Content

10.1

The Committee
considered a report of the Executive Director City Futures which
sought approval for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
(SYMCA) to commence the procurement process through which to
identify a provider and operator of a Local Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme across Sheffield and the rest of South
Yorkshire.

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED: That the
Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-

(a) 
Approves the commencement of a joint commissioning and procurement
exercise led by SYMCA to appoint an external provider capable of
providing public electric vehicle ‘chargepoint’ solutions for South
Yorkshire;

(b) 
Authorises the Executive Director of City Futures, in consultation
with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the
Director of Legal and Governance to enter into a South-Yorkshire
wide contract, and Inter Authority Agreement, with SYMCA, Barnsley
Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council and
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and the provider for the
delivery of Electric Vehicle Charging
Infrastructure;

(c) 
Delegates authority to agree the selected sites / programme once in
contract;

(d) 
Authorises the Executive Director of City Futures, in consultation
with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, and the
Director of Legal and Governance to novate, remove as necessary or
carry out an alternative commissioning and procurement exercise (to
appoint external provider(s), and enter into a concession contract)
for Sheffield City Council’s existing public electric vehicle
charging infrastructure; and

(e) 
Notes that any expenditure under the appointed contract(s) will be
subject to separate
authorisation.

 

 

 

 

10.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

10.3.1

This recommendation is part of ongoing work to
achieve a commercially sustainable public electric vehicle charging
network for Sheffield. The recommendation provides significant
benefits, including the opportunity for: 

·        
A reduction in financial risk to the Council in delivering electric
vehicle charging infrastructure.

·        
The ability to bring in private investment to match government
funding and further expand the available network whilst reducing
reliance on public funding.

·        
The ability to access private sector skills, expertise and
knowledge to develop a commercially sustainable electric vehicle
charging network.

 

 

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Continue with ‘Own
and Operate’ model for existing and future
network
 
This option was rejected because the financial
and reputational risks would remain fully with the Council.
Commercial models require long term contracts as the financial case
for the installation, operation and maintenance of electric vehicle
‘chargepoints’, especially
low power residential provision, does not cover itself in the short
term.
 
The Council would need an additional revenue
budget to continue the operation and maintenance of the existing
network once contracts come to an end and to upgrade the
infrastructure at the end of its operational life if retaining this
model.
 
Government has also indicated that whilst there
is current funding for local on street charging installation this
is unlikely to carry on indefinitely and that this should be used
to lever in private finance to maximise scale and move towards
market-led roll out for the majority of ‘chargepoints’

 

 

10.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Sheffield only Concession
Agreement
 
This is the approach that was taken to committee
on 16 March 2023. The option should now be rejected as a
collaborative approach with the other South Yorkshire authorities
is required in order to access the Local Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund via South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined
Authority.
 
LEVI funding will enable the scaled up roll out
of charging infrastructure aimed at those without access to off
street charging at home.
 
A collaborative approach is being sought to
maximise private investment (via larger opportunity) and support
less commercial areas being brought
forward sooner due to the potential for cross subsidisation by the
network as a
whole.
 

 

 

10.4.3

Alternative Option 3: Fully Funded (Commercial)
Charging Infrastructure Only
 
This option was rejected because locations would
be limited to those that are commercially sustainable and the
ability to support less commercial sites
in the near future
reduced
 
There is the potential to consider specific fully
funded proposals in the future in addition to the proposed
contract, as it will not be
exclusive.
 

 

 

10.4.4

Alternative Option 4: Develop Specific
Projects and Procure Individually
 
This option was rejected because it would
result in a disjointed citywide provision, not bring in the
knowledge, skills and expertise of the private sector making a
commercially sustainable network harder to achieve and increase the
resource required for both procurement and contract management from
the Council.
 
There is the potential to consider specific
projects individually in the future in addition to the proposed
contract as it will not be exclusive. In addition, should the terms
for our existing network be unacceptable through the proposed
procurement an alternative procurement specific to these sites
could be carried out.