Agenda item

Electric Vehicle Charging

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure for the Barbican Estate.  Members noted the comments of the Barbican Residents Consultation Committee’s AGM on 28th January 2018, which had been emailed and the draft minute laid around the table. Officers noted that there had been a general consensus in support of Option 1 in the report; i.e. that residents pay for what they use, rather than Option 2; i.e. that bay users have an additional quarterly surcharge on their car parking bay permits.

 

During the discussion on this item, the following points were noted:

 

  1. Any decision taken that day would be subject to review in a year or sooner, if Members requested, and the Working Party would continue to monitor the project.

 

  1. Members were reminded that the current LEN funding grant would expire at the end of March 2019.  During the trial, there had been no charges to residents.

 

  1. There were some comments in respect of the clarity of the recommendations in the report and some ambiguity within the consultants’ report at Appendix 1.  Officers confirmed that this was no longer a draft report.

 

  1. Members noted that, whilst the consultants were very experienced, the Barbican was unique due to the large number of properties and number of charging points required.

 

  1. The average use during the trial was 1.3kw per day, per participant; and the estimated cost was £25 per quarter.  It was noted that green energy was not free and Members were reluctant to encourage driving in the City. 

 

  1. There was currently no system for generating the invoices and billing for metered electricity per user.

 

  1. Members asked if there were any contingencies, should every bay be assigned.

 

  1. Currently, officers could only determine what was being charged for a particular bay and there was no system for using passcodes for serving the charging points, which would ensure residents only paid for the electricity they use.

 

  1. There was a consensus in that there were still too many variables and it was therefore suggested that Option 2; i.e. fixed charging, be implemented for up to 2 quarters, whilst the method of billing was determined, but to move to Option 1 as soon as possible.  Members emphasised the need for adequate communications to ensure that residents fully understood the rationale behind this decision.

 

On being put to the vote, of 6 non-resident Members present, 4 Members voted For, 1 Against, with 1 Abstention.

 

RESOLVED, that:

 

  1. From 1st April, Option 2 be continued through an implementation period of up to 2 quarters, with a further report to Members at the meeting of the BRC in March 2018.

 

  1. Option 1 be implemented as soon as possible following (1) above.

 

  1. The Working Party continue to monitor the project and there be a post implementation review after 1 year.

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: