Issue - meetings

Subject to approval of the business case for the £200k p.a. capital which is currently being progressed through the Single Assurance Framework, it was resolved to:

·     delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Transport in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer to;

                   i.        Commence a procurement exercise to appoint a consultant to manage the Active Travel Community Grant and to enter into contract upon successful appointment;

                  ii.        Following an appraisal process of the applications and review by the Investment Committee to enter into grant funding agreements with successful grant applicants.

Subject to approval of the business case for the £200k p.a. capital which is currently being progressed through the Single Assurance Framework:

·     delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Transport in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer to;

                   i.        Commence a procurement exercise to appoint a consultant to manage the Active Travel Community Grant and to enter into contract upon successful appointment;

                  ii.        Following an appraisal process of the applications and review by the Investment Committee to enter into grant funding agreements with successful grant applicants.  

To update the Committee on Active Travel funding and activities.

RESOLVED:

A.    To note the update the Committee on the Active Travel Community Grant

B.    To recommend to the Combined Authority Board to delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Transport in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer to;

1. Commence a procurement exercise to appoint a consultant to manage the Active Travel Community Grant and to enter into contract upon successful appointment.
2. Following an appraisal process of the applications and review by the Investment Committee to enter into grant funding agreements with successful grant applicants.

This is subject to approval of the business case for the £200k p.a. capital which is currently being progressed through the Single Assurance Framework.

C.   To note the Active Travel Capital reports presented to Investment Panel in February 2025.

Yo Higton, Active Travel Lead, introduced the report which provided an update on the strategic approach to the Active Travel Community Grant (formally Active Travel Grant) for which revenue funding was approved in July 2024 and where capital funding was currently being submitted for assessment through the Combined Authority’s Single Assurance Framework (SAF) process to the Investment Committee.

During discussion the following points were noted:

a)    It was noted that the region had received £6.5 million from Active Travel England, marking a significant investment. This was recognised as the largest grant per head of population awarded to a Combined Authority.

b)    Concerns were raised regarding the geographical distribution of funding, particularly in Fenland. It was acknowledged that Active Travel Fund 5 had strict criteria, which may have contributed to the absence of projects in some areas. However, it was confirmed that new funds from the Consolidated Fund would allow for broader distribution, and efforts would be made to ensure equitable investment across all districts. Assurance was sought and given that Fenland and other underrepresented areas would be considered in future allocations.

c)    Different regions had varying approaches to active travel so the importance of engaging with residents and local business communities to reflect this was highlighted. Officers confirmed that strong relationships existed with district authorities, and funding distribution would be fair and strategic. A community grant initiative was also discussed as a way to encourage grassroots involvement in active travel projects

d)    Several members raised specific local projects, including:

• The need for an active travel route between March and Guyhirn.
• The BP Roundabout safety measures in East Cambridge.
• The Cherry Hinton Road cycleway, which was partially completed but lacked funding for the remaining section.
• Strategic connections in Fenland to boost tourism through improved cycling routes.
• Updates on projects in Peterborough, including new cycling and pedestrian routes.

It was confirmed that projects were at various stages of development and that ongoing discussions would determine prioritisation based on strategic need and available funding.

e)    The Committee discussed the proposal to appoint external consultants to manage the grant fund. A request was made for assurances that in-house capacity had been fully considered before proceeding with procurement. Officers confirmed that internal resources had been assessed, but external expertise was deemed necessary to ensure efficient management.

f)     Members encouraged continued collaboration between the Combined Authority, Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), and local Councils to align efforts in developing active travel infrastructure.

RESOLVED:

A.    To note the update the Committee on the Active Travel Community Grant

B.    To recommend to the Combined Authority Board to delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Transport in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer to;

1. Commence a procurement exercise to appoint a consultant to manage the Active Travel Community Grant and to enter into contract upon successful appointment.
2. Following an appraisal process of the applications and review by the Investment Committee to enter into grant funding agreements with successful grant applicants.

This is subject to approval of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10