Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/157

Contact: Paul Fermer, Assistant Director Communities Operations Tel: 07825 273984/Llewelyn Morgan, Head of iiHub Tel: 07881 268208

Report by Corporate Director – Place & Growth (CA9).

All six of Oxfordshire’s councils have declared climate emergencies; Oxfordshire County Council’s broader vision includes an ambition to reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change and improve air quality. Supporting a transition to zero emission road transport is a key component in Oxfordshire’s councils achieving their net zero carbon targets, reducing air pollution, and delivering key transport initiatives such as the Oxford Zero Emission Zone.

The government has proposed an end to the sale of petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2030. Comprehensive, accessible and efficient charging infrastructure is essential in enabling the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. The Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy (OEVIS) sets out the policies and plans to realise this goal, it has been a true collaborative piece of work with City and District Councils and has been informed through the lessons learnt from various innovative EV charging projects already being delivered. It is amongst the first of its kind in the UK, the strategy will put the county in a strong position to ensure that those wishing to purchase an EV can access convenient charging and we believe the strategy will provide a benchmark for UK Transport Authorities.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to ADOPT the recommended policies and key actions for the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy (2020-2025).

Recommendation agreed.

All six of Oxfordshire’s councils have declared climate emergencies; Oxfordshire County Council’s broader vision includes an ambition to reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change and improve air quality. Supporting a transition to zero emission road transport is a key component in Oxfordshire’s councils achieving their net zero carbon targets, reducing air pollution, and delivering key transport initiatives such as the Oxford Zero Emission Zone.

The government has proposed an end to the sale of petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2030. Comprehensive, accessible and efficient charging infrastructure is essential in enabling the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. Cabinet had before them The Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy (OEVIS) that set out the policies and plans to realise this goal.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, commented that paragraph 6.2 of the report set out pitfalls but it was key to the successful take up.

During discussion: Cabinet:

·       Noted that other initiatives such as car clubs were important to encourage car sharing and reduce congestion.

·       Referred to the possible issue of electric companies keeping up with demand. In some areas of Oxfordshire power could be lost for six hours at a time making it difficult to charge vehicles regardless of the provision of charging points. Officers advised that they had discussed this point with the company who were confident of being able to supply sufficient energy for the grid.

RESOLVED:           to ADOPT the recommended policies and key actions for the Oxfordshire Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy (2020-2025).