Decision details

Matter for Decision:

New facilities are being installed in the City’s car parks to allow electric cars to charge their vehicles, while parked. There needs to be practical and sustainable arrangements for managing these customers’ requirements, and a policy needs to be agreed and advertised about whether they should pay for parking and/or pay for charging in new designated bays, in order that the city’s off-street traffic regulation orders can be revised, advertised and subsequently enforced.

It was recommended that the City’s Off-Street Traffic Regulation Orders are amended to enable electric cars drivers to park in car parks on the same terms as other car users, and to be allowed to free of charge top-up their cars in designated bays for a maximum of three hours, and for these arrangements to be reviewed in the future.

Decision of Exec Cllr for Climate Change and Growth:

Agreed:

a)    To delegate authority to the Head of Parking Services to introduce facilities for charging electric cars in the city’s car parks.

b)   To agree initially on a maximum charging period of three hours, for which no charge will be levied.

c)    To treat electric cars in the same way as other cars, until such time as a more comprehensive arrangement and administratively workable solution is in place for charging car park customers according to their vehicle emissions levels.

Reason for the Decision:

Electric vehicles offer a clean and energy-efficient alternative to vehicles with an internal combustion engine. A battery supplying electricity to the motor powers electric vehicles. They produce no tailpipe emissions and no emissions at all when charged with green electricity from renewable sources, making them an environmentally friendly vehicle. Despite the limited range of electric vehicles on the market, they are becoming increasingly popular. Technology improvements have expanded the range and speed of the vehicles and they are now becoming a more viable option for busy commuters.

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

N/A

Scrutiny Considerations:

The Director of City Services introduced the report. Members pointed out that, while the cars may reduce emissions in the City, the production of the electricity to power them will still produce emissions elsewhere. Members suggested that report was unclear in places (3.7) as to how much it will cost, per hour, to supply the energy and the officer will respond outside the meeting.

Members discussed the practicalities of the scheme such as, where will the spaces be located and how will drivers know the correct space is available before they enter the car park? The problems related to offering lower parking fees to low emission cars were discussed. At present registration recognitions systems cannot generate the required information fast enough for it to be practical.

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations by a vote of 9 to 0 (unanimously)

The Executive Councillor for Climate Change and Growth approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

N/A