The Senior Business Analyst introduced the report and informed the Committee that since the report’s publication, the Department for Transport had stated that electronic scooters could not be used as proposed, until further feedback of their initial use by other Authorities had been received. Option three of the report remained the preferred option.

The options within the report focused on three demographics, to promote usage for leisure, commuting and a hybrid model encompassing both options. As the national lockdown associated with Covid-19 was eased, the Council wished to provide an alternative and convenient method of active transport.

The hybrid model was the preferred option as it would likely maximise the schemes usage through targeting both types of user, to be more financially viable and allow for improved data collection on the schemes use. The data would be collated after the scheme’s third year, to assess its success against the Council’s strategic goals. If agreed, a tender exercise would be undertaken with a contractor appointed between September-October 2021.

The Committee considered deferring the item to allow for further information to be provided on the sites proposed and the financial costings of the scheme. In order to progress the scheme however, it was agreed that further Member engagement exercises be undertaken by August 2021 to allow for a decision to be made as soon as possible.

RESOLVED: That officers:

1.  Investigate options to provide a micro-mobility hire scheme, encompassing both leisure and commute demographics to include, but not be limited to, the sites identified in paragraph 3.35 of the report;

2.  Organise a Member workshop in August 2021 to inform a soft marketing exercise; and

3.  Report back to the Committee with the available options.