Decision details

1.       To note that Appendix 2 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.       To award a Framework Agreement to Liberty Charge Limited (as set out by Option 1 below) to supply, install, maintain and operate the user interface (back-office) for the EV charge point service under the VPACH project and subsequently enter into Call-off Contracts for each identified EV charge point site for a minimum of 10 years.

3.       That authority be delegated to the Chief Officer - Public Realm, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, for the installation of the charge points installed under this Framework Agreement and subsequent Call-off Contracts.

1.       As the only charge point operator on the VPACH consortium and approved by Innovate UK, it is recommended that a direct award be made to Liberty Charge for the supply, installation, maintenance and operation of the charge points, and the back-office user interface service.

2.       The Council’s officer input to the VPACH Project is funded by Innovate UK grant funding up to £105k. Thereafter, Liberty Charge shall supply, install, maintain and operate the charge points at their own cost, in return for the generation of income from service users and the Council will generate an agreed income from Liberty Charge. 

Option 1 – using the Innovate UK grant funding available to H&F through the VPACH Project to develop charge points for our residents at no cost to the Council with regard to officer fees or the supply, installation, management and operation of the charge points.  The added benefit is that these charge points will be available exclusively to residents overnight and in the future, may include a preferential kWh cost for H&F residents.

Option 2 – H&F develop electric vehicle charge points without using an existing agreement. Following this path will incur considerable costs for the Council (fees and capital) and extend the delivery timeframe by many months, potentially years, by requiring liaison with District Network Operator, service providers and potential network operators. 

Option 3 – not develop electric vehicle charge points in H&F.  This does not support the Council’s aspirations to become the greenest borough, improve air quality or realise the business plan targets for growing the electric vehicle charge point network in the borough. 

   It is recommended that Option 1 is adopted.