The Director Community Services has submitted a report which seeks to obtain the necessary budget approval and delegated authority to allow officers to deliver a project to address on-street electric vehicle charging. The background is that as part of a £35m national programme to accelerate electric vehicle take up, the Council and its partners have been awarded £800k capital and £16k revenue funding by Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1)    Grant project approval for the on-street electric vehicle charging project referred to in this report;

2)    Authorise officers to complete negotiations with OLEV with a view to the Council being appointed as the accountable body for, and receiving grant funding under, a funding agreement with OLEV; and

3)    Delegate to the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 officer, the authority to enter into:

a)    a grant agreement with OLEV; 

b)    appropriate agreements with our bid partners; and also with all third parties required to deliver the project subject to their being selected under an appropriate procurement process.

The Director Community Services submitted a report which sought the necessary budget approval and delegated authority to allow officers to deliver a project to address on-street electric vehicle charging.

The Board Member, Climate Change and Cleaner Greener Oxford presented the report explaining that as part of a £35m national programme to accelerate electric vehicle take up, the Council and its partners have been awarded £800k capital and £16k revenue funding by Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). He congratulated the Environmental Sustainability Team on their success in working with the County Council and BMW Group UK to secure the funding. 

The Chair of Scrutiny said that the Scrutiny Committee held a thorough discussion with officers on the detail of the project and had suggested that officers should consider working with local car clubs to promote the scheme.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Grant project approval for the on-street electric vehicle charging project referred to in this report;

2.    Authorise officers to complete negotiations with OLEV with a view to the Council being appointed as the accountable body for, and receiving grant funding under, a funding agreement with OLEV; and

3.    Delegate to the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 officer, the authority to enter into:

a.    a grant agreement with OLEV;

b.    appropriate agreements with our bid partners; and also with all third parties required to deliver the project subject to their being selected under an appropriate procurement process.

Contact Officer: Mairi Brookes, OxFutures Programme Manager Tel 01865 252212, mbrookes@oxford.gov.uk

The Service Manager Environmental Sustainability and the Environmental Sustainability Projects Officer presented the report.  They said that a major barrier to the uptake of electrical vehicles was the difficulties of accessing on street charging points especially in areas of terraced and communal housing.  This project would procure and test various on-street charging technologies with volunteer households. They asked the Committee to promote the scheme within their wards and encourage residents to volunteer to join the scheme.

In discussion the Committee considered the following points:

·         the interface between the scheme and existing pressures concerning on street parking and residents parking permits

·         the scope to involve local car clubs in the scheme

·         the benefits of working with the partner organisations: BMW Group UK, Oxford University Transport Studies Unit and the County Council

The Committee agreed that all City Councillors should be encouraged to promote the scheme within their wards.

The Committee applauded the Sustainable City Team Leader, the OxFutures Programme Manager and the Environmental Sustainability Projects Officer colleagues for their hard work and success in securing the Go Ultra Low Oxford grant funding.