Agenda item

Report of Portfolio Holder for Strategic Infrastructure and Communications

With the Leader/Portfolio Holder for Strategic Infrastructure and Communications giving apologies, the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration introduced the report on Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) Charging Point Infrastructure Network.

 

Nottingham has been identified as one of the UK’s major cities to put in interventions that help to deliver air quality compliance as soon as possible. The Go Ultra Low Nottingham programme initiatives will encourage the use of cleaner private and commercial road transport, complemented by existing measures to promote the use of walking, cycling and public transport.

 

Electric vehicle uptake is highest in areas where there is a good publically accessible network. Fleet managers and the public cite the lack of a local charge point network as a major barrier to investing in electric vehicles. Furthermore motorists without off street parking who cannot charge

at home will rely on a public network.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  approve theupdated procurement strategyfor the project and delegate authorityto the DeputyChiefExecutive/CorporateDirectorof Development andGrowthto enter intoall necessarycontractualdocumentation with the successful concession operatorfollowinga compliantprocurementexercise;

 

(2)  approve the partnering arrangements with Nottinghamshire County Council and Derby City Council and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director of Development and Growth to enter into legal agreements with the respective Local Authorities to support the delivery of the charging infrastructure network post contract award;

 

(3)  approve the investment and revenue share principles set out in the updated procurement strategy and delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Corporate Director of Development and Growth to approve, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder :

i) any additional investment from the concessionaire to further enhance the charging infrastructure network; and

ii) any revenue share arrangements from the scheme which shall be secured to support transport related measures of the Go Ultra Low Nottingham programme.

 

(4)  approve the land ownership principles set out in the report and delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Development and Growth to enter into all necessary legal agreements and documentation with the Concessionaire, third party land owners and electricity utility companies to ensure the necessary land rights and permits are in place to enable the installation of the charging points, secure the ownership rights of the infrastructure below ground and enable electricity supply for operation of the network.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

An Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) competitive procedure with

bidder dialogue is being carried out to appoint a concessionaire to supply,

install, operate and maintain the network. The previous Executive Board

decision of 22 March 2016 delegates authority to the Deputy Chief

Executive/Corporate Director for Development and Growth in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to approve the initiation of procurement activities for this project and to appoint a preferred bidder. Delegating authority in the same

way to enter into the contract documentation once a preferred bidder has

been selected will ensure the concessionaire will be appointed promptly to

deliver the works without undue delay to the project timeline.

 

 

Nottingham City Council is the lead authority and accountable body for the Go

Ultra-Low Nottingham programme with support from Nottinghamshire County

Council and Derby City Council to deliver the ultra-low emission vehicles

charging infrastructure network. Separate agreements have been negotiated

with both local authorities which outline their roles and responsibilities in the

project up to contract award. Following the appointment of a concessionaire,

further legal agreements will be entered into with Nottinghamshire County

Council and Derby City Council to regularise how the scheme will operate

post contract award, including the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

 

 

The concession framework seeks to secure from the concession operator

additional investment to help support the network, as well as a revenue

income share for the Council. Authority is now sought to approve such

arrangements.

 

The sites identified for installation during the initial phases of the project

consist of sites owned by the City Council and sites owned by third party land

owners. Following appointment, the concessionaire will work with the

Council’s Property Team to ensure the necessary land rights and permits are

in place with third party land owners to enable the installation and operation of

the charging points. Authority is therefore to enter into all necessary

documentation with third party land owners. The wayleaves and licences or

leases for the sites owned by the City Council will be produced by the

Council’s Property and Legal teams. Agreements will also be required with

the electricity utility providers to ensure the supply of electricity to the network

and authority is sought to enter into such agreements.

 

Nottingham City Council will retain full rights and ownership of site agreements and below ground infrastructure. This will ensure that should the concessionaire fail or breach the terms of their agreement then a new concessionaire may be appointed without delay or significant interruption of service.

 

Other options considered

 

The options considered to deliver the scheme were:

 

1. Do nothing

2. Fully managed solution whereby the Supplier will supply, install, maintain and operate the network.

3. Make or Buy – with an internal end to end solution being considered.

4. Councils partnering with a supplier. The Council would buy the hardware and then contract for operation, maintenance and installation.

5. Procure each of the components for an ULEV charging network in individual lots.

 

Option 1 was discounted as this will prevent the delivery of the scheme for which grant funding has been received.

 

Options 3, 4 and 5 were discounted as they carried a greater amount of risk and potential cost liability for the partner Councils.

 

Option 2 was the preferred option with the supplier providing a fully managed

solution. The supplier will buy the hardware, install, operate and maintain the

charging point network. Therefore, in this option the supplier will own the network with minimal risks to the Council(s). They will be responsible for

upgrading the network as and when required as smart technologies develop.