Purpose

Consultation:
Physical inactivity is associated with 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and
is estimated to cost the UK £7.4 billion annually (including
£0.9 billion to the NHS alone). Unfortunately, our population
is around 20% less active than in the 1960s. If current trends
continue, it will be 35% less active by 2030. Cycling can improve
both physical and mental health and can reduce the chances of
experiencing many health problems. Current work undertaken
regarding cycling is providing successful but the cycling ability
and confidence levels in Sandwell remain poor, if we are to support
more use of cycling for active travel and transport then we must
first address the ability and confidence levels of our communities
by offering a range of accessible led rides within parks and greens
spaces and making available bikes (balance, children’s,
adults and adaptive) to our population, also creating a pathway of
development taking people from non-cyclist to cycling for pleasure
and health to sporting aspirations. Another key issue is current
bike assists and storage, this proposal aims to remove this by
commissioning a provider that will be responsible for supplying
bikes and storage. We would hope to have a provider in place for
summer 2024. During the contract duration there will be an
expectation to develop a bank of volunteers that can continue
delivery post contract end working in close partnership with
British Cycling and Cycle UK.

Timescales:
To take full advantage of better weather we would aim to have a
provider in place for summer 2024

Previous service performance:
In August 2022 Sandwell Public Health entered in to an agreement
with British Cycling to host a ‘Cycle Activator’
who’s role is to raise the profile and levels of cycling in
Sandwell, set up and deliver Lets Ride & Learn to Ride
sessions, Ride Leader training, attend promotion events to raise
the profile of cycling and to establish a time table of led rides
in Sandwell’s parks and green spaces. To date this work has
been successful and it is clear that more activity and provision is
required to accompany this role and work and move Cycle More
Sandwell to the next stage of development.

Sustainability
Public health is committed to funding this programme given the
positive impact to residents. We will work with the provider to
recruit and train local volunteers who can lead sessions and train
as volunteer ride leaders.

Content

(1) That approval is given to award a contract
to the successful bidder for a comprehensive, high quality and
cost-effective cycling provision that will engage with
non-cyclists, cyclists with low ability and low confidence levels,
those wishing to improve cycling ability and those wishing to gain
the skills to use cycling as a form of active travel utilising
cycle paths, cycling infrastructure, green routes and help activate
Sandwell’s green spaces and canal routes. Also, to enable the
development of a cycling ’hub’ based at Sandwell Valley
activating existing facilities and the newly developed Urban Bike
Park, and to enable and develop pathways from non-cyclist to
competent cyclist and to open the opportunities to engage with
cycling as a sport and engage with local and national competitions.
and to plan and co-ordinate a range and agreed number of cycling
events/competition hosted at the valley;

(2) That approval be given to allocate finance under the Public
health budget, of £150,000 per year (exclusive of VAT). Plus
a £5,000 contribution each year from our Sports & Leisure
department to support the competition element of the specification
Total budget would be £465,000 (exclusive of VAT) and is for
a 2+1 year contract based on provider performance;

(3) That the approval be given to enter into and execute, under
seal as may be required, any contracts or ancillary documentation
in relation to the award of contract referred to in recommendation
(2) above;

(4) That approval be given to implement necessary variations to the
Contract up to a maximum of 10% of the Contract value, should they
be necessitated;

(5) That approval from the appropriate officer is sought to
authorise an exemption to rule 8.11 of the Procurement and Contract
Procedure Rules 2022 to allow a contract to be awarded to a
successful tenderer in the event that the required minimum number
of tenders are not received.