Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change, and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

The Committee considered a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Highways and Transportation regarding a draft Staffordshire public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Strategy (schedule 2 to the signed minutes).

The draft Strategy set out the Authority’s priorities for the installation of EV charging points across the County through an analysis of policy, funding and technology. The Strategy referenced both current and forecast demand for facilities in each Staffordshire District/Borough together with the County as a whole, in order to inform strategic decision making by key stakeholders. It went on to recommend general locations across the County that should be considered for charging infrastructure and the optimal solutions appropriate to match demand.

Recognising that, whilst the Council could coordinate the installation of EV charging points in on-street locations, the Strategy outlined how support was required from Parish, District and Borough Councils, residents, workplaces, retail and leisure destinations in order to provide points where need was greatest. In addition, the Strategy set out how the Council intended to engage with residents and ensure that they had access to informative material about EVs and EV charging infrastructure and were encouraged to transition to the use of EVs.

The adoption of the strategy also helped the Council monitor progress and manage expectations from residents and stakeholders with regard to EV infrastructure, support other strategies to deliver their vision, aims and objectives including the emerging Local Transport Plan.

During their presentation, the Cabinet Members highlighted:- (i) The Role of a Local Authority in the Delivery of EV Charging; (ii) Strategy Development since 2019; (iii) the contents of The Strategy document; (iv) Why the Need for a Strategy; (v) the Current Picture; (vi) current Staffordshire Public Chargepoints; (vii) Where do We (the County Council) Want to get to and How and; (viii) Conclusions.

In the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued, Members gave detailed scrutiny to the draft Strategy, asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern as necessary, including:- (i) the joint working with Local Planning Authorities necessary to ensure new development eg carparks etc incorporated facilities for EV charging, where appropriate; (ii) the various challenges faced by Local Authorities in helping to co-ordinate the provision of appropriate on and off street EV charging points; (iii) the extent to which the Cabinet Members had collaborated with Partners such as National Grid in developing the Strategy; (iv) the importance of joint working with mobility organisations to ensure that the needs of residents with disabilities were adequately provided for and; (v) how the County Council’s car lease scheme could be adapted to promote the use of electric vehicles.

In conclusion, Members expressed their support for the draft Strategy whilst acknowledging the County Council’s role was not to provide EV charging points themselves. They looked forward to the Authority providing assistance to other key stakeholders in ensuring appropriate EV charging point coverage throughout the County having regard to the contribution it would make towards sustaining prosperity in the future.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b)   That the Cabinet Members be urged to have regard to the above-mentioned comments in their work to finalise the draft Staffordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy.