Decision details

The Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 (ATF4) bidding process was announced on January 31^st 2023, with the submission date for all schemes being February 24^th 2023. This gave very little time to develop the bid and also gave no opportunity to inform, or seek approval from, the Combined Authority Committee prior to submission March 17^th 2023 Committee date. The bidding process therefore progressed without Committee endorsement.

However, a steer was sought from the Mayor’s office and the bid was subsequently developed in collaboration with the Unitary Authorities.

On March 22^{nd 2023}, the Combined Authority was made aware of the £3.64m funding that was to be awarded following the successful ATF bid.

The Combined Authority are in the process of mobilising to deliver the schemes for completion substantially within this financial year as per the terms of the funding. On this basis there is urgency to progress these schemes in advance of formal reporting of the receipt of the funds to the Combined Authority Committee in June 2023.

The delivery will be a mix of projects either directly delivered by the Combined Authority or grant funded to the constituent Councils as set out below. Urgent approval is sought to begin spending and the issue of grant offer letters to Unitary Authorities in order to begin the work within the short timeframes for delivery.

Delay will increase the risk of not delivering to the terms of the award and the potential for having to return funding to Active Travel England. This could also negatively impact any future funding awards.

To confirm the receipt of £3,641,803 Active Travel Fund Round 4 (ATF4) funding and give authority to spend in line with the conditions of the award.

The Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 (ATF4) bidding process was announced on January 31^st 2023, with the submission date for all schemes being February 24^th 2023. This gave very little time to develop the bid and also gave no opportunity to inform, or seek approval from, the Combined Authority Committee prior to submission March 17^th 2023 Committee date. The bidding process therefore progressed without Committee endorsement.

However, a steer was sought from the Mayor’s office and the bid was subsequently developed in collaboration with the Unitary Authorities.

On March 22^{nd 2023}, the Combined Authority was made aware of the £3.64m funding that was to be awarded following the successful ATF bid.

The Combined Authority are in the process of mobilising to deliver the schemes for completion substantially within this financial year as per the terms of the funding. On this basis there is urgency to progress these schemes in advance of formal reporting of the receipt of the funds to the Combined Authority Committee in June 2023.

The delivery will be a mix of projects either directly delivered by the Combined Authority or grant funded to the constituent Councils as set out below. Urgent approval is sought to begin spending and the issue of grant offer letters to Unitary Authorities in order to begin the work within the short timeframes for delivery.

Delay will increase the risk of not delivering to the terms of the award and the potential for having to return funding to Active Travel England. This could also negatively impact any future funding awards.

Option 1 – As recommended, to accept and begin spend of funding in advance of Committee approval.

Option 2 -Not to accept the funding. This would cause reputational harm with Active Travel England as the funding body, decrease confidence in the Combined Authority as a delivery body, and result in the benefits of the funding not being achieved for the region.

Option 3 - Not to proceed with spending the funding and advancing the projects until after a Committee decision. This would risk agreed project timelines with the funding body possibly leading to the return of the monies.