It is widely acknowledged that all professionals in today's working environment have use for a professional body with a clear vision and mission to improve the knowledge and representation of their members. Officers of Local Authorities (LAs) involved in cycling are no exception to this.

You will no doubt know that as a result of changes at the Department for Transport (DfT) the National Cycling Strategy Board (NCSB) was dissolved and a new body 'Cycling England' has been formed with an annual budget of £5million for three years.  With the demise of the NCSB so too went funding for the Local Authority Cycle Planning Group (LACPG).

Given the crucial importance of LAs in developing cycling across the country and the need for a national organisation for cycle practitioners and professionals within local authorities funds have been made available by Cycling England to help re-launch such an organisation - now named Local Authority Cycling Association (LACA).

The Local Authority Cycling Association (LACA) currently comprises members of the final LACPG steering group (list attached) and now intends to establish itself on the national scene.

The current Steering Group has identified a clear interim mission for the LACA to provide for the development of services until a new mandated Steering Group can be established.  The LACA though funded and endorsed by Cycling England for the next two years will be an independent resource that can be utilised by local authority (cycling practitioners) that join.  Cycling England are very keen to view the LACA as the representative body for LAs and the source of contact for dialogue on strategy and policy and cycling initiatives. 

The LACA therefore aims to provide the following:

A local authority email forum - this will comprise both the current cycling forum and a limited access section for Local Authority members only.

Regular conferences/seminars addressing cycling issues requested by Local Authority member.

A conduit for communications and initiatives with Cycling England, DfT and other national organisations (e.g. CTC and Sustrans).

Two recent examples being LACA involvement in:

• 'National on-line cycle journey planner steering group
• Working Group for developing a national accreditation scheme for cycle training

The current LACA Steering Group aims to establish membership over the next 6 months.  It is proposed that representation on future Steering Groups will be determined by an elected or nominated officer from each of the eight regions of England (based on the Government Office Regions) and later one from each of the nations of Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales. 

Once a membership base is established we shall invite you in your regional groupings to elect or nominate one member (plus a back-up person) to represent your region on the LACA Steering Group.

As well as inviting you to join the LACA we have one more small task for you - we would like to address issues at our forthcoming seminars that are relevant to the development of cycling in Local Authorities.  If you have any issues that you would like the seminar to address please let us know either via the email or the membership form.

The current steering group has commissioned Camden Consultancy Service (CCS) to administer the requirements of the LACA funded by but independent of Cycling England.

REGISTER NOW