Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on two projects relating to electric vehicles and the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

            The Board was advised that in Autumn 2019, The Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) invited applications for the Residential On-Street Charging Point Fund. The focus of this particular fund was to reduce the barriers to electric vehicle ownership due to the lack of personal parking spaces. Officers identified a number of areas where car ownership was high, access to driveways was low and Halton submitted a successful application and received £74,250.00 from the OZEV. The funding supported 29 on-street residential Electric Charging Points (ECP).

            The Board noted a proposal to expand the existing residential on-street electric vehicle charging network by adding up to 120 additional charging points across Halton. Details of the proposed location of these was outlined in the report. The next stage of the proposal was to consult with the communities identified and if community support for the proposal was obtained an application would be prepared and submitted to OZEV.

            Arising from the discussion it was requested:

·         that Manor Road be added to the list of proposed locations to be assessed; and

·         information be made available to residents that they can apply for a personal grant towards the cost of an ECP.

            Members also considered information on a proposal to pilot a 4 year project regarding electric powered taxis. The target was to get 30 fully electric powered vehicles fully operating over the 4 year project timeline.

            RESOLVED: That the projects be endorsed and the Board recognises their contribution to the climate change agenda, in particular reducing air pollution.