A City of London councillor is facing calls to step down from a key committee after taking a role with Lime, one of the e-bike operators overseen by the authority in the Square Mile.
MyLondon reported that Common Councillor Shravan Joshi began working with Lime in September, helping the company set up an advisory board for its London operation. He also sits on the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee, which oversees agreements affecting e-bike operators in the City.
The role does not amount to a breach of the City of London Corporation’s Code of Conduct, provided interests are declared and he removes himself from decisions where conflicts may arise. But the appointment has still prompted criticism because of the committee’s role in regulating e-bike arrangements.
Committee approved revised operator deal
In late July, the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee approved a revised Memorandum of Understanding with operators. The updated deal introduced a new penalty regime, financial contributions of £80 per parking space per quarter, and expanded the number of operators from two to three by adding Voi to Lime and Forest.
At the July 21 meeting, Joshi contributed to the discussion and said he believed the MoU was “fine” though that a response from the police should be attained. He then left before the decision was made.
After he had left, Deputy Tom Sleigh, Planning and Transportation Chair told members Joshi was not in favour of Voi being added alongside Lime and Forest. The revised MoU was still agreed.
Questions over conflict of interest
Joshi updated his register of interests on October 13 to say he had started a new role as a Board Advisor to Lime. MyLondon reported that the Local Democracy Reporting Service understood that description was not accurate, and that he had instead been engaged to help Lime set up an advisory board in London, separate from the company’s main board and without authority to make decisions or financial commitments on Lime’s behalf.
One source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “He should vacate his position on Planning and Transportation and Streets and Walkways. Regardless of whether he’s just taken up his position, I think to the public they would rightly have concerns that his position was in discussion up to and during the MoU discussions, and he was at the meeting that took the decision voting in favour.”
A spokesperson for Second Derivative, a City of London-based research consultancy specialising in Lime and its parent company Neutron Holdings, said: “It is deeply troubling that a City of London Corporation committee member joined Lime just two months after the committee approved commercial arrangements benefiting the company, at below market rates which significantly undervalue taxpayer-funded public space.”
Issue remains sensitive in the Square Mile
E-bikes have become a recurring issue in the City of London, where residents regularly complain about abandoned bikes and poor rider behaviour. The MoUs are intended to formalise how operators respond, including rules on parking and reporting.
There was also debate within the committee over the financial terms of the revised deal. Deputy Deborah Oliver said she was not confident enough information had been provided on the £80 per parking space per quarter charge, saying members had not been shown comparisons with other boroughs.
Lime did not provide an on-the-record comment when asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service to confirm when discussions about Joshi’s role began or whether he is being paid.
