Active Travel England
Case reference FOI2023/00415
Published 29 March 2023
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information:
1. Has Herefordshire Council submitted a bid for funds from The Capability Fund via Active Travel England [who announced on 2nd January 2023 £32.9 million to create national network of active travel experts
2. If so what are the details of this bid?
3. In particular what attempt has been made through such a bid to increase Herefordshire County Council's capacity both in terms of skills and extra staffing levels to take forward a Well maintained PROW and a radical county wide Active Travel Network through the Development Plan process the Local Transport Plan and your proposed 'Walking and Cycling Strategy'
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information:
1. Has Herefordshire Council submitted a bid for funds from The Capability Fund via Active Travel England [who announced on 2nd January 2023 £32.9 million to create national network of active travel experts
A. Yes the council submitted an application to the Active Travel England Capability Fund 2022/23. The funding range for each authority was based on a capability and ambition rating moderated by ATE, following a self-assessment and assurance process, as well as the population within the local authority area. The authority was assessed as being Level 1; the main reason being the lack of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The capability building activities which were in scope for funding included:
- Development of LCWIPs
- Network Design
- Scheme planning and design
- Public engagement/consultation
- Data and evidence collection
- Bespoke training for LA officers and members
2. If so what are the details of this bid?
A. The council received the maximum allocation of £67,124 from the ATE Capability Fund, paid as a one off revenue grant under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. The funding has been used to commission consultancy support to develop a countywide LCWIP, and to purchase monitoring equipment to record pedestrian and cycle movements on the new contraflow cycle scheme on St Owen Street.
3. In particular what attempt has been made through such a bid to increase Herefordshire County Council's capacity both in terms of skills and extra staffing levels to take forward a Well maintained PROW and a radical county wide Active Travel Network through the Development Plan process the Local Transport Plan and your proposed 'Walking and Cycling Strategy'
A. ATE made it clear that local authorities without an LCWIP would be severely limited in being able to access future active travel funding. Developing the LCWIP was therefore considered the most effective use of the limited one-off funding available through the Capability Fund.
Documents
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