Agenda item

To approve bids to The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to enable the installation of electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) in selected District Council owned car parks, and to make budget provision for match funding.

RESOLVED

(1)  That up to two bids be made to The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to enable the installation of electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) in selected District Council owned car parks, as set out in Appendix 1 subject to reasonable adjustments by the Head of Housing and Environment Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.

(2)  That a 25% match fund budget for the bid(s) to OLEV to a maximum of £45,000 be approved, funded from the car parks budget.

(3)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places (Consolidation) Order 2015 (or to the relevant Parking Places Order at the time) and the Road Traffic Act 1984, to include limiting the time appropriate to the relevant charging period where possible.

(4)  Should for any reason the grant bid not be successful, or if only a partial award is made, then the Head of Housing and Environment Services is authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, to utilise the approved funding in appropriate locations to deliver a reduced scheme.

The Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr Barrow introduced the report, as the next stage in the Council’s aim to encourage the use of electric vehicles and improve air quality, and to respond to the Government’s aspiration that the UK should be a world leader in the use of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs). At present, there were two electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) in the Council’s car parks, both at East Pallant House. Their use was free of charge and had no time restrictions, with the result that they tended to be occupied all day by the same vehicles.

The report proposed the installation of new EVCPs, and that users should be charged for parking, electricity and related transactional fees. It was not known how the introduction of charges would affect demand, but the aim was that the service would be revenue neutral. An application would be made to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) for 75% grant towards installation costs, but the Cabinet was asked to authorise match funding.

The appendix to the report set out the proposed locations for the EVCPs, being an equal mix of “rapid” 22kW EVCPs (which charged a vehicle in an hour) and “fast” 7kW EVCPs (which took three hours), depending on the suitability of the available electricity supply. However, he was open to reconsideration of the proposed locations. For example, the type of EVCP in the Avenue de Chartres car park might depend on the enforcement arrangements as this was a pay on foot car park; the EVCP for Midhurst was intended for the North Street car park and The Grange car park might also be considered. The shoppers car parks in central Chichester had not been included, as they were high value spaces and users might prefer to charge their vehicles at home.

Mrs Keegan supported the proposal. She felt that the absence of charges at present created an incentive for people to leave their cars all day at an EVCP. These spaces should be regarded as a utility and charged accordingly. Subject to electricity supply, the fastest chargers should be installed.

In discussion, Cabinet members felt that the number of proposed EVCPs at the Avenue de Chartres car park should be reduced to two, releasing one for installation at The Grange, Midhurst or one of the other gateway car parks in Chichester. It was agreed that the Head of Housing and Environment Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and in consultation with Parking Services, should be empowered to make reasonable adjustments to the table in the Appendix. It was also agreed to authorise the Head of Commercial Services to determine the charges.

RESOLVED

(1)  That up to two bids be made to The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to enable the installation of electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) in selected District Council owned car parks, as set out in the Appendix subject to reasonable adjustments by the Head of Housing and Environment Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.

(2)  That a 25% match fund budget for the bid(s) to OLEV to a maximum of £45,000 be approved, funded from the car parks budget.

(3)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places (Consolidation) Order 2015 (or to the relevant Parking Places Order at the time) and the Road Traffic Act 1984, to include limiting the time appropriate to the relevant charging period where possible.

(4)  Should for any reason the grant bid not be successful, or if only a partial award is made, then the Head of Housing and Environment Services is authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, to utilise the approved funding in appropriate locations to deliver a reduced scheme.