Agenda item

Barrie Mason – Assistant Director, Highways and Transportation provided a report updating Members the on delivery of EV charging Infrastructure across the Area Committee area. He highlighted the following:

·       Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) were installed and subsequently switched off across the former Hambleton District Council area as was reported to the Area Committee in September 2023.

·       The chosen supplier became insolvent ahead of arrangements being made for the ongoing maintenance and management of 37 planned EVCP’s across nine sites and as North Yorkshire Council (NYC) had no specifications or manuals to enable them to resolve this it was no longer safe for them to remain in operation.

·       In the former Richmondshire district six EVCP’s were installed at four locations (under a contract with a supplier that had now expired). The EVCPs now belong to NYC, are still operational, and Officers are working to bring them under an existing contract with a Charging Point Operator (CPO) to have them maintained and managed.

·       In the former Hambleton District area NYC engaged with the proposed receivers for the insolvent supplier to try and resolve the problems with the EVCP that had been installed, however, EVS Energy did not complete the installations, return any assets that or share any specifications, user manuals or provide access to the back-office system and there was nothing in place to enforce this.

·       Alternative options were considered however, there was no headroom remaining in any of the existing contracts to take on the EVCPs. 

·       A successful bid was made to the York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for the full amount of funding required to replace the EVCPs in Hambleton and would be completed by the CPO that is awarded by the contract for the LEVI programme. The award of a contract for a CPO is currently planned for Spring 2025.

·       Until the new EV bays become operational, the EVCP’s will remain bagged off and the bays will be signed and marked up so they can be used as normal parking spaces.

·       It was envisaged that a tender exercise to seek a partner to deliver the EVCPs across North Yorkshire will be launched shortly and the first priority for delivery of the replacement of the charging points would be in the former Hambleton district area.

Members highlighted the following issues:

·       It was clarified that all areas in Hambleton would be prioritised for the connection and provision of EVCPs under the revised arrangements, however, the implementation was not imminent, with early summer 2025 anticipated to be the likely timescale.

·       Work would take place alongside Town and Parish Councils to maximise the use of the funding generated through the LEVI programme.

·       Engagement with Members and Town and Parish Councils would be taking place to determine the appropriate locations for the placement of the EVCPs.

·       A Member expressed surprise that the documentation and expertise was not transferred into the unitary Authority from the former Hambleton District Council. In response it was clarified that the documents referred to had not been provided by the contractor, prior to them becoming insolvent, therefore access to these had never been provided.

Resolved

That the update on delivery of EV charging infrastructure across the Area Committee area be noted.