Decision - E-scooter trial consultation report

Brighton and Hove Cabinet Decided 23 Apr 2026 · effective 2 May 2026 approved Key decision GET /api/coverage

Decision maker

Cabinet

Report author

Matthew Thompson

Published

24 Apr 2026

Reference

7606

As published

the council's own words, unedited

This report seeks to agree the way forward for a potential E-scooter trial in the city.

1) Cabinet agrees to note the outcomes of the public consultation on the proposed e-scooter trial and the Council responses for the trial as set out in section 5 of the report and Appendices 1& 2. 2) Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director City Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member, Transport and City Infrastructure, to implement and run a new e-scooter trial in accordance with Department for Transport requirements. 3) Subject to the matters set out in the Part 2 report Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Corporate Director City Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member Transport and City Infrastructure, to enter into the necessary contractual arrangements with the current Bikeshare scheme operator Smidsy (trading as Beryl) for the implementation and operation of the escooter trial and to enter into an extension of the existing Bikeshare scheme (incorporating the escooter trial) for up to two years to cover the period to 30 September 2029.

Parsed from the document

gpt-5.6-luna-2026-07-09 · 6862/1683 tokens · 13614ms · parsed 8 Sep 2026 11:35

Everything below was read out of a PDF by a model It is useful and it is not authoritative. The document it came from is linked in the rail, and where the two disagree the document is right.

The report recommends adding a controlled, phased e-scooter trial to the existing Beryl BTN Bike hire scheme across Brighton and Hove. The trial is intended to expand sustainable transport options, with safety, enforcement, accessibility and monitoring measures informed by public consultation.

Outcome

approved

Recommendation

Cabinet was recommended to note the consultation outcomes and delegate authority to the Corporate Director City Operations, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure, to implement the trial and enter into the necessary contractual arrangements with Smidsy (trading as Beryl), including an extension of the existing Bikeshare scheme for up to two years to 30 September 2029.

Financial impact

The capital requirement will be met by LTP grant funding, with the Council anticipating that its capital outlay will be covered within two years. Surplus generated will be applied against wider bikeshare borrowing costs of £295,000 per annum until 2030.

Ward affected

city-wide

Decision maker

Cabinet

Date in document

23 Apr 2026

Stakeholders named

parsed

disabled peopleblind and visually impaired peopleolder residentswomencarerschildrenpedestriansyounger adultscommutersvisitorsSussex PoliceUniversity of BrightonUniversity of Sussexdisability campaign groupsbeach hut ownersward councillors

Next steps

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Obtain final Department for Transport approval, subject to evidence of consultation with disability groups and Sussex Police approval.
Require the operator to submit a fleet management plan, antisocial behaviour measures and a map of the trial area.
Enter into and vary the necessary contractual arrangements with Smidsy Ltd, including a new call-off agreement by 13 December 2026.
Implement the controlled, phased e-scooter trial from 31 May 2026.
Continue engagement with disability groups, Sussex Police and landowners.
Monitor safety, enforcement, obstruction, equality impacts and trial performance, with restrictions escalated if vulnerable groups are negatively affected.

Precedents

not built

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