Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council delegation of the investment of the £2.96m of 2026/27 active travel funding to the Service Director for Planning & Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling in England, published its Active Travel Capability Ratings in December 2025.  BCP Council was uprated from a Level 2 authority to a Level 3 authority.

The council is one of only 11 local authorities in the country to achieve level 3, and one of only 5 that isn’t part of a large, combined authority or city region. 

The increased grading has resulted in the council being allocated a larger Active Travel settlement.  The council has been allocated £2,249,725 of capital funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, per year up to and including 2029/30.  Alongside this, a revenue allocation of £705,869 per year up to and including 2028/29.  This represents a significant increase from the 2025/26 allocations of £1,128,857 (capital) and £330,685 (revenue).

This report recommends how the grant award should be invested and seeks delegated authority to facilitate the delivery.  The recommended proposals are aligned with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) approved by Council in May 2022.

This report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'N' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling in England, published its Active Travel Capability Ratings in December 2025.  BCP Council was uprated from a Level 2 authority to a Level 3 authority.

Cabinet was informed that the council was one of only 11 local authorities in the country to achieve level 3, and one of only 5 that isn’t part of a large, combined authority or city region. 

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the increased grading had resulted in the council being allocated a larger Active Travel settlement, and that the council had been allocated £2,249,725 of capital funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, per year up to and including 2029/30.  Alongside this, a revenue allocation of £705,869 per year up to and including 2028/29 which represented a significant increase from the 2025/26 allocations of £1,128,857 (capital) and £330,685 (revenue).

Cabinet was informed that the report recommends how the grant award should be invested and seeks delegated authority to facilitate the delivery, and that the recommended proposals were aligned with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) approved by Council in May 2022.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that the report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had been considered at the meeting of the Transportation Advisory Group held on 25 February 2026 where the group had supported the recommendations as set out.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council delegation of the investment of the £2.96m of 2026/27 active travel funding to the Service Director for Planning & Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To expediate investment of the 2026/27 active travel funding award in line with the constitution and financial regulations delegations.

The investment of the ATF funding is aligned with the LCWIP; Council’s Corporate Strategy; and the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'N' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling in England, published its Active Travel Capability Ratings in December 2025.  BCP Council was uprated from a Level 2 authority to a Level 3 authority.

Cabinet was informed that the council was one of only 11 local authorities in the country to achieve level 3, and one of only 5 that isn’t part of a large, combined authority or city region. 

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the increased grading had resulted in the council being allocated a larger Active Travel settlement, and that the council had been allocated £2,249,725 of capital funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, per year up to and including 2029/30.  Alongside this, a revenue allocation of £705,869 per year up to and including 2028/29 which represented a significant increase from the 2025/26 allocations of £1,128,857 (capital) and £330,685 (revenue).

Cabinet was informed that the report recommends how the grant award should be invested and seeks delegated authority to facilitate the delivery, and that the recommended proposals were aligned with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) approved by Council in May 2022.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that the report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had been considered at the meeting of the Transportation Advisory Group held on 25 February 2026 where the group had supported the recommendations as set out.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council delegation of the investment of the £2.96m of 2026/27 active travel funding to the Service Director for Planning & Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To expediate investment of the 2026/27 active travel funding award in line with the constitution and financial regulations delegations.

The investment of the ATF funding is aligned with the LCWIP; Council’s Corporate Strategy; and the Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan.

Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling in England, published its Active Travel Capability Ratings in December 2025.  BCP Council was uprated from a Level 2 authority to a Level 3 authority.

The council is one of only 11 local authorities in the country to achieve level 3, and one of only 5 that isn’t part of a large, combined authority or city region. 

The increased grading has resulted in the council being allocated a larger Active Travel settlement.  The council has been allocated £2,249,725 of capital funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, per year up to and including 2029/30.  Alongside this, a revenue allocation of £705,869 per year up to and including 2028/29.  This represents a significant increase from the 2025/26 allocations of £1,128,857 (capital) and £330,685 (revenue).

This report recommends how the grant award should be invested and seeks delegated authority to facilitate the delivery.  The recommended proposals are aligned with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) approved by Council in May 2022.

This report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

The Head of Transport and Sustainable Travel introduced the Sustainable Travel Team Leader to present a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for walking, wheeling and cycling in England, published its Active Travel Capability Ratings in December 2025.  BCP Council was uprated from a Level 2 authority to a Level 3 authority.

The Council was one of only 11 local authorities in the country to achieve level 3, and one of only 5 that wasn’t part of a large, combined authority or city region. 

The increased grading had resulted in the Council being allocated a larger Active Travel settlement.  The Council had been allocated £2,249,725 of capital funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, per year up to and including 2029/30.  Alongside this, a revenue allocation of £705,869 per year up to and including 2028/29.  This represented a significant increase from the 2025/26 allocations of £1,128,857 (capital) and £330,685 (revenue).

The report recommended how the grant award should be invested and sought delegated authority to facilitate the delivery.  The recommended proposals were aligned with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) approved by Council in May 2022.

It was noted that the report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

The Group considered the report, including:

• Officers confirmed funding allocation covered one year, with similar amounts expected for three years (revenue) and four years (capital).
• Members raised concerns about the missing link on Wallisdown Road; officers advised design work was already funded in the previous year and ongoing.  It was noted the section was complex due to land ownership and historic issues; engagement with ward Councillors would occur once proposals were ready.
• Discussion on Poole Park to Broadstone Way route: first phase focused on Poole Park, later phases to evaluate Tatnam Road and links to local schools.
• Members queried secure cycle parking funding; officers explained capital covers installation and revenue covers app operation and maintenance.
• It was highlighted that locations for secure cycle parking were not yet confirmed and prioritisation was required due to limited initial funding.
• Potential to combine S106 funding with LTP funding to expand provision, especially in district centres such as Boscombe was discussed.
• Members supported unified app?based access to cycle parking and potential pooling of resources to increase capacity in key areas.

RESOLVED that the Transportation Advisory Group recommend that Cabinet recommends to Council delegation of the investment of the £2.96m of 2026/27 active travel funding to the Service Director for Planning & Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy.

Voting: Nem. Con.