The Chair and other Members congratulated Grace Couch, Climate and Ecological Emergency Project Officer, on recently winning the MJ Rising Star award.  Members and officers gave Grace a round of applause.

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Project Officer introduced the report which summarised the procurement process and its results, and sought the Committee’s approval of the recommended supplier.  She explained that there would be nine new charge points in the Borough, in locations where residents were unable to charge their electric vehicle (EV) at their home due to lack of off-road parking.  Funding for the scheme consisted of 75% from the Department of Transport and 25% from Swale Borough Council’s (SBC) Improvement and Resilience fund.  Pod Point Limited charge points were already in existence in the Borough and continued use would provide consistency to customers with apps, easier maintenance for SBC staff etc.

Members raised comments and asked questions which included the following:

·         Concerned with the lack of lighting where some charge points were located;

·         some charge points were located near trees; there needed to be a canopy over them to protect them from wildlife such as falling leaves and guano;

·         this was a very good scheme, but clarification was needed on the location of the charge points as they were referred to as on-street, but would be located in car parks;

·         would like to see more charge points in car parks;

·         did the procurement include maintenance of the charge points?; and

·         was there any information on the take-up of EVs throughout the Borough?

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Project Officer responded to the points raised:  agenda item 7 set out the most suitable locations for the charge points; the scheme included provision of charge points in car parks where there were no appropriate on-street locations; the charge points would be located in Queens Hall car park in Faversham, Albany Road car park in Sittingbourne and Rose Street car park in Sheerness; the sites were chosen on sites recommended by the Energy Saving Trust following data compiled by them, on demand, EV ownership, areas without off-street parking and ease of suitable network facilities; and a second bid for funding would look at other suitable car parks in the Borough.

The Head of Environment and Leisure also responded to some of the points raised: work was ongoing to improve lighting in the car parks in the Borough, and this element was also included in item 7; three-year maintenance was included within the procurement; Pod Point Limited was chosen for consistency and their machinery was robust; the Council was locating charge points in non-commercial areas, and in time the private sector might locate charge points in commercial locations.

Resolved:

(1)      That the appointment of Pod Point Limited via the Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 2 (VCI 2) ESPO Framework 636_21 from 15 July 2022 for the completion of works set out in Swale Borough Council’s On-Street Residential Charge Point Grant, at a value of £148,554.57 (+ VAT) be approved.

(2)      That delegated authority be given to the Head of Environment and Leisure in consultation with the Chair of the Environment Committee to purchase charge point equipment from Pod Point Limited.