Decisions

This report sought the approval for an Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy developed by West Sussex County Council.  The Government has made it clear that a transition to EVs forms part of its approach to achieving net zero carbon by 2050.  Sales or petrol and diesel engine cars have been banned from 2040 and there is a Government consultation on bringing that date forward to 2035 or 2032.  One of the barriers to this transition is the availability of charge points.  The proposed Strategy suggests that the Council support the take up of EVs by installing charge points on suitable Council owned car parks.

The County Council wants to work in collaboration with District and Borough Councils, as well as Parish Councils, to deliver a county wide network of charge points.  To reduce the complexity of accessing the charge points the network would be run by one supplier.  The charge points would be powered by renewable energy.  The collaboration with the County Council would be via an Inter Authority Agreement.  This would commit Arun District Council to add its suitable car parks to a county wide portfolio of sites within a procurement process to select a supplier to install electric vehicle charge points on its land.

The Cabinet

          RESOLVED – That

(1)  The Electric Vehicle Strategy for 2019-2030 be approved;

(2)  The Council agrees to participate in the partnership approach to installing electric vehicle charge points on Arun District Council owned land; and

(3)  Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Technical Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Technical Services and Neighbourhood Services, to enter into the Inter Authority Agreement and contract with a supplier following satisfactory completion of a West Sussex County Council led procurement process and to agree other matters in concluding the process of installing electric vehicle charge points on Arun District Council owned land.

The Coronavirus pandemic is a public health emergency as well as an economic emergency.  The Council has a significant role in supporting those affected in the District, in addition to the effect on the Council’s financial position.  The purpose of this report was to raise awareness of the issues and to inform Members of the actions taken to date, whilst starting to evaluate the potential financial consequences.

The Cabinet

          RESOLVED – That

(1)  The action taken and likely financial consequences contained in the report be noted; and

(2)  The continued lobbying of Central Government for additional funding be endorsed