The decision confirmed an agreed approach and a number of sockets to be deployed with the grant funding and that all of the conditions can be met to ensure that County can take on the current estate and incorporate the remaining GULO funding into the LEVI programme and ensure Oxford City Council is recompensed for the loss of revenue owing to this transfer.

These conditions have been satisfied via the HoT agreement and this decision notice confirms that.

All of the criteria below for the decision taken in Oct 2023, have now been agreed in principle between the City and County Councils, via a legal HoT agreement.

6. Agree the On-street elements of the Go Ultra Low Oxford project (GULO) transition from Oxford City Council delivery to Oxfordshire County Council delivery, subject to the following conditions being fulfilled:

a.    The County Council are satisfied that they can meet the funding obligations within the GULO funding agreement.

b.    The funding body for GULO agrees (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles/OZEV) for the transfer to take place.

c.     There is an agreement by both Councils on the methodology for delivery of the key outputs of GULO Phase 2, including the number of electric vehicle charging points and cable channels (GUL-e) committed under GULO are delivered to updated timeframes that are agreed with Oxford City Council and the funding body.

d.    The existing GULO estate and highways related GULO Phase 2 funding are both transferred; and

e.    An updated partnership agreement, including a revenue share arrangement for the assets associated with GULO is put in place that recovers the City Council investment to date.

Oxfordshire County Council requested to take on strategic oversight of Electric vehicle charging point deployment on highways land in 2023, with Oxford City Council continuing to oversee installation of EVI on City Council land assets.  As part of this it was agreed that:

Oxfordshire County Council will work with Oxford City Council to meet OxEVIS targets and Oxford City would transfer remaining GULO grant funding to the County, in exchange for an ongoing revenue share to cover the City Council’s investment in this area. 

Continue to manage and deploy GULO funded EV charging This approach was dismissed as it is not possible for Oxford City Council to continue to deliver new EV charging on the highways without support from County Highways. In addition, the government has devolved EV grant funding (LEVI) to the Tier 1 authorities (County) to deliver on- street EV charging. Joining GULO in with LEVI is the most likely way to maximise best value from the remaining GULO grant.