Agenda item

Peter Osborne (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport) and Tim Middleton (Network Innovations Manager) were in attendance for this item.

1. The Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport, Peter Osborne, summarised that KCC had entered into a long?term partnership with Urban Fox (part of the Balfour Beatty group) to deliver up to 10,000 on?street EV charging points across Kent over a 20?year concession contract. The programme was focused on residents without off?street parking and required no council tax funding.

2. Tim Middleton explained that contracts had been signed in February and that residents and Members were being encouraged to suggest potential locations via an online form, which was being used to inform the first phase of rollout and outlined:

a)    That data collated would directly inform planning work and help identify where new locations were required. As mobilisation began within the period in the first year, the focus would be on identifying quick?win locations, with activities increasing over time. Ongoing use of the website would be essential, as the initiative actively relied on that data submitted.

b)    The designated operator would fund and operate the network and would receive the majority of any charging revenue raised.

c)      KCC had included contractual mechanisms to ensure fair pricing, and this had included a margin cap.

d)    The first-year rollout was expected to be approximately 150 locations (around 300 sockets), with numbers increasing in subsequent years.

e)    The network approach would allow for a balance between more and less commercially viable locations, including rural areas.

3. Members asked questions and raised issues about:

a)    Queried if provisions for rural communities and parish hall car parks were included. Officers confirmed that rural provision would be captured and be supported by parish hall projects and network?wide planning initiatives.

b)    Members sought clarification on the operator’s expected payback period and if any protection for residents from excessively high tariffs was in place. In response officers highlighted that tariff fairness was addressed through the contract design and overall market competition. Members were assured that KCC would monitor pricing to ensure continued clarity on pricing.

c)      Requested an updated status and safety of cable gullies and the need to await industry guidance on electrical safety before progressing trials. Concerns were noted by Officers who responded that cable gully options would be reconsidered after receiving updated guidance from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

d)    Greater clarity was requested by Members on the year one location map and requested that a detailed list of proposed sites be made available to Members. Officers confirmed that year one locations were still being finalised with district parking officers and would be shared once confirmed, with all sites subject to Traffic Regulation Orders. (TRO)

e)    Contractual safeguards such as minimum delivery levels and mitigating arrangements if the operator failed to deliver or withdrew rounded out the concerns raised by Members. Senior officers explained that contracts had included robust performance measures, minimum delivery expectations and options for a transfer of assets and re?procurement in the event of any failures.

RESOLVED to note the EV Charging Report