Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought approval to commence the procurement process for the supply, installation, maintenance and operation of on street electric vehicle charging Infrastructure.

The project would enable the Council to increase access to public charging for residents without off-street parking, support the transition to electric vehicles, improving local air quality and would contribute towards the Council’s climate change and carbon reduction objectives.

Reasons:

Officers recommend approval to commence the procurement of the Supply, Installation, Maintenance and Operation of On-Street Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure in order to support the delivery of Medway Council’s climate change and air quality objectives.

The provision of publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure is a key enabler in supporting the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, particularly for residents without access to off?street parking. Commencing this procurement will assist the Council in meeting its responsibilities as Highway Authority, contribute to improvements in local air quality, and support the delivery of Medway’s wider climate change commitments.

The proposed commercial approach allows the Council to facilitate the delivery of EV charging infrastructure without the need for significant capital investment other than the £2.14m LEVI Grant awarded to us, transferring the majority of financial, operational and maintenance risk the successful operator. A long?term contract term reflects the scale of investment required by the market and is necessary to secure sustainable delivery, ongoing maintenance and service resilience.

An Open Procedure is recommended to ensure transparency, fairness and value for money, while encouraging maximum market competition in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This approach is considered proportionate for the scale, longevity and strategic importance of the project.

The proposed approach is to require a single form of contractual security, either a Parent Company Guarantee or a Performance Bond, rather than mandating both. This approach is based on proportionality and informed by market engagement, including review by the Energy Saving Trust, which advised that requiring both a Performance Bond and Parent Company Guarantee in addition to one another could act as a barrier to competition within the specialist on?street EV charging market.

The contract adopts a supplier?funded, concession?style model under which the appointed operator will be responsible for capital investment, operation and maintenance of the charging infrastructure. The Council does not provide a guaranteed revenue stream and is not exposed to material direct financial loss. Accordingly, a single, appropriate form of security is considered sufficient to protect the Council’s interests.

Approval at Gateway 1 will enable officers to progress this strategically important project in a timely manner, manage identified risks effectively, and establish a scalable model that can support future expansion across other Council?owned land and assets, subject to further approvals.