The Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 21 July 2026. The committee agreed to enter into revised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with dockless cycle hire operators, agreeing to include Voi as a third operator alongside Lime and Forest. The committee also agreed to ringfence approved funding beyond 31 March 2027 for the Cool Streets and Greening programme to ensure projects not completed by the original deadline can be finished with funding certainty. Furthermore, the committee approved the initiation of the Fenchurch Street Improvements project and approved the budget of £370,000 excluding costed risk to complete the detailed design and stakeholder engagement.

Dockless Cycle Hire Operators: Revised Memoranda of Understanding

The committee agreed to enter into revised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with dockless cycle hire operators, agreeing to include Voi as a third operator alongside Lime and Forest. This decision aims to increase user choice, foster competition, and enhance resilience within the dockless cycle hire market. The revised MoUs introduce stronger controls and accountability, including increased financial contributions from operators, estimated to generate £455,360 annually. A new penalty regime will be implemented to address issues such as exceeding parking allocations, poor parking compliance, and slow response times to reports. The committee also noted the findings of a trial on Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for bikes causing obstructions, which will continue as a business-as-usual activity.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about the potential for a third operator to exacerbate existing issues with parking demand outstripping supply. Officers acknowledged this risk but highlighted that the MoU includes measures to mitigate these impacts, such as quarterly reviews of usage and the potential to reallocate parking spaces. Members also discussed the use of revenue generated from operator contributions, with a preference for in-year spending and a commitment to provide Members with an overview of proposed reinvestments annually. The importance of improving the experience for wheelchair and pushchair users was also emphasised.

Cool Streets and Greening Programme Update

The committee received an update on the Cool Streets and Greening programme, which aims to enhance the Square Mile's resilience to climate change. The programme has completed 31 projects and four seasons of street tree planting, with a further nine projects nearing completion. Members agreed to ringfence approved funding beyond 31 March 2027 to ensure that projects not completed by the original deadline can be finished with funding certainty. They also approved the reallocation of £374,000 to other projects within the programme to maximise benefits and deliver additional greening opportunities, including reinstating the Playhouse Yard project. The committee also noted the agreement to transfer £700,000 as commuted sums for the maintenance of agreed projects for up to 20 years post completion. The programme has received several awards, including the Resilience Award at the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation annual awards.

Fenchurch Street Improvements Project

The committee approved the initiation of the Fenchurch Street Improvements project and approved the budget of £370,000 excluding costed risk to complete the detailed design and stakeholder engagement. This project is a high-priority initiative identified in the Fenchurch Street Area Healthy Streets Plan and aligns with the City Corporation's Corporate Plan, Transport Strategy, and Climate Action Strategy. The project will involve widening pavements to accommodate increased footfall from nearby developments and improving accessibility. The estimated total cost of the project is between £6-8 million, with the next stage of detailed design and stakeholder engagement costing £370,000. Funding for this next stage will be drawn from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and On-Street Parking Reserve (OSPR), with future construction costs expected to be met through a combination of developer Section 278 agreements and further CIL/OSPR funding bids.

Other Business

The committee also noted a report summarising delegated decisions made by officers and the Environment Portfolio Board between May and June 2026, and received an update on outstanding references. Members raised questions regarding the Healthy Streets Scorecard, the potential for meetings with the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, secondary legislation for dockless cycle operators, and power connection charges for community events.