The Portfolio Holder Decision Meeting of Harrow Council, held on Thursday 27 June 2024, approved plans to significantly expand the provision of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the borough. The meeting, chaired by Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council, also saw the abandonment of a previous procurement route for EV charging infrastructure.

Residential Electric Vehicle Charge Point Infrastructure Procurement

The meeting resolved to proceed with a new procurement strategy for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, aiming to install approximately 225 lamp column EV charge points and 47 flat and flush technology EV charge points for residents of Harrow. This decision was made to enable the expansion of EV charging infrastructure on public assets, supporting Harrow residents and contributing to the decarbonisation of transport within the borough.

The council will abandon its previously approved procurement of EV charging infrastructure through the Oxford City Council Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Instead, an open tender procurement process, or alternative suitable means, will be used. The successful charge point operator will be responsible for the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of the charge points. The contract for the lamp column charge points will be for 10 years with a 5-year extension option, while the contract for the flat and flush technology charge points will be for 7 years with a 3-year extension option.

Delegated authority has been given to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways, to make necessary changes to tender documents and to award the contract(s) following a compliant procurement process.

The decision was driven by the need to expand EV charging infrastructure as part of the council's Climate and Nature Strategy 2023-2030, specifically the Green Mobility theme, and to meet the flagship action in the Corporate Plan to double the number of EV charging points on Council assets. The report highlighted that failure to act urgently could put the council's allocation of grant funding for EV infrastructure at risk.

The council has secured £720,840 in funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) for these installations. The report noted that the UK government aims for 100% of new car and van sales to be electric by 2035 to meet the net zero target by 2050. The expansion of charging points is also intended to reduce air and noise pollution, improve health outcomes, and create a more pleasant environment in Harrow.

The meeting also noted that no declarations of interest were made, no petitions were received, and no public questions were submitted.