Agenda item - Electric Vehicle Charge Point Roll Out

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)            Notes the award of the concession contract for the provision, installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charge points.

2)            Notes the contents of the report and the risks identified during the procurement process which are set out in this report at paragraph 7.7

3)            Notes the successful bid submitted in November 2018 to OLEV for £468,000 for rapid taxi charging hubs and delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to use this funding to require the successful bidder to install these charge points.

4)            Notes the outcome of the taxi trade survey on potential sites for the rapid charging hubs and agrees to their installation at the 4 identified sites.

5)            Delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to change the proposed location of chargepoints should site surveys indicate that they are unsuitable, following consultation with the Chair and the relevant ward councillors and taxi trade.

6)            Notes the award of £86,265 research funding from Innovate UK for a trial of the use of smart network extenders to expand the charge point infrastructure and delegates authority to the Director Economy, Environment & Culture to use this funding to procure and install chargepoints in line with the Innovate UK award conditions.

32.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that provided an update on progress with expanding the electric vehicle charge point infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and visitors. This report outlines recent successful awards from the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) and Innovate UK as well as the progress of the projects arising from that funding.

32.2      Councillor West expressed his concern relating to the potential loss of pavement space and obstruction relating to the roll out of electrical vehicle charge points. Councillor West asked for confirmation that areas of the city with heritage lampposts would be unable to have charge points installed. Further, Councillor West asked if there would be dedicated parking spaces next to lampposts for electrical vehicle users and for assurance that the technology to be used has been assessed for future proofing.

32.3      The Parking Strategy & Contracts Manager explained that it was proposed to install 31 exclusive electric vehicle bays initially and this would be in the context of an estimated 430 electrical vehicles in the city. Use of those bays would be monitored and the number increased as levels of ownership of electric vehicles rose. There would be 170 advisory parking bays that would be monitored and converted to exclusive electric vehicle parking bays as demand increased. The Parking Strategy & Contracts Manager explained that heritage and some cast iron lampposts had been ruled out as charge points as well as lampposts a significant distance from the road to avoid obstruction. The Parking Strategy & Contracts Manager explained that it was likely that by the end of the contract newer technology would be available however, it was deemed necessary to go ahead and meet the change.

32.4      Councillor Wares asked for clarification that this was the lamppost locations not taxi charging points as consultation on the latter with the taxi trade was a must. In relation to potential abuse of occupation of a parking bay, Councillor Wares asked if there would be a parking charge increase after a specific period to act as a deterrent. Furthermore, Councillor Wares noted that the electrical charging point was an emerging market with new businesses and asked for assurance that the concession partner would be paying for electricity use so as to minimise the financial risk to the council.

32.5      The Parking Strategy & Contracts Manager explained that recommendation did refer to taxi hubs however, the taxi trade had been fully consulted on the proposals and had suggested a number of alternative sites and they would be first-choice in the event a charging point needed to be moved. Options to limit turnover were being considered with a potential option being text alert service followed by a penalty charge if the vehicle was not removed after a period of time. The Parking Strategy & Contracts Manager clarified that the concession partner would be responsibility for payment of the electricity used as part of the contract.

32.6      Councillor West observed that the proposal was a useful step but not part of the solution to carbon neutrality and climate change. Furthermore, even with electric cars, there would still be congestion and sill be road safety issues.

32.7      Councillor Wares stated that on the basis of the advice received, he was uncomfortable with agreeing to recommendation 2.5 as the taxi trade should be consulted on any relocation of electric vehicle charge points.

32.8      The Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture clarified that the taxi trade would certainly be consulted on any proposed relocation of an electric charge point and it was absolutely essential to the council that the trade were happy with the locations established.

32.9      Councillor Wares moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.5 as shown in bold italics below:

2.5      Delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to change the proposed location of chargepoints should site surveys indicate that they are unsuitable, following consultation with the Chair and the relevant ward councillors and taxi trade.

32.10   Councillor Brown formally seconded the motion.

32.11   Councillor Moonan welcomed the report that was part of a movement toward carbon neutrality and overall journey toward more sustainable forms and use of transport.

32.12   The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

32.13   The Chair then put the recommendations, as amended, to the vote that were agreed.

32.14   RESOLVED- That the Committee:

1)            Notes the award of the concession contract for the provision, installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charge points.

2)            Notes the contents of the report and the risks identified during the procurement process which are set out in this report at paragraph 7.7

3)            Notes the successful bid submitted in November 2018 to OLEV for £468,000 for rapid taxi charging hubs and delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to use this funding to require the successful bidder to install these charge points.

4)            Notes the outcome of the taxi trade survey on potential sites for the rapid charging hubs and agrees to their installation at the 4 identified sites.

5)            Delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to change the proposed location of chargepoints should site surveys indicate that they are unsuitable, following consultation with the Chair and the relevant ward councillors and taxi trade.

6)            Notes the award of £86,265 research funding from Innovate UK for a trial of the use of smart network extenders to expand the charge point infrastructure and delegates authority to the Director Economy, Environment & Culture to use this funding to procure and install chargepoints in line with the Innovate UK award conditions.