Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Environments and Housing which advises of the potential benefits that may be delivered by a successful WYCA bid for OLEV funding that will support the regional Taxi and private hire trade transitioning to ULEVs. The report also explains that there would also be opportunities for the trade to establish fuel savings from a switch to electric vehicles as well as contribute to improved air quality.

The report attempts to illustrate the steps that will need to be taken to complete the  submission of a bid for funding to OLEV and considers the impact upon Taxi & Private Hire licensing in Leeds from any changes to current contract management or procurement activity carried out by Leeds City Council that impacts on the trade.

(Report attached)

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report on the potential benefits that may be delivered by a successful West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) bid for £5m Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) funding that would support the regional HC & PH Hire trade transition to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs).

The report outlined the steps to be taken to complete the submission of a bid and the opportunities for the trade to establish fuel savings through switching to electric vehicles which would also contribute to improved air quality.

The Project Manager, Projects, Programmes & Procurement Unit, attended the meeting and outlined the methodology in support of the WYCA bid for £5m funding to deliver rapid and fast charging points across the city. Some of the funding would also be made available to support the purchase of electric HC vehicles.

During discussions, Members commented on the following:

-  The need to ensure small/sole operators were aware of the funding, which  would be limited

-  Installation points would be rolled-out across the city as demand grew

-  The need for the trade to discuss close working links with manufacturers  to ensure "universal" chargers can be installed throughout the city

-  The offer from an operator in Dundee with an entirely electric fleet to discuss his business model with Leeds operators

RESOLVED -

a)  To note that LCCs existing licensing policies (age of first licensing and renewals) will remain unaffected as these are already at the level that Energy Savings Trust (EST) identified as required for the medium uptake scenario.

b)  To note that in respect of Procurement of services; it is suggested by EST that future procurement of services such as taxi contracts for social care should include more weighting based on the mission standard of the taxi fleet and percentage of ULEVs within the fleet. This recommendation is being pursued by colleagues in procurement and in negotiation with the Passenger Transport Service

c)  To note that the next tender for taxi and private hire use by Passenger Transport and for the staff taxi contract will include additional points for bidders who can meet targets for Euro 6 diesel and/or ULEV representation on their fleets. The exact nature of these targets and whether they will be mandatory or aspirational targets has yet to be determined. Consultation on this process and some market testing will be carried out during the autumn 2016, with the contract to be tendered and awarded for commencement in 2017. It will be necessary to ensure that any specification for such contracts that includes weighting based on emission standards must also ensure that the requirements are not so restrictive that there is loss of competition, or that no suppliers are able to meet these requirements.

d)  To note that the Medium Uptake bid based on Energy Savings Trust recommendations will require a commitment (across West Yorkshire) to provide a 25% match funding to a bid for approximately £5,500,000 in grant funding between 2017 and 2020. This funding will mainly be to support increasing infrastructure to support the uptake of electric vehicles across the Private Hire and Taxi trade. The 25% may come wholly or partially from contributions from the Taxi and Private Hire companies but may require underwriting by LTP funding

e)  To request that a report is brought to a future meeting on the progress of the OLEV bid