Issue - meetings

An overview of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Point Trials, setting out the programme of delivery of on-street charge points in the next 12 months and seeking approval to advertise the change in Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) required to deliver the charging infrastructure in 20 parking bays in Guildford Borough.

Guildford Joint Committee:

(i)            NOTED the overview of the plans and locations of bays to undertake the Electric Vehicle Charging Point trials funded by the Enterprise M3 (EM3) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and led by Surrey County Council (SCC) in Guildford.

(ii)           AGREED that the project sponsor, in consultation with the parking strategy and implementation team manager, the chairman/vice chairman of this committee and the appropriate county councillor can modify the layout and location of the bays prior to a traffic regulation order (TRO) being advertised.

(iii)          AUTHORISED advertisement of all necessary TROs across the selected sites in the Borough of Guildford, as and when required, in order to allow the bays to be introduced and agree that if no objections are maintained, the orders are made.

(iv)         AGREED that if there are unresolved objections, they will be dealt with in accordance with the county council’s scheme of delegation by the parking strategy and implementation team manager, in consultation with the chairman/vice chairman of this committee and the appropriate Divisional member, with the addition also of the SCC Transport Strategy Project Manager.

Reasons for recommendations:

The committee is asked to agree the recommendations to enable the progression of the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Trials as per the business case that was approved and funded by the EM3 LEP.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Cherrie Mendoza, Transport Strategy Project Manager

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

Guildford has 24 electric vehicles per charger, so there is a real demand for this infrastructure. There were requests to consider areas outside of Guildford town centre as locations for charging points, such as local shopping parades, with a balance needing to be struck between sites at ‘destination’ locations and those in more residential areas. Similarly, it was important to balance the provision of charging sites at on- and off-street parking locations to avoid an over-supply of charging bays. This particular report concerns the on-street trial organised by the County Council, using sites on its land so that aspects such as access, ownership and liability can be controlled. The Borough Council recognises Park & Ride locations as good places to install charging points and is considering these separately.

Charging locations farther out from Guildford town centre are being considered for Phase 2 of the trial, with possible match funding available for this. Conversion of Car Club parking bays to EV charging points in some of these sites was also put forward as something to be explored.

Members were invited to submit suggestions of potential new charging sites to the Project Manager; residents’ requests have also been collected over the past few years.

Parking sensors will be installed to help with monitoring behaviour of users and enforcement.

Resolved

The Joint Committee (Guildford):

(i)            NOTED the overview of the plans and locations of bays to undertake the Electric Vehicle Charging Point trials funded by the Enterprise M3 (EM3) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and led by Surrey County Council (SCC) in Guildford.

(ii)           AGREED that the project sponsor, in consultation with the parking strategy and implementation team manager, the chairman/vice chairman of this committee and the appropriate county councillor can modify the layout and location of the bays prior to a traffic regulation order (TRO) being advertised.

(iii)          AUTHORISED advertisement of all necessary TROs across the selected sites in the Borough of Guildford, as and when required, in order to allow the bays to be introduced and agree that if no objections are maintained, the orders are made.

(iv)         AGREED that if there are unresolved objections, they will be dealt with in accordance with the county council’s scheme of delegation by the parking strategy and implementation team manager, in consultation with the chairman/vice chairman of this committee and the appropriate Divisional member, with the addition also of the SCC Transport Strategy Project Manager.

Reason for recommendations

The recommendations will enable the progression of the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Trials as per the business case that was approved and funded by the EM3 LEP.