Agenda item

The report was presented by the Head of Environment and Public Protection and the Service Manager for Climate Change.

Questions:

The Committee commended the report and queried what the definitive figure for charging ports in Newport.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted there was a crowdsourced website as well as a government website that tracked this information but there may be discrepancies between those.

·       They Service Manager informed Committee that the Council does also keep track via their website.

The Committee queried the information in the report that highlighted renting electric cars by the hour.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted this hasn’t been addressed as a specific aim of the strategy but to consider the viability of electric car clubs.

The Committee asked if Officers were doing anything to get a definitive answer on the amount of charging ports in Newport.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted this can be taken away as an action point.

The Committee asked whether there was a statutory duty to provide electric charging points.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change informed the Committee that there is no statutory requirement.

The Committee asked whether there is a duty for private companies to provide electric charging ports.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change highlighted that the total number of charging ports also include private ports installed and noted the private companies work with retail outlets.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change also raised that the private sector hasn’t felt the need to move into the public realm, especially with on street charging.

The Committee queried the process wherein residents request an electric charging port on their road.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change informed the Committee that the Council keep a record of anyone whose requested a charging port and uses that information to see where the demand lies.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted that they don’t deal with specific properties and highlighted that residents can’t install their own charger outside their property if it would then fall onto a public road or highway.

The Committee asked what integration had occurred between electric charging points and the electricity industry.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted that with each charging port that is installed, the local grid is contacted in order to see if the location is viable or whether it has to be slower charging in order as to not cause any issues.

The Committee questioned how Officers will ensure the consultation would reach a wide audience as well as the metrics for measuring how successful it will be.

·       The Head of People, Policy and Transformation noted that a variety of forums are used to spread to the consultation such as social media, via the free bus Wi-Fi. The feedback from any successful consultation surveys would then be analysed.

The Committee asked whether there were any measures to increase the use of electric vehicles amongst taxi drivers.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted studies have been undertaken by Cardiff Council, as well as highlighting separate work will need to occur to support low emission taxis.

The Committee asked how residents would be encouraged to buy electric vehicles and how would the benefits of electric vehicles be highlighted.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change stated the goal is to make infrastructure in the area more viable and inform the public of this to highlight the benefits.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change further noted that it was currently cheaper to run electric vehicles than petrol or diesel.

The Committee asked for improved clarification on the names of different forms of charging ports.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted this can be added in future reports.

The Committee asked where the 90,000 electric cars by 2040 figure comes from.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change noted these are based of the Department for Transport figures, with the data on electric cars based on national research based on predicted uptake.

The Committee asked how many vehicles are in Newport.

·       The Service Manager for Climate Change was unsure of any vehicle numbers that weren’t specifically cars.

Comments and Recommendations:

The Committee asked for further information as to whether air quality was improving through the increase in electric vehicles.

The Committee asked for a definitive answer on the number of charging ports within Newport.

The Committee felt that it would be beneficial for issues raised in reports to be highlighted in the following year’s report to feedback progress and resolutions.

The Committee were content with the report.