Decision details

Approve and inject capital funding for the procurement of up to 30 rapid electric vehicle charge points using a single supplier under framework and call-off contracts drawn up by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The capital funding Leeds City Council will receive amounts up to £1,152,000 and so is over the threshold whereby officers must seek approval from Exec Board. It also serves to raise awareness of a measure aimed at improving air quality in the city.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided details of the successful grant funding application submitted to the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the West Yorkshire district councils, whilst it also provided information on the additional funding from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) which was to supplement the OLEV grant funding. Furthermore, the report sought approval for the injection of such funding into the Capital Programme, for the necessary ‘authority to spend’ and also for approval to use a framework contract to engage a single supplier to install rapid charge points in Leeds.

It was noted that once the proposed chargers were operational, each would have 2 bays, with 1 being designated for taxi and private hire vehicles only. Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board noted that no issues were envisaged regarding the split between private vehicle and taxi/private hire use of the facilities, but it was undertaken that the matter would be monitored.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to inject into the capital programme, and give authority to incur expenditure of up to £1,152,000, to be grant funded from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles, including up to £360,000 of West Yorkshire LTP grant, via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, for the installation of between 30-35 twin rapid Electric Vehicle chargers within the Leeds District;

(b)  That approval be given to inject into the capital programme, and give authority to incur expenditure of the additional sum of up to £90,000 LTP capital funding towards the costs associated with site preparation work, such as Distribution Network Operators (DNO) applications and site surveys;

(c)  That the terms of procurement of a single supplier to deliver the project across West Yorkshire following a tender process led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, be approved, subject to a separate legal agreement;

(d)  That approval be given to exempt the resolutions arising from this report from the Call In process, on the grounds of urgency, as detailed within section 4.5 of the submitted report.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process if it is considered that any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (d) above, and for the reasons as detailed within section 4.5 of the submitted report)

To consult with the relevant Exec Board Members