The meeting was scheduled to include the consideration of a report on the procurement of suppliers for electric vehicle charging points in the borough.

Procurement of Suppliers For Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The meeting was scheduled to include the consideration of a report that requested approval for the procurement of suppliers to provide rapid and fast electric vehicle charging points in the borough. The report explained that the funding would come from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital Fund Programme. It stated that Waltham Forest Council had partnered with London Borough of Newham and London Borough of Redbridge to bid for the funding. The report explained that the council was hoping to use the money to install 250 standard 7kW charging sockets and 30 rapid 50kW charging sockets. It explained that the council intended to enter into a private commercial partnership, or concession, with the charging point operators who won the contracts. The Partnership proposes to utilise a private commercial partnership (concession) when awarding the contract(s). This is an approach that the Partnership members have successfully used on previous Electric Vehicle Infrastructure projects. It stated that the Invitation to Tender was scheduled to be published in March 2025, and that the council was hoping to enter into 15 year contracts with the winning bidders in July 2025. The report noted that the council had previously set out its overall approach to electric vehicle infrastructure in the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy, which was published in 2020. The report's Equality Impact Assessment stated that the council did not believe the proposals would have a negative impact on any protected characteristic. It said that the council would ensure that all charging points installed using the funding would meet the requirements of PAS 1899:2022, which provides specifications for building inclusive electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including guidance for making charging points accessible to disabled people.