WORKPLACE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL GRANT 2015/16

Transcription

1 WORKPLACE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL GRANT 2015/16 Page INTRODUCTION 2 Grant Available 3 Deadline for Employers 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR BIDS 6 Grant Pot 1 Travel Initiatives 6 Grant Pot 2 Cycle Parking 6 Map of the LSTF Area 7 Employer Eligibility 8 Employer Will Commit To 9 TfC Will Commit To 9 APPENDIX A Criteria for Grant Assessment 10 APPENDIX B Cycle Parking Guidelines APPENDIX C Suppliers & Installers Page 1 Apr 15

2 INTRODUCTION Travel for Cambridgeshire has received funding from the Government's 'Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF)'. Part of this is being used to fund our Workplace Sustainable Travel Grant scheme in the LSTF Area (see map on page 2) The grant will help make employer Workplace Travel Plans more effective by helping to fund initiatives that improve travel choice for staff travelling to and for work, enabling them to walk, cycle, car share, use public transport and/or to undertake trips using several modes of transport. Employers are invited to make their own suggestions for projects that require some financial assistance; pages 4-6 make some suggestions for you to consider. You should ensure that your proposed project will help improve access to site by sustainable means and help realise your travel plan objectives. TfC here to help - not just with Grants You will see that there are a number of things we ask you to do in order to be successful with your bid. You will find that as a result of TfC support and resource your new facility will be even more successful and help: - reduce pressure on your car park - improve staff wellness - reduce your organisation s CO2 emissions - reduce the impact of your organisation on local road congestion - help Cambridgeshire s economic growth keep on track - achieve some great green publicity for your organisation - other let us know! TfC Membership If you are not already a member of TfC, it is easy to join and be eligible to apply for a grant. Membership is FREE just contact TfC on or info@tfw.org.uk Page 2 Apr 2015

3 GRANTS AVAILABLE Grants available: - Applicants can receive up to 75% of the full cost of the scheme (excluding) VAT, to a maximum of 3,000 per scheme - Applicants schemes must NOT be part of a planning condition or part of a larger planning permission for the site - All applications will be assessed after the deadline for each grant tranche during the year see deadline for applications page 5 and criteria at Appendix A - Grants are payable upon satisfactory completion of the project which should be before 1st March Payment will be made by cheque or BACS Two Pots of money*: - Pot 1) Sustainable Travel infrastructure Projects (items other than Cycle Parking and Cycle Parking covers see page 6 for ideas) - Pot 2) Cycle Parking and Cycle Parking Covers Two Stage Process = 2 Application forms: Form 1: You tell us your idea and an estimate of the cost. TfC will shortlist the applications based on the information submitted Form 2: If your application is shortlisted TfC will send Form 2. This asks for more detail, such as site drawings your preferred contractor, quotes and proof of planning permission if required *Notes: Employers can apply to both Grant Pots in the same financial year - 75% match funding up to a maximum of 3,000 from Grant Pot 1 and up to 3,000 from Grant Pot 2 although, depending on the number of applications, we may not be able to agree to both Applications from employers who have received a grant in a previous Financial Year will be considered after the first round of applications from new applicants (please see the Deadlines for Application, page 5) Funding from this grant cannot retrospectively fund existing infrastructure Any costs incurred by the applicant in making an unsuccessful bid will not be repayable from the Workplace Sustainable Travel Grant scheme. Reasonable costs for successful bids will be considered if itemised in the application Page 3 Apr 2015

4 First time, resubmitting and subsequent requests from employers are eligible to request grants from both pots of funding on the same application form or submit separate applications as appropriate All employers must either have an active travel plan or agree to complete a Travel Plan or a workplace action plan with support from TfC as a condition of receiving a Workplace Sustainable Travel Grant Applications to the Workplace Sustainable Travel Grant must comply with these guidelines in order to be considered for a grant Examples: (the examples given are for applications where the maximum award is 3,000): Employer a: installed cycle parking that involved relocating 15 existing covered spaces and installing 20 new ones for staff. The scheme cost 9,132, 3,000 of which was met by LSTF grant funding from Pot 2 and the balance of 6,132 was met by the employer Employer b: bought 3 electric pool bikes and 3 Velo-Safe Cycle Lockers costing a total of 8,200 of which 3,000 was awarded from Pot 1. The same employer was also awarded 3,000 from Pot 2 for 26 cycle parking spaces costing 7,012. The remainder of the costs for both schemes was met by the employer Employer c: converted existing stationery store into an area for lockable changing rooms in a scheme that cost 1,580. A grant of 1,185 was awarded from Pot 1 towards the scheme, being 75% of the total cost Page 4 Apr 15

5 Deadlines for Applications Applications Date (including those who have had funding awarded in previous financial years) 1 May 2015 Launch May Dec 2015 Expressions of Interest June 2015 Jan 2016 Agree funding 1 March 2016 Project completed 1 18 March 2016 Invoiced & Paid Notes: 1. We accept that some projects will not fit neatly into these timescales. However all projects must be completed Deadline for Projects: All projects must be completed by 1st March 2016 Page 5 Apr 2015

6 SUGGESTIONS FOR BIDS Grant Pot 1: Travel Initiatives Car park management infrastructure such as barriers and bollards Car Sharing: update car park markings to include Car Share Bays - and car drop zone; car share signage Drying room lockers and showers Lockers and Showers one employer converted a store room to a shower room. Pool Bicycles, Electric Bikes: pool bikes including electric pool bikes, folding bikes Motor cycle parking signs and motor cycle only bays Signage for cyclists and pedestrians Walking on-site modifications for pedestrians shortcuts, gates, segregated pedestrian routes, signs, lighting This is not an exhaustive list. If you have other ideas please contact us to discuss Grant Pot 2: Cycle Parking Including cycle stands, shelters, lighting and security (see guidelines Appendix B) Exclusions The following items cannot be funded through the Workplace Travel Grant Services of third parties such as cycle training providers, cycle maintenance lessons etc. Freebie items such as cycling slap wraps pedometers etc. However there may be financial assistance available for the above from another source - please contact TfC to discuss Paid consultancy for example for writing/developing a travel plan Purchase of a service Off-Site Access to your site minor works e.g. dropped kerbs - but if you have a project like this do get in touch with TfC as there is another funding steam that may be able to assist you Page 6 Apr 15

7 LSTF area Your workplace must be based within the Local Sustainable Transport Fund area shown by the map below o A428 corridor covers St Neots to Cambridge corridor including Cambourne o A10 corridor between Royston and Cambridge within Cambridgeshire, therefore excluding Royston but including Trumpington, Shelfords, Harston, Shepreth, Meldreth and Melbourn. o Wisbech employers based in Wisbech will also be considered. The map above shows the bid areas in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership. Cambridgeshire s bid covers the Cambridge to St Neots and Cambridge to Royston corridors and the town of Wisbech in Fenland. It complements bids from Peterborough and Rutland. Page 7 Apr 15

8 EMPLOYER ELIGIBILITY Your scheme must NOT be part of a planning condition or part of a larger planning permission for the site You have to be an active TfC employer member * Applicants must be actively promoting/facilitating 'sustainable transport options. This could be a policy, strategy or just a workplace action plan to reduce single occupancy car use and encourage the use of alternative modes of travel or walking. Perhaps you already have facilities on site that you would like to expand or add to. Applicants must plan to promote their new facility to their staff within 3 months of project completion TfC can assist with this and there may be funding available from another source to support you with events etc. Applicants must agree to work with TfC to achieve media coverage of their new facility *If you are not already a member of TfC, it is easy to become a member of TfC to be eligible to apply for a grant. Membership is FREE just contact TfC on or info@tfw.org.uk Page 8 Apr 15

9 COMMITMENTS Employer will commit to: Become a member of TfC if not already a member (membership is free) Take part in the annual TfC staff travel to work survey (if you are a new employer or have not taken part in the TfC Survey recently you will be asked to undertake a oneoff benchmark survey that TfC can run for you) This must be undertaken before your project is completed Run at least one promotional event in the 3 months after completion of your project and by 1 March 2016 (whichever is soonest), such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week to encourage the use of the new facilities and/or communications (TfC will work with you on this there is additional funding that could help support your events Commit to developing (or updating) a travel plan document suitable for the size of the organisation within 6 months of the facility being in position. We have templates and tools and expert guidance to support you. Alternatively to commit to develop a workplace action plan with TfC assistance. Obtain the relevant permissions from the Landlord or other stakeholders if required Provide a rationale and evidence of demand for your scheme e.g. from staff survey information, mapping, site survey, travel plan document, additional anecdotal evidence etc Submit a copy of the paid invoice for the total amount of agreed scheme or purchase within the agreed timescales Allow a TfC Travel Plan Adviser to visit your site to verify completion of the works Comply with the appropriate Cambridgeshire County Council process for payment of your grant (process is dependant upon the type of scheme and will be advised once agreed) Provide TfC with feedback after implementation with details of initiatives undertaken and evidence of their effect (including photographs) Work with TfC or Travel Plan Plus to publicise your scheme on our website and other promotional materials, including newsletters and press notices and possible inclusion in local media TfC will commit to: Provide the employer with our expertise to ensure as far as possible that all schemes will be effective and are carried out to a very good standard Provide the agreed grant for work undertaken and items purchased within 30 days of receipt of paid invoices Inspection of the completed projects by a TfC Travel Plan Adviser Provide the employer with support and guidance on how to achieve the best effect from their new facility Assist the employer to meet the requirements of this grant scheme Page 9 Apr 15

10 APPENDIX A Criteria for Assessing Applications The TfC panel will assess your bids against the following criteria. Criteria: Deliverability can it be completed within the required timescales of the grant period? Is it likely that the project will be successful in encouraging more sustainable travel? Has planning permission been granted and if not can it be granted within the required timescales of the grant period? Applications from employers with active travel plans will be weighted higher than those without Employers are demonstrating a commitment to promoting sustainable travel will be given priority If we receive bids that total more than the funds available the panel will assess all applications against the following additional criterion: New members who are demonstrating commitment towards implementing sustainable travel and employers who have not yet received a grant will receive priority when allocating the funds. This decision will also consider options such as: Across the board percentage reduction of grants Employers applying to both pots of money may not have both agreed or may have reduced percentage award against each pot Altering the weighting to the assessment criteria to reduce or remove some schemes from the process We will inform all applicants of our decision as soon after the grant deadline as possible Page 10 Apr 15

11 APPENDIX B - CYCLE PARKING GUIDELINES Funding will only be awarded stand designs that allow the frame and wheels to be attached securely to the stand. We recommend installing Sheffield stands (see Best Practice Cycle parking diagrams below). For organizations with restricted space if may be possible to install other models but please discuss with TfC before completing the application form. All stands installed should be 1 metre apart and not less than 900mm. The diagrams below are in millimetres. Note 3000mm minimum between centres includes an aisle. Note that a bike is, on average, 1,800mm long and mm wide depending on the handlebar width. The stands must also allow enough spacing between each other and any other objects/walls. When choosing your site to locate stands take account of closeness to main entrances to buildings, car parking, passageways, doorways, windows and CCTV. Cycle stand design must allow the frame and wheels to be attached securely to the stand therefore butterfly stands and wall loops are not permitted. X butterfly stand X wall hoop Stands can be either sunk into the ground or bolted down see Best Practice Cycle Parking below. Bolt down cycle stands are suitable for use on solid concrete surfaces and should be secured with 12mm expansion bolts (rawl bolts). You cannot bolt stands onto any other surface. Bolted stands are recommended to be in the toast rack style as they are stronger than the stand alone. For more information about installing cycle stands please see the Cambridge Cycling Campaign Cycle Parking Guidelines available on our website at Page 11 Apr 15

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16 APPENDIX C - SUPPLIERS & INSTALLERS Travel for Cambridgeshire cannot recommend any particular company to supply or fit. The following is a list of known cycle stand suppliers. Local Suppliers & Installers Cambridge Style Canopies Mackays of Cambridge Ridgeons Ltd (supply only) Haldo Developments Other Suppliers & Installers Autopa Ltd BikeAway Ltd Broxap Ltd Cyclehoop Cycle-Works Ltd Environmental Street Furniture Falco Front Yard Company Furnitubes Intnl Ltd Glasdon Sekura-Byk Theme Bins International Ltd Vekso Page 16 Apr 2015