City councillor's Lime role sparks conflict of interest debate over e-bike oversight

Concerns about a potential conflict of interest have emerged after a City of London Corporation councillor took a new role with Lime shortly after a committee approved a revised agreement for e-bike operators. Common Councillor Shravan Joshi, who sits on the Corporation’s Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee, updated his register of interests earlier this month to disclose that he is a board adviser to Lime. The same sub-committee oversees arrangements between the City and e-bike firms in the Square Mile. In July, the sub-committee approved a revised MoU that added new financial contributions, penalties for parking non-compliance, affordability and data-sharing requirements, and increased operators from two to three, with Voi joining Lime and Forest. Observers questioned whether Joshi should step down, though no code-of-conduct breach was alleged. Lime declined to comment.