Decision details

To consider opportunities presented by an Innovate UK funded project around electric vehicle charging points in council owned car parks.

On 22 July 2019 this Council passed a climate emergency motion with the aim for facilitating the district to be net zero by 2030. Transport emissions account for 44% of the total carbon footprint of the district and is a key sector that needs to be addressed.

The Car Parking Strategy 2019 – 2023 contains several key strategic principles and supports the council’s business plan which contains the objective PCG3: to play our part in responding to the increasing demand for electric charging points. Public consultation of the Car Parking Strategy 2019-2023 overwhelmingly supported the need for electric vehicle chargers, with 96% in support of electric charge points within our car park.

Resolved

(1)            That the funding agreement with Oxfordshire County Council (appendix 1 to the report attached to this decision) be approved.

(2)            That the draft heads of terms be approved (exempt appendix 2 to the report attached to this decision) and approval given to engage with the commercial partners.

A consortium led by Zeta Lighting consisting of SSE Enterprise, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford University and [ui!]uk, was successfully awarded £3.9m grant for a £5.1m project to deliver up to 300 fast electric vehicle chargers for Oxfordshire.

The project started on 1 September 2019, finishing on 31 March 2021 (18 months) and will engage with all Local Authorities in Oxfordshire, first to develop a commercial offering. If that commercial offering is suitable and the councils sign up there is an expectation to support and promote roll out and installation.

Oxfordshire County Council are holding resources and acting as lead co-ordinator on behalf of the Oxfordshire Councils; as a guide each Local Authority is anticipated to have £5,000 to cover legal fees for each car park, £11,000 for sub-contract funding, and some resource funding to cover staff in order to engage and progress this opportunity. It is expected for this Council this figure will be in the region of £60,000, however is subject to how many other Oxfordshire Councils commit to the project and the location of the car parks pursued.

In order to progress this project further a relationship will need to be defined between this Council and the County Council prior to engaging with the commercial partners. The funding agreement will provide resources to take this project forward, alongside developing the commercial agreements which would be submitted to members to agree at a later date.

This item was due to be considered by the Executive at their meeting of 6 April 2020. However, in light of the situation with the Covid-19 outbreak and Government advice to social distance and stop non-essential contact, the Leader of the Council and Executive Chairman, Councillor Barry Wood,  agreed that the meeting no longer take place as staff are being deployed to core functions to ensure business continuity at this time and that the decision be taken by the Chief Executive using urgency powers.

All Executive members have confirmed they endorse the recommendations. The report has been circulated to all councillors ahead of the urgent decision being taken. 

In accordance with the Constitution, a report will be submitted to the next meeting of the Executive advising of the urgent action taken.

Option 1: A different approach to that outlined in the report (attached as an appendix to this decision). This may cost this Council significant capital and revenue resources to install the Electric Vehicle charge points through other means.

None