Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Service.

Recommendations:

This report recommends that Cabinet:

1.    Notes the progress of the EV infrastructure expansion in Rotherham.

2.    Approves the delivery of schemes as set out in the proposed forward programme.

3.    Delegates authority to make any necessary technical and feasibility adjustments to the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the progress made to date with regards to installation and commissioning of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and presented several sites for future infrastructure expansion for approval as part of the forward programme of EV infrastructure installation. The report also covered the proposed programme of work for the 2023-2025 period, covering sites at seven locations across the Borough, plus one reserve, which would be considered for EV infrastructure installations and if suitable, progressed and commissioned.

In March 2019, the Council declared a climate emergency. Since then the Council had annually produced a climate change action plan which covered seven themes, one of which related to transportation. Transport was the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions, producing 24% of the UK’s total emissions in 2020 and in November 2020 the Government announced the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030. This was pushed back to 2035 in September 2023. Therefore, part of the Council’s climate change action plan focussed on expanding the Council’s operational and Borough-wide Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in support of the transition to low carbon modes of transport.

In 2019 the Council installed 39 public bays of fast EV chargers at 12 sites across the Borough, with 4 sites connected to Solar PV, to supply or offset the electricity used in charging. The infrastructure for these sites was owned by the Council but the operating system was run by MER Charging UK Limited. The existing Council EV charging infrastructure in Rotherham was set out in paragraph 1.6 of the report.

The proposed forward programme of work was set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report and included sites in Greenlands Park (North Anston); Clifton Park (Doncaster Road); Laburnum Parade (Maltby); Mowbray Gardens Library; Greasbrough Library; Kiveton Park Library and Customer Service Centre (Maltby.) Main Street in Rotherham Town Centre was the reserve site.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet note the progress of the EV infrastructure expansion in Rotherham.

2.    That Cabinet approved the delivery of the schemes as set out in the proposed forward programme.

3.    That Cabinet delegate authority to make any necessary technical and feasibility adjustments to the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment.