimises the risk of inconsiderate/inappropriate parking. This works alongside the issuing of user fines/bans by operators in order to encourage considerate behaviour. 

Cabinet approval was obtained on 18 April 2023 for a formal dockless e-bike hire scheme to be introduced across the borough. The Cabinet report delegated authority to the Assistant Director Traffic, Transport & Parking to enter into an MoU with selected operators and to agree specific locations for the rental bays. An initial phase of the scheme is due to launch in early June across ‘Area 1’ of the borough (Brentford and Chiswick wards).

Following borough-wide implementation of the e-bike rental bays, the scheme would initially be trialled on a 6-month basis, with a possible 6-month extension. Initially the Council has signed an MoU with Lime bikes, who already have built up a customer base in the borough through their informal operations to date. 

All vehicles will need to be hired and returned from dedicated on-street bays, with fines and eventual bans for those users who do not comply. Vehicle speeds are automatically limited to 15mph. Vehicles will be manually redistributed by the operators as required, with user incentives also applied to encourage natural redistribution. A number of ‘no-go’ and ‘go slow’ areas will be defined where the e-bike GPS systems will seek to limit movements and speeds by cutting the electric assist function as necessary. 

A network of up to 300 shared bays across three areas of the borough is proposed, to be launched in three phases between June and August 2023. This allows for the process of creating and marking the bays, whilst enabling operators to phase the launch of the scheme to help minimise any “teething issues”. 

This report details the proposed locations for the second phase of the scheme and seeks approval to implement these bays. These are mostly within Area 2 covering: Hounslow Central, Hounslow East, Hounslow, Heath, Hounslow South, Hounslow West, Isleworth and Osterley & Spring Grove wards. However, there is one location within Area 1 (in Syon & Brentford Lock) which will supplement those already delivered, in response to Ward Member and public feedback received. This will replace another nearby bay location that was planned, but not yet delivered. 

Proposed bay locations 

The majority of bays will host between nine and twelve e-bikes, with larger stations in areas of anticipated high demand. Bays will be located either on the footway where there is sufficient space and pedestrian clearance, or in parking bays. A bay with capacity for nine e-bikes will be approximately 7m long, which equates to approximately 1.5 car parking spaces. All bays will be fully 

During the site selection process a range of sites were considered, some of which were discounted as not fulfilling the criteria specified above for one or more of the following reasons: 

• The location did not fully utilise the existing space and would likely result in a loss of parking space beyond what was required 
• The perceived safety of the location was not deemed sufficient because of limited sightlines/visibility for other highway users approaching the location 
• The location was not deemed suitable due to the limited visibility or poor lighting of the site which could deter usage due to safety concerns 
• The location was not deemed suitable due to other proposed changes to the highway network. 

Factors taken into account

(i.e. include here consideration of:

• public sector equality duty, 
• biodiversity duty and 
• crime and disorder implications of decision
• Climate emergency considerations

A full EQIA on the Hounslow scheme will be carried out as part of the Kerbside Strategy. The council does not anticipate any major negative equalities impacts arising from the scheme. The scheme is intended to bring additional mobility options to residents, offering a more affordable alternative to ownership. The provision of dedicated bays should help to minimise the risk of bikes being parked dangerously or inconsiderately on footways, which currently represents a particular danger or hindrance to wheelchair/pram/pushchair users and to blind or partially sighted users. 

Name and title of any Cabinet member consulted

Consulted on scheme principles: 

Cllr Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio holder for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy. 

Cllr Salman Shaheen, Portfolio holder for Parking, Parks and Leisure. 

Consulted on proposed locations: 

Ward Members for  Hounslow Central, Hounslow East, Hounslow, Heath, Hounslow South, Hounslow West, Isleworth, Osterley & Spring and Syon & Brentford Lock.

Member conflict of interest or Disclosable Pecuniary Interest?

If yes, give details (this includes non-DPI’s interests that you consider should be declared and noted for the record but are not considered to have impaired your judgement or present any related conflict).

Cllr Katherine Dunne is a member of the London Cycling Campaign. 

Comments on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer

This report seeks approval for the implementation of the Dockless e-bike rental trial via Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) and agrees the specific rental bay locations for phase 2 of the trial as detailed in the Appendix to this report. The report also seeks approval for a supplementary location for Area 1 to replace a site that was previously proposed in the Brentford and Syon Lock ward.

The expected cost of marking out the rental bays as outlined in the report can be met from within the approved budget for the e bike scheme trial. 

Finance Officer Name and Title 

Christine Holland, Head of Strategic Finance

Comments on behalf of the Director of Law & Governance, and Monitoring Officer

This Report seeks approval for the implementation the Dockless e-bike rental trial via Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO), and agree specific rental bay locations as detailed in the Appendices to this report.  It also approves a supplementary location for Area 1 to replace a site that was previously proposed.

In April 2023, Cabinet approved the introduction of a boroughwide dockless e bike rental scheme on a trial basis for 6 months from completion of the boroughwide rollout and delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Traffic, Transport & Parking to agree specific bay locations for the first three phases of the scheme and take the necessary steps to implement the scheme on a trial basis via Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO). 

Confirmation by Legal Officer that the Decision is/is not a key decision

This is not a Key Decision (Cabinet decision of 18 April 2023 was Key)

Legal Officer Name and Title 

Rachel McKoy (NZ), Director of Law & Governance, and Monitoring Officer. 

Confirmation that no significant changes to the report have been made since Legal and Finance Comments were provided

Date decision to take effect for implementation