Council leaders say they will drop proposals for an e-bike hire scheme if it is not viable in Stoke-on-Trent.

Cabinet members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have agreed to launch a procurement exercise for an e-bike scheme similar to those running in other UK cities.

But council leader Jane Ashworth described the procurement as a 'conversation' with providers, and that no final decision had been taken.

According to a cabinet report, an e-bike hire scheme could improve connectivity in Stoke-on-Trent and reduce traffic congestion.

The proposed scheme would run as a concession with no ongoing public subsidy, meaning the private operator would cover its running costs. The council would set operational and safety guidelines, and could incur some set-up and management costs.

Cllr Ashworth said the scheme would need to meet the council's requirements in order for it to go ahead.

She said: "This is a procurement exercise, it's a conversation with the owners of these systems. The key aspects to it will be that it costs us preferably nothing but certainly very little, that we get assurances over insurance and that there will be no dumping of bikes here, there and everywhere.

"That will be the basis of the conversation we will be having with providers of the schemes."

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, suggested that while council will be able to learn from e-bike hire in other parts of the country, but would need to ensure Stoke-on-Trent's scheme catered to the city's unique geography.

Cllr Ashworth added: "If it turns out that it's not viable, then we'll drop it."

Other cabinet members expressed support for bringing e-bike hire to Stoke-on-Trent, following the success of schemes elsewhere.

Councillor Lynn Watkins believes e-bike hire would appeal to the city's student population.

She said: "If you look outside Stoke-on-Trent College, or the sixth form college, there are usually very long queues at the bus stops. I'm sure some would take the opportunity to use one of these bikes to nip up Hanley and avoid those queues."

Councillor Waseem Akbar said electrically-assisted bikes would remove one of the biggest barriers to cycling in Stoke-on-Trent.

He said: "The hills are the biggest reason people in this city give for not cycling. An e-bike flattens those hills. It takes cycling out of the category of sport and puts it into the category of transport – something you can do in your work clothes to get to a shift, or to college."

The proposed scheme could see up to 1,000 e-bikes available for use across the city. It could include designated parking areas and geo-fencing system to restrict the use of bikes to approved areas.

If the scheme is given the green light, it could be up and running by next summer.