Active Travel England (ATE) has published the 2024 local authority active travel capability ratings. They are an assessment of councils’ ability to plan, design and deliver active travel schemes.
In 2023, North Yorkshire Council was rated Level 1. The 2024 ratings show no improvement in the council’s rating, which remains at Level 1.
The Active Travel Capability Ratings
The active travel capability ratings are on a scale of 0 to 4.
In 2023, four councils were rated Level 0. These lowest-rated councils were given action plans and training by ATE, and they have now all moved up to Level 1.
In effect, Level 1 is now the lowest level.
Moderated Self-Assessment
Councils were asked to self-assess their capabilities towards the end of 2023. They had to give information about staffing and resource levels, commitment of council leaders, network planning capability, and ability to deliver projects.
The information and evidence supplied by councils was then moderated by ATE to reach the final ratings.
The ratings are based on:
- local leadership
- network planning
- delivery
North Yorkshire have not yet made their self-assessment available.
In reality, there is little leadership by the North Yorkshire Executive on active travel, and there has been no delivery at all. North Yorkshire fits the Level 0 category better than Level 1.
Funding
A council’s active travel rating affects the funding it can receive.
Higher-rated councils receive bigger Capability Fund allocations, and larger initial amounts of dedicated active travel funding.