Agenda item

[Report of the Assistant Director for Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability.]

Following a successful trial with DriveNow, the car club trial is proposed to be extended and expanded to include other operators.

In introducing the report, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability, was opposed to the current high number of cars on the roads but recognised the need for residents to access to cars where accessibility was an issue. The car-sharing scheme offered a hybrid driving car solution for particular circumstances. The report recommended a waiver of tendering requirements as permitted under CSO 10.01.2(d) and the direct award of contracts to DriveNow UK Limited (DriveNow) and Zipcar (UK) Limited (Zipcar) for the provision of floating car club services in Haringey for a period of three years.

In response to questions from Cllr Barnes, the following was noted:

·         There was not an electric car provider that could be utilised to provide a higher proportion of electric cars. However, within the report, there was information about the intention to provide a fully electric fleet by 2023 and the number of electric cars had been increasing over time

·         In relation to parking congestion and clustering, the Council can decide the operating area for the car clubs, currently there were places in the borough where users cannot physically lock the car or end their journey. So this would be the main roads, i.e. match day of Tottenham CPZ and a small area of Stroud Green near Finsbury Park events. The Council did not receive many complaints on DriveNow provision although there have been issues on clustering around Highgate station. The Council were in contact with resident associations and had made part of the road, a no parking area. There was a balance to be struck and it was prudent to work with the car clubs to make sure there was not an over concentration of cars in one area. Officers cautioned against banning areas and better managing clustering and congestion through the contract.

·         The reason for taking the decision on car clubs prior to a decision on dockless bikes was related to the floating cars contract ending and timing for renewal. The Council was in contact with dockless providers and working with Hackney and Islington Councils to find out how the provision was working in these boroughs .The intention to have dockless bike providers was to be included in the cycling and walking plan to be released later in the year . The commitment was there and officers were waiting to see how this works in other boroughs before launching into a trial.

RESOLVED

1. To waive the tendering requirements of Contract Standing Order 9.01.1 as allowed under CSO 10.01.2(d)(i) (the nature of the market has been investigated and is such that a departure from the requirements of Contract Standing Orders is justifiable); and

2. To award contracts to DriveNow UK Limited and Zipcar (UK) Limited to operate floating car club services in Haringey as allowed under Contract Standing Order 9.07.1(d), for a duration of three years from the date of the contract.

Reasons for decision

Car clubs are important to encourage more journeys in Haringey to be made by sustainable modes. This is supported in the Council’s adopted Transport Strategy. Entering into contracts with DriveNow and Zipcar has no cost to the Council and will enable a floating car club scheme to operate in Haringey and ensure that the service providers operate in a way, which will not negatively impact our highway network.

Zipcar and DriveNow are the only two operators providing floating car clubs in London, which justifies the procurement waiver. Introducing two car clubs into Haringey will provide choice for the users ensuring the users have better access to a variety of cars and hiring options including a range of hiring costs.

Alternative options considered

The other options considered were to not expand the project and DriveNow who is the incumbent service provider would cease operations, or to enter into a contract with a single provider. However, the proposal supports the priorities in the Borough Plan and 2018 Haringey Transport Strategy and therefore, the other options were not considered appropriate. Competition is healthy for residents in the borough and will enable more residents in Haringey access to mobility.