Issue - meetings

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration that sought approval on the proposed draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point (ECP) Strategy. 

          The Strategy set out the ECP infrastructure implementation plan, which would help the Council’s long-term commitment to reach net zero in 2041.  It also explored a pathway to meet the future needs of residents and businesses in the Borough.

          Members were advised that endorsement of the Strategy would enable officers to seek external funding opportunities from the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

          The report outlined the vision for Halton’s ECP Strategy which would identify future need and delivery strategy for electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the Borough. By 2032, it was estimated that Halton would require 1520 residential chargepoint sockets across 312 locations; 496 destination chargepoints across 17 catchment areas (long stay hubs such as hospitals and schools); and 228 rapid chargers over 18 catchment areas (short stay hubs such as supermarkets and fuel stations).  The Strategy set out how these may be distributed and delivered. 

Members of the Board expressed concerns and frustrations regarding the inequality of the EVC’s, for example, those on lower incomes or those who do not have driveways to install chargers at their homes; those that abuse the charging bays by parking non-electric cars in the bays; and the price variants of EVC’s across the Borough. 

          Members were advised that the Council had worked with operators to cap the charges where possible to be as equable as possible, however, there was no Government legislation to enforce that but the pilot areas would be monitored.  The Council had also worked with Scottish Power Energy Networks to install charging points in Runcorn Old Town where there was a severe lack of energy supply and funding had been secured with the LCR to upgrade sub-stations.

          RESOLVED:  That the Board endorse the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy.