Agenda item

(Presentation and audio recording refers)

The Service Lead: Public Protection and the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing gave a presentation updating Members on the options appraisal for the delivery of an electric vehicle charging network.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Council had been working with stakeholders and framework providers to supply electric vehicle charging points in line with the Strategy to be delivered to increase confidence in the use of electric vehicles among residents and visitors with the overall aim of reducing pollution going forward.

The presentation made reference to the background of the electric vehicle infrastructure, how this aligned with the Air Quality Action Plan which cites its delivery as a complementary measure. It was noted that there was no statutory duty to provide charging points but this promoted the use of electric vehicles and supported the council’s carbon reduction aspirations and the Governments road to zero strategy. A strategy was commissioned and undertaken by Horizon Power and Energy which commenced in October 2018 to provide an evidenced based study to determine electric vehicle need within the Winchester District with a focus in the parcels of land that the were in the Council’s control and a small pilot study for on street charging points.  In conjunction with this study, Hampshire County Council were developing a framework to allow access to all public sector bodies, this was procured by JoJu Limited which has now been adopted by many local authorities and subsequently allowed the Council to commission JoJu to carry out two feasibility studies which included connection costs, capital costs, installation costs, repair and maintenance costs and back office costs and a electric vehicle working group was established to progress this matter and assess the feasibility studies, which was set out in detail within the presentation, together with the preferred options to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 February 2020.

The Cabinet Member drew Members attention to the charging points proposed at Bishops Waltham and Alresford and suggested that as charging points in these areas were already proposed or in situ that a charging point in Denmead be considered as an alternative site and sought Members views on this matter.

Members raised questions or commented regarding the following points which were addressed by the Cabinet Member and relevant officers accordingly:

·         Amount of energy and amount of time charging parameters

·         Parking enforcement

·         Demand and supply of charging units

·         Maintenance and repair as a result of anti social behaviour etc

·         24 hour response

·         Changes to infrastructure and technology over the 15 year term and mitigation measures in this regard

At the conclusion of debate, the Committee thanked the Service Lead: Public Protection for his informative presentation, supported the work carried by JoJu and recognised the need for an electric vehicle charging point to be installed in Denmead where there was currently no electric charging provision expected or in place.

RESOLVED:

            1.         That the content of the presentation be received and the comments of the Committee set out above be noted