Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing a forecast of the requirements for charging facilities in the City up to 2025.

The Town Clerk tabled a paper detailing the questions (and their responses) raised by members of the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee when they had received the report at their meeting earlier this week.

Officers highlighted that the City of London’s response to the recommendations from the Energy Saving Trust’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forecasts report and a timescale for associated actions were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

A Member commented that this was a rapidly changing market and questioned whether money was being spent prematurely on infrastructure that would not be fit for purpose and therefore redundant in the not too distant future. He stressed that a data driven approach to this issue was vital. The Member went on to question whether the installation of charging points was a means to encourage drivers into the City where, at present, over 90% of trips were made on foot. He questioned whether funds would therefore, ultimately, be better spent on continuing to improve the pedestrian environment within the Square Mile.

Another Member referred to work to be undertaken with the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) industry and other stakeholders and suggested that it would be helpful to have an idea of what conversations were currently being had.

Other Members echoed the sentiment that technology in this field was advancing rapidly and that the City Corporation needed to be sure that they were investing in the right things and keeping well abreast of where the market here was heading.

Another Member questioned whether there was sufficient charging for hybrid vehicles such as taxis in the City. He added that power supply was expensive and therefore questioned whether units could be supplied only as needed. The Member went on to highlight that a concern here was private car parks given that there was no on-street parking provided for City residents. He added that off-street parking should therefore be moving to support electric vehicle charging. Finally, he remarked that, whilst Beech Street was being trialled as a zero emissions zone, Defoe House and Shakespeare Tower which were situated nearby had no electric vehicle charging provisions to date.

A Member questioned how Officers proposed to recover costs on this work as the City Corporation, in his view, should not be subsidising motorists in any way.

Another Member highlighted that the City was unique in terms of power supply given its concentration of large buildings, he questioned, however, if Officers had looked at what the City’s neighbouring boroughs were providing in terms of charging points. Officers responded that this was being monitored but that there were no charging points close to the City’s boundaries at present. The Member went on to highlight that, as he understood it, ULEZ charges would apply to all residents from 2021 and questioned whether this might also be a contributing factor towards an increased use of electric vehicles.

Officers responded to the points raised, stating that the policy around Electric Vehicles had been set by the City Corporation in 2017 and acknowledged the importance of not attracting additional drivers into the Square Mile. They continued by stating that it was recognised that there was demand from residents for additional charging points although this remained relatively low to date. Officers also clarified that they were working with neighbouring boroughs and other stakeholders to identify where it might be possible to cross subsidise this work. Members were informed that the Barbican installations and rapid charge points to date had been provided for using TfL subsidies.

Officers went on to assure the Committee that, alongside TfL and other stakeholders, they were keeping a watchful eye on where the technology in this field was heading. The recommendation at present was therefore that Officers continue to do this as well as to assess the market take-up/need.

RESOLVED – That Members note the report.