The Portfolio Holder Decision Meeting of Harrow Council, held on Thursday 23 April 2026, approved the award of a contract for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) rapid and ultra-rapid charging points across the borough. This decision supports the council's commitment to decarbonising travel and its adopted Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The council has approved the award of a contract to Zest ECO Ltd for the procurement and installation of rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points. This decision follows a competitive tendering process and aims to support the transition to electric vehicles in Harrow, aligning with the council's commitment to decarbonisation and its adopted Electric Vehicle Strategy.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Osborn, received a report detailing the proposal to install these charging points at council-controlled locations, including car parks and on-street sites. The report noted that a previous procurement route, the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), had been superseded, and a new competitive procurement process had been undertaken.

The contract with Zest ECO Ltd is for 15 years, with an option to extend for a further two years. Zest ECO Ltd will be responsible for the purchase and installation costs, estimated at £2.530 million, with no capital investment required from the council. The company will also cover all operational and maintenance costs and manage income collection from users. Harrow Council will receive a 14% share of the revenue generated, estimated to be around £5.371 million over the contract's duration.

The decision to proceed was made to advance the council's decarbonisation aims, meet objectives within the EV Strategy, and support residents and businesses in adopting electric vehicles. The report highlighted that since 2018, Harrow has installed 355 charge points, including slow, fast, and rapid chargers, through various schemes and partnerships.

Councillor Osborn acknowledged correspondence from a resident regarding the matter. Following a discussion that included confidential legal advice and tender evaluation reports, the decision was made to approve the contract award. Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy to finalise and execute the contract, with flexibility to award to an alternative supplier if necessary, and to make future decisions regarding implementation and location changes.

The council's Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to deliver a lower carbon borough, improve air quality, and enhance the local environment, contributing to the council's priority of Restoring Pride in Harrow. The provision of charging infrastructure is also seen as a way to put residents first by enabling greater green mobility.

The meeting also noted that there were no declarations of interest, no petitions received, and no public questions submitted. The decision was made under an urgent leader's decision, with call-in waived by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The report and its recommendations were supported by the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy, Cathy Knubley, the Chief Financial Officer, Ramesh Teelock, and the Monitoring Officer, Grainne O'Rourke. The procurement process was deemed compliant with the Concessions Contract Regulations 2016 and the Council's Contract Procedure Rules.

The decision supports the council's commitment to sustainable transport and aligns with national efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector. The installation of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers is crucial for encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles, particularly for those who rely on them for longer journeys or who may not have access to off-street parking for home charging. The council's EV Strategy aims to ensure that Harrow has the necessary infrastructure to support this transition.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 and the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2013 provide the legal framework for the council's powers to install and operate EV charging infrastructure. The contract value exceeded the financial threshold requiring compliance with the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016.

An Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) for the long-term Transport Strategy has informed the EV Strategy, recognising that the provision of charging infrastructure will disproportionately benefit elderly and disabled residents, as well as pregnant individuals, who are more reliant on vehicular transport. Accessibility considerations for the mobility impaired will be integrated into the design stage of the new charging points.