Decision details

(1)  Under the Source London Scheme where EV charging points are installed by supplier, BluePoint London (BPL), the proposed new locations for EV charging points under the Scheme (as listed at paragraph 3.6 of Report ES18010) are approved for consultation with Ward Members with final approval delegated to the Executive Director of Environment and Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

(2)  Locations are to be investigated to trial the installation of lamp column trickle charging points in an area or areas in agreement with the respective Ward Councillors and Portfolio Holder.

(3)  Tariff charging strategies are to be investigated for lamp column charging units based upon experience from other authorities.

(4)  As an interim measure, surplus BPL income is to be ring-fenced for the installation of trickle–charge points (subject to a successful trial) but other potential sources of funding are also to be investigated.

Through the Source London Scheme, 20 Electric Vehicle (EV) Public Charging Points are already installed across the borough (funded from TfL LIP monies). Upon each charging bay unit being active for a year, L B Bromley receives £300 annually per bay from BluePoint London (BPL). As such, £6k will be received in 2018/19, of which part will be necessary for annual maintenance of the units (estimated to be £100 per unit per annum). Penalty tickets for misuse might also bring additional revenue.

Customers pay a monthly subscription for Source London membership and are able to charge their vehicle at any Source London location. L B Bromley incurs no costs for the chargers and electricity use is paid by customers (normal parking charges continuing to apply in public car parks). In certain locations, not subject to pay and display parking, and following Ward Members being informed, a further 24 potential charging point locations under Source London are proposedfor installation in the next year (again funded by existing TfL LIP monies) providing an expected income of £7.2k in 2019/20(see paragraph 3.6 of Report ES18010).

For those without off-street parking, a number of Councils, including

R B Kensington and Chelsea, L B Westminster and L B Hounslow, have successfully trialled trickle-charging points in lamp columns using funds from the Go Ultra Low City Scheme (GULCS). Similar residential charging points are also proposed for roll-out in L B Bromley (funded initially from £20k LIP funding) with a trial commencing in 2018/19 for 8 to 20 charging points (some locations possibly using bollards rather than lamp columns if necessary). As the charging points are separate from Source London they will not attract £300 income per charging point. But as income from BPL charging points (under Source London) comes on-stream in 2018/19, there is a possibility that the balance of resources after maintaining the BPL sites can fund any additional trickle charge sites, with no further call upon LIP or L B Bromley funds.

However, further investigative work is recommended to confirm the position on tariffs rather than proceed with a proposed £1 fee per charge (additional to a resident’s energy payment to the supplier). Other strategies might be more viable and generate additional income particularly if new information should become available (e.g. the implications of a recent scheme by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles making up to 75% of the cost of procuring and installing charge points available to councils). As such it is intended to take this further investigative work forward and for the interim ring-fence any net surplus income from BPL for installing the trickle-charge points.

Parking income would be maintained in view of new sites being away from pay and display bays.