Agenda item

Officers have been exploring opportunities to install Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCP) in council owned car parks using external government grants and/or Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and a decision was made at the General Public Services and Economic Development Committee in March 2024 to progress a scheme.  The Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy sits alongside and develops these proposals further for the provision of a publicly available electric vehicle charging network and details the Council’s future rollout of EV charging infrastructure.

This report provides an update on the development of the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy including the key findings from the public consultation on the draft Strategy and proposes a final Strategy for adoption.

Recommendation

That:

i)        Members agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for adoption; and

ii)       Members agree that the Strategy is progressed to Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council for final adoption.

The Sustainable Transport Officer introduced the report.

Members raised concerns regarding the On-street Residential Charge point Scheme (ORCS), emphasising the importance of meeting the 1 March deadline for project completion to secure the funding from Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Officers reassured the committee that they are working diligently with the operator to meet the deadline, and had received positive feedback from officers at the Energy Saving Trust representing the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles regarding project timelines. Officers also advised that certain sites funded through different allocations will be deprioritised to ensure ORCS funded sites are completed on time.

In response to questions raised regarding on-street charging solutions related to the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) project, officers highlighted various options for charging operators and enforcement mechanisms, such as the use of sensors to monitor vehicle occupancy at charging stations. Officers acknowledged the challenges of ensuring that electric vehicle charging spaces are respected by users and highlighted recent regulations that mandate charging operators to provide helplines for technical support and ensure a certain uptime for the chargers. They also noted the collaborative efforts with charging operators to maintain the functionality of the charging points and the financial incentives for operators to maximise usage. In addition, officers expressed confidence in the reliability of the current charging infrastructure, particularly, with the involvement of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) in establishing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for future developments. Furthermore, officers explained the terminology and concepts related to risk assessment; focusing on the terms ‘tolerate’, ‘treat’, ‘terminate’ and ‘transfer’. They emphasised that the current risk rating is very low, which allows for a tolerance of that risk level, due to existing control measures.

Members raised concerns about the costs associated with charging and the quality of service, emphasising the need for a balance approach that accommodates both EV users and non-EV users. Officers in response advised of the potential for dual-use charging bays, particularly for slower charging options, and highlighted the importance of managing parking pressure in high demand areas.

In discussion Members also raised concerns regarding the disparities in funding received by different local authorities for EV infrastructure, specifically noting that the Council received significantly less funding compared to other local authorities’ funding. Furthermore, Members expressed concern about the late and minimal bid submitted by the Council, which resulted in the reduced funding received and the greater financial burden on the Council. However, some Members argued that while other local authorities received funding for on-street charging points, the Council was unable to secure similar dispensation. In addition, the government’s changing guidelines on funding bids have complicated the process. They highlighted reliance on expert advice for navigating these challenges, and noted that despite difficulties, the Council had allocated CIL funds to enhance the charging infrastructure.

Councillor Louise Price moved the recommendation that:

i)        Members agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for adoption; and

ii)       Members agree that the Strategy is progressed to Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council for final adoption.

On being put to the committee the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by general assent.

RESOLVED:

That:

i.        Members agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for adoption; and

ii.       Members agree that the Strategy is progressed to Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council for final adoption.