Issue - meetings

24 September 2026

Spotlight Review: Lime Bikes

The Committee considered the operation of the Lime shared e-bike scheme within Broxtowe Borough.

The Lime Bikes scheme is currently operating within Broxtowe Borough under an informal pilot arrangement that was initially supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Panel and subsequently received Cabinet approval in January 2025.

The spotlight review was held on 7 August 2026 and included representatives from Lime Bikes, Broxtowe Borough Council’s Economic Development team, elected Members and members of the public.

The review considered the impact of the scheme on residents, public spaces, transport connectivity, health outcomes and environmental objectives. Alongside concerns relating to parking, enforcement and accountability of the individual organisations.

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that:

1. Consider the introduction of an end date for the informal service trial currently underway with Lime as 31 December 2026 and conduct a consultation prior to the award of any new contract with terms that are not at a detriment to Broxtowe Borough Council.

2. Physical corrals should be used instead of digital corrals or painted lines on the ground, where possible, and boundaries tightly managed. Councillors should have input as to where the corrals are placed.

3. To introduce a system, potentially managed by WISE, by which Broxtowe Borough Council issues fines to Lime for the collection of poorly parked or dumped bikes, as have other authorities around the country and learn from areas that have operated the system successfully.

4. Ask that Lime consider their ability to implement temporary parking bays and increases in patrols surrounding events where higher foot traffic is suspected.

5. Direct the Economic Development team to investigate the provision of further Lime parking bays to aid better parking and help reduce the number of poorly parked bikes, and to discover what additional infrastructure would be put in place should the trial period be judged as successful.

Cabinet considered the operation of the Lime shared e-bike scheme within Broxtowe Borough, following consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee after concerns were raised by residents and stakeholders.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The introduction of an end date for the informal service trial currently underway with Lime as 31 December 2026 and conduct a consultation prior to the award of any new contract with terms that are not at a detriment to Broxtowe Borough Council, be approved.

2.       The physical corrals should be used instead of digital corrals or painted lines on the ground, where possible, and boundaries tightly managed. Councillors should have input as to where the corrals are placed.

3.       The introduction of a system, potentially managed by WISE, by which Broxtowe Borough Council issues fines to Lime for the collection of poorly parked or dumped bikes, as other authorities around the country have been considered, and to learn from areas that have operated the system successfully and include a single point of contact at the Council.

4.       To request that Lime consider their ability to implement temporary parking bays and increases in patrols surrounding events where higher foot traffic is suspected.

5.       To direct the Economic Development team to investigate the provision of further Lime parking bays to aid better parking and help reduce the number of poorly parked bikes, and to discover what additional infrastructure would be put in place should the trial period be judged as successful.

Reasons

The resolutions would enable the Council to engage with Lime and provide a more productive experience for residents.