Issue - meetings

ES20127

The update regarding the LBB Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy was provided by Amy Mallet (Carbon Management Graduate Intern). Members were informed that the work stream was focused in two main areas:

·  The organisational transition to an electrical fleet in Bromley.

·  The borough wide electrification of charging points for residents.

It was important that the public charging network in Bromley be enhanced as this development lagged behind other boroughs. In Bromley there were approximately 24 charging points per 100,000 people which compared to 51 charging points for other boroughs. There was an issue in Bromley in that many residents did not have access to off street parking and because of this additional locations needed to be found to provide electric charging points. Mapping work had been undertaken with the Energy Saving Trust which had identified some locations across the borough where electric charging points could possibly be installed.

Officers were seeking comments and approval for the proposed strategy and the approval to move ahead with the pilot scheme for residential charging points. The results of the pilot scheme would be brought back to the Committee in either January or March 2022.

A Member commented that as part of its lighting strategy, LBB had moved lampposts to the back of pavements which unfortunately now meant that it was not possible to have charging points installed in those lamppostsbecause it would run across a pavement and be dangerous. His view was that there should be more private sector investment and that the applicant should be required to pay for the installation of the charging point.   

It was noted that the work with the Energy Saving Trust had identified 1109 priority streets and that there was an online resident request form on the Council website.

A discussion took place concerning possible negative feedback in some cases where the installation of an electric charging point could result in the loss of a parking bay. It was noted that not all electrical charging installations would require the existence of a charging bay.

It was noted that officers were keeping an eye on developments with respect to hydrogen but this seemed to be more relevant to commercial use rather than residential.

A Member pointed out that the availability or not of electric charging points would be a significant factor in whether or not Bromley residents decided to buy electric vehicles. A discussion took place concerning the installation costs.

The Chairman expressed his support for gully charging rather than the installation of any type of street furniture which would be liable to vandalism.

RESOLVED that:

1) The adoption of the draft LBB Electric Charging Strategy be approved.

2) The Portfolio Holder grant approval for officers to progress with the design of the Pilot Residential Chargepoint Project.

3) The option of ‘Gully Charging’ be progressed as an aspect of the project.

4) A report on the pilot charging scheme would be presented to the Committee either in January or March 2022