Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development attached.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet approves the acceptance of the grant through Lancaster City Council who will act a nominated lead authority.

2.    Cabinet agree to procure and install four rapid charging units in the Borough via Lancaster City Council, to include in principel any contractual and procurement arrangements with the identified provider.

3.    Cabinet approves to potentially use council assets as suitable locations for the installation of the four rapid charging units, subject to suitable and agreed contractual arrangements as required.

The Cabinet Member (Environment), Councillor Susan Jones, presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development that informed of a successful grant offer and the installation of taxi electric vehicle recharging points within the borough, through the nominated lead authority, Lancaster City Council.

The installation of these recharging points was an action in the Air Quality Action Plan and was just the start of a campaign aimed at reducing vehicle emissions across the borough.

Councillor Susan Jones, acknowledged the work that had been done by the previous administration on this topic, in particular the previous Cabinet Member.

It was proposed by Councillor Susan Jones, seconded by Councillor Paul Foster, and

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet approves the acceptance of the grant through Lancaster City Council who will act a nominated lead authority.

2.    Cabinet agree to procure and install four rapid charging units in the Borough via Lancaster City Council, to include in principle any contractual and procurement arrangements with the identified provider.

3.    Cabinet approves to potentially use council assets as suitable locations for the installation of the four rapid charging units, subject to suitable and agreed contractual arrangements as required.

Reason(s) for the decision:

Poor Air quality has been identified as a significant public health issue across the country with over 50,000 premature deaths occurring each year, this includes 4.0% of all premature deaths within the borough of South Ribble, with five declared areas of poor air quality identified within the borough.

As such, Health and Wellbeing and significantly the improvement of air quality across the borough has been identified as a major priority within the Council’s Corporate Plan.

A new Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) was adopted in December 2018 which sets out a number of actions that will help to improve air quality and subsequently the health and wellbeing of the borough’s population.

These actions include:

·         Improve the electric vehicle infrastructure across the borough

·         Work with taxi firms to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles (electric)

·         To work with both bus and taxi companies to apply for any grant bids available.

·         Implement an ‘Electrify Campaign’ – encouraging businesses to only use electric taxis.

Thus the project will help towards the completion of these identified actions, further more these have been recognised as milestones within the identified corporate air quality project.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

This project is one of many, individual, separate and non-exclusive projects being considered at the time for the introduction of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The grant has been awarded for the provision of a charging infrastructure for taxis and as such compliance with the schemes condition is essential.