Cabinet gave consideration to the report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services which detailed the delivery of electric vehicle (EV) charging points in Council owned car parks across the district.  The report had been considered by the Climate Change Steering Group on 13 January 2022 and a copy of the Minutes had been appended to the report for Cabinet’s consideration.  A key priority in the Council’s Rother Environment Strategy adopted in September 2020 was air quality, sustainable transport and energy.  Government statistics detailed that transport was the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions (37%).

Sales of EVs had risen and the Government continued to introduce policy, investment and fiscal measures to promote the development of this market and ultimately ban sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.  Therefore, provision of a reliable public network / infrastructure was essential.  It was noted that the capital costs of delivering infrastructure could be significant and generating profit was unlikely in the short term.  Opportunities to collaborate with the private sector were increasing and there was the potential to install infrastructure at no capital investment cost to the Council.  However, this meant that the Council would have little control over the location of EV charging points, rates and revenue collected.

At present there were nine EV charging locations across the district namely Cooden Beach Hotel, Yeomans Hyundai Bexhill, Aldi Bexhill, Flimwell Park, Battle Brewery, The Bell in Iden, Flackley Ash Hill Hotel in Peasmarsh, The Gallivant in Camber and Route 1066 Café at Johns Cross.  Unfortunately, not all were accessible to the public.  The Council owned 44 car parks, 16 were free of charge (predominantly rural) and 28 were pay and display (predominantly urban).  It was noted that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) was responsible for the provision of on-street EV installations.

It was proposed that a procurement exercise be commenced working with the East Sussex Procurement Hub to source an appropriate Provider to provide equipment and install EV charging points (dual or single) at nil capital investment cost to the Council in several car parks across the district, seeking to have at least one in Battle, Bexhill and Rye, if feasible.  Typical length of contract would be 15 to 20 years and installation could take approximately 12 months or longer to complete.  A feasibility study would be requested to identify suitable locations, equipment / technology required, as well as maintenance, pricing (payment methods) and costs.  The type of technology installed i.e. fast (two to three hours plus) or rapid chargers (60 minutes plus) would be dictated by the available power supplied at each location and the Provider’s feasibility study.

Cabinet approved the procurement of a Provider to install EV charging infrastructure in selected Council owned car parks at nil capital investment to the Council.  It was essential that a robust attractive specification be presented at the procurement stage to ensure that the Council received a suitable and sustainable long-term contract.  It was noted that significant investigation had commenced regarding understanding the market and learning from other local authorities’ experiences.  The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment advised that she would be questioning ESCC regarding progression of on-street EV charging points. 

Cabinet requested that the Government be lobbied for further financial support to broaden EV charging across the district and East Sussex.

RESOLVED:  That:

1)    delegated authority be granted to the Director – Place and Climate Change in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environmental Management to procure and appoint an appropriate Provider to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in some Council owned car parks at nil capital investment cost (i.e. a ‘concession agreement’) to the Council, thus enabling some or all risks to be transferred to the Provider, and to take any necessary decisions in relation to this matter to ensure delivery of the project;

2)    it be noted that significant work had already been completed in gaining an understanding of the electric vehicle charging market provision and learning from other local authority experience, and that it be recognised that more detailed background work would be required prior to the procurement and delivery of the project; and

3)    the Government be lobbied for further financial support to broaden electric vehicle charging across the district and East Sussex for the future.