Agenda item

Michael Edwards / Matt Pinder

4.1 Electric Vehicle Roadmap

4.2 Active Travel

4.1 Officers presented their progress on the Electric Vehicle Roadmap focusing on projections for the future uptake of electric vehicles in Medway, the development of in house charging infrastructure for the Council estate and on public highways, partnership work through the Kent and Medway Electric Vehicle District Network for facilities in car parks and engagement with residents via the EV Charge point survey and FAQ document, both of which are on the Council website.  Responses to the EV charge point survey will continue to be collated and used to inform the development of the EV strategy.  The EV strategy is currently at draft stage and will be presented at a future meeting.  Officers are planning a trial installation at a small number of sites, to commence in Q2 next year (July-Sept 2021).

4.2 The group noted the successful installation of 6 electric vehicles and chargers at Broadside House for a trial with Children’s Social Services.  The scheme was delivered in 8 weeks and will be monitored for a duration of 12 months.

4.3 Cllr Gulvin referenced the requirement for 3 phase power supplies to facilitate the fastest charging speeds, as noted in the FAQ document, and the challenge faced in securing this from UK Power Networks.  Officers responded that as part of the Kent and Medway Electric Vehicle District Network scheme, UK Power Networks had RAG rated all sites with the majority of Medway car parks given a green rating for 7Kw fast charging but noted uncertainties above 50Kw.  Officers will incorporate a superfast charging workstream into the Roadmap with progress incorporated into future updates.

4.4 The group discussed the Kent and Medway Electric Vehicle District Network scheme.  Cllr Thompson asked for details regarding the length of any concession contract through the scheme as this could hinder access to premium sites for any Medway appointed provider. Officers confirmed that the scheme would cover only car parks and not the wider council estate or public highways and that there was no obligation to accept the offer from the successful bidder. Officers advised that a Memorandum of Understanding would have to be agreed with KCC and the Districts and ratified by Members before any participation in the scheme.  Also queried whether discussions have been held with other fleet operators, such as Southern Water, who may be interested in the scheme as it covers such a broad geographical area.  Finally, whether an app will be considered for the network to make more attractive to the end user and details such as this factored into tender documents.  Cllr Thompson suggested officers contact the Infrastructure Projects Authority who can advise on Public Private Partnerships. Officers to include these points in discussions with KCC on the Kent wide network.

4.5 The Chair recognised comments from Cllrs Thompson and Curry and advised Officers of the need to look to national guidelines and take advantage of the experience of others in the field and queried the nature of the scheme and how it would sit within the current car park plan.  Officers will generate a report on the Kent and Medway Electric Vehicle District Network scheme and share with the group.

4.6 Cllr Curry requested the criteria for selecting appropriate charging sites and questioned how kerbside charging would operate in areas where on street parking was limited.  Officers are seeking approval from Senior Leadership to instruct a specialist consultancy to provide data/advice for potential on street and kerbside parking options. The intention is to go out to procurement early in the New Year. Officers are meeting with consultancies to explore what can be supplied and timescales for that work.

4.7 Cllr Maple thanked officers for a good presentation and documents, noting that there are no estimated timescales for installation and that consideration needs to be made for alternative future technology such as hydrogen and driverless vehicles. Officers will update the EV roadmap and provide more robust timescales as and when the different workstreams are further advanced. In addition, options for Hydrogen are being actively considered. There is a willingness to explore driverless vehicles in the future, but this will be predicated on the speed of small cell deployment for 5G coverage.

4.8 Cllr Tranter submitted a request to consider the need to support increased active travel while also responding to an increase in housing/growth and changes in vehicle use and demand.

4.9 Cllr Maple queried how the Electric Vehicle Roadmap will interact with the Energy and Transport sections of the emerging Local Plan.  Planning officers advised that the final Electric Vehicle Strategy and the Kent and Medway Energy Low Emissions Strategy will be used as evidence to support the policies for and objectives of sustainable growth, improved air quality and climate change within the Local Plan.  Specific sites would not be referenced in the Local Plan to allow flexibility for new technologies and changes to travel modes and patterns. The Chair requested Planning bring forward a paper to a future board meeting setting out how the Local Plan will support the demand for EV charging infrastructure.  Planning to provide update as part of wider update on developing policies.

4.10 The Chair recognised and thanked officers for the scale of work undertaken in relation to Electric Vehicles.

4.11 Officers presented an update on the successful application for Tranche 2 funding for Active Travel from the Department for Transport.  £927k has been granted for up to 5 innovative projects across Medway (Rochester High Street, Chatham Hill, Cuxton to Strood, Four Elms Hill and Darland).  All projects will undergo initial design and feasibility studies, 4 will be completed by Medway Council and 1 by a specialist consultant, before a decision is made on which projects will be taken forward for delivery.  Completion is set for end of March 2022.

4.12 The Chair questioned whether public consultation would be required for the schemes.  Officers responded that consultation and a communications strategy would be published on the council website when necessary.

4.13 Cllr Stamp highlighted resident interest in Active Travel schemes and asked whether further funding tranches will be available from Government in future.  Officers responded that there is a commitment from Government outside of Active Travel, for example to fund creative cycle solutions.  Conducting feasibility studies on all 5 projects would enable such funds to be leveraged in future.