Issue - meetings

[Report of the  Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.]

To award a contract to a third party operator(s) ("Concessionaires) to install and manage rapid electric vehicle charging points in the borough under Transport for London's  (TfL's) Framework agreement call off contract.

The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced this report which sought Cabinet’s approval to award a contract to Chargemaster Plc, a Rapid Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) provider and operator, to install, manage and operate 5 rapid EVCP’s in the borough. The Cabinet Member informed this would be at no cost to the Council.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the damaging effect pollution had on residents and stated air quality must be improved within the borough. It was the Council’s policy to promote the uptake of electric vehicles through the implementation of charging infrastructure wherever possible. Therefore, it was important that an extensive electric vehicle charging network was installed in order to reduce the barriers to the uptake of electric vehicle.

Following questions from Cllr Carlin and Cllr Morris, the following was noted:

•           Officers acknowledged the cost of charging an electric car should be cheaper than if it were to be filled with gas or petrol to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. However, the rapid EVCP was a high quality product, quick charge, and it had been intended to primarily be used for electric taxis and fleet vehicles and because of this there would be a slightly higher price. Other charging points were due to be installed in the borough under the blue point scheme which were for domestic car use and would be considerably cheaper.

•           All funds derived from the scheme would be ring-fenced to be reinvested into local transport infrastructure.

•           If, after 8 years, the Council did not wish to extend the contract, then the rapid EVCP’s would be returned to Chargemaster Plc. If the Council did seek to continue with the scheme then it could extend the contract for 2 years and then renegotiate with Chargemaster Plc 2 years after that.

•           Officers accepted there was a financial risk, as with all new technology and emerging markets. The Council would have preferred to bring such services in-house but the cost to install initially, manage and maintain the rapid EVCP’s was deemed to be too great a risk at this time.

Further to considering the exempt information at item 20,

RESOLVED

1.         To approve the award of a concession contract to Chargemaster Plc, pursuant to a call off from a framework agreement set up by Transport for London as allowed under CSO 7.01(b), for eight (8) years with an option for a two (2) year extension exercisable at the Council’s sole discretion, to carry out site enablement, installation, operation and maintenance of Rapid EVCPs and associated infrastructure at the following locations/sites in the borough:

•           Crouch Hall Road Car Park, N8 – 2 points

•           Summerland Gardens Car Park, N10 – 2 points

•           Gladstone Avenue, N22 – 1 point for black taxis only

2.         To note that under the proposed concession contract:

i.          All costs for the installation of the charging points will be covered externally by Transport for London (TfL) and Chargemaster Plc and all ongoing maintenance and operating costs of the charging points  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36