Agenda item

(a)  Approved the EVCI Strategy 2024 – 2029 set out in Appendix A.

(b)  Adopted the British Vehicle Renting & Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fleet Pledge at Figure 2.

(c)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the S.151 Officer and the Lead Member for the Environment, Environmental Services and Open Spaces, to approve submission of the Stage 2 & 3 funding applications under the LEVI scheme.

(d)  Approved the addition of new capital programmes of up to £5 million in connection with the LEVI scheme on the basis that all expenditure is covered by external grant and third-party funding.

(e)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment, Environmental Services and Open Spaces, to commence the process for commissioning suppliers for EVCI using a compliant procurement route.

(f)  Delegated the decision to award and enter into the contract(s) to the Executive Director – Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the S.151 Officer and the Lead Member for Environment, Environmental Services & Open Spaces, subject to the funding being available from the LEVI grant and match funding from the private sectors.

(g)  Noted that a report will be brought to Cabinet by 31st December 2024 to update on the application under the LEVI Scheme and the procurement of EVCI.

The Lead Member for the Environment, Environmental Services and Open Spaces introduced a report that sought approval of the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy 2024 – 2029.

The Strategy was a requirement of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) grant funding scheme. Officers were preparing an application for April 2024 to claim the allocated £2.233m capital grant funding for installation of EVCI to primarily serve residents without the ability to charge at home.  Slough had not previously had any detailed operational strategy or policy for the deployment and management of EV charging infrastructure and the document as at Appendix A to the report set out the proposed strategy.

The Cabinet recoginised that reducing emissions from the transport sector was a key part of the UK Government’s Net Zero ambitions and the shift towards electric vehicles would help address the significant air quality issues in the town.  Lead Members agreed that the authority had a role in taking a strategic view to ensure a balanced public charging network in the town that did not just serve the most commercially viable locations but provided an equitable network for residents and businesses. As highway authority and a major landowner, the Council was ideally placed to work with the private sector charge point providers to boost the availability of charging closer to residential areas that need it.

A number of questions were asked about the match funding arrangements and how the Council would work with the private sector to deliver the strategy.  Members also commented that the Council could take steps to promote the fact that Slough already had one of the highlest levels of EV charging points in the country.  At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the EVCI Strategy 2024 – 2029 as set out in Appendix A be approved.

(b)  That the British Vehicle Renting & Leasing Association (BVRLA) Fleet Pledge at Figure 2 be adopted.

(c)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the S.151 Officer and the Lead Member for the Environment, Environmental Services and Open Spaces, to approve submission of the Stage 2 & 3 funding applications under the LEVI scheme.

(d)  That the addition of new capital programmes of up to £5 million in connection with the LEVI scheme be approved, on the basis that all expenditure was covered by external grant and third-party funding.

(e)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment, Environmental Services and Open Spaces, to commence the process for commissioning suppliers for EVCI using a compliant procurement route.

(f)  That it be agreed to delegate the decision to award and enter into the contract(s) to the Executive Director – Regeneration, Housing & Environment, in consultation with the S.151 Officer and the Lead Member for Environment, Environmental Services & Open Spaces, subject to the funding being available from the LEVI grant and match funding from the private sectors.

(g)  That it be noted that a report would be brought to Cabinet by 31st December 2024 to update on the application under the LEVI Scheme and the procurement of EVCI.