Purpose

To provide the Local Authority a Policy for
the Introduction of Electric Vehicle Charging
Infrastructure

Content

The Cabinet considered
a report of the Director of Economy and Place / Cabinet Member for
Highways and Facilities which sought approval of the
Council’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure
Policy.
 
The Senior Highways
Officer was in attendance to present the report and to answer the
questions of the Cabinet Members.
 
The EV Charging
Infrastructure Strategy was intended to work in conjunction with
the Long Term Plan and Rochdale Council’s vision for a shift
to more sustainable transport methods.
 
Whilst the Council
recognised the varied benefits of sustainable transport to
individuals and the local environment. The Council anticipated that
a reduction in private car use overall across the borough in favour
of public transport and more sustainable travel means, would help
to achieve the wider environmental goals. It was acknowledged that
it was sometime impractical for certain individuals under specific
circumstances to use sustainable transport so minimising the
negative impacts of non-sustainable travel was critical.
 
This initial strategy
focused on the infrastructure to support EV usage and roll out
across the borough. It looked forward to 2030, but as electric
vehicles, and electric vehicle charging, was very much an emerging
technology, it was important for the Council to be able to adapt to
changes and ensure a flexible approach to delivery of the
strategy.
 
The initial strategy
would focus only on the next three years and would be reviewed
regularly to ensure the local authority was able to adapt to
changes in modal choice, innovation and funding.
 
The Policy had been to
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consultation and had been
amended following comments and acceptance of that meeting.
 
 
Resolved that the
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Policy be approved.
 
Reason for
decision:
To provide the Council
with a policy for the introduction of the Electric Vehicle Charging
Infrastructure. This policy would form part of a plan to support
the Council to achieve its climate change targets.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
To not introduce a
policy for EV charging infrastructure would negatively impact the
ability of the Council to contribute towards the improvement to air
quality and health and wellbeing of residents and its ability to
contribute towards the Borough’s climate change targets.