Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

The report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property setting out the Council’s long term plan to develop and fund Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure across the Island was presented for the Committee’s consideration and comment. The report provided an overview of the Isle of Anglesey EV Charging Point Action Plan.

Councillor Bob Parry, OBE, FRAgS, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property presented the report stating that the Plan will develop new modern EV charging points infrastructure across the Island, available for use by Council staff, resident and visitors. The type and speed of charging infrastructure – Rapid/Ultra; Fast or Slow will vary across different locations. The Council has already started the roll-out of EV Charging Points with such infrastructure available at the Anglesey Business Centre and Canolfan Byron. There are also EV charging points for a limited number of fleet vehicles at the main Council Offices in Llangefni. Further development work has also taken place with plans to install rapid public charging at Amlwch, Llangefni, Holyhead and Menai Bridge in 2022 via Welsh Government ULEV funding. There remains a great deal of work to do to provide the range of charging facilities to meet requirements and the Action Plan  represents the start of the journey to install EV infrastructure at key locations.

The Highways Service Business Manager confirmed that the Action Plan puts the Council in a strong position to apply for Welsh Government funding to develop the EV charging point infrastructure network across the Island.

In response to questions by the Committee, the Officers clarified the following –

·         Confirmed that there is a project to create a hydrogen hub in Holyhead to develop hydrogen technology in Anglesey. In a comparison of electric cars and hydrogen cars, research has shown that battery powered electric vehicles are more suitable in the case of cars and smaller vans whereas hydrogen technology is more appropriate for powering heavy good vehicles or refuse vehicles for example; factors such as these need to be considered in trying to find a balance between electric and hydrogen powered vehicles. These are new technologies which will have to be monitored as both are developed over the course of time.

·         Confirmed that consideration will need to be given to different fee models for public use of the EV charging points as well as how any income would then be used /invested; the discussion will be informed by a study that is being conducted.

·         Clarified that consideration needs also to be given to the enforcement approach in the case of drivers who overstay charging time limits and leave their car charged and plugged in.

It was resolved to endorse the recommendations of the report as follows and to recommend their approval by the Executive –

·         Approve the Isle of Anglesey EV Charging Plan Summary

·         Endorse the development and submission of external funding applications to progress delivery

·         Endorse consideration of EV charging infrastructure requirements in the Council’s new Capital Strategy (to be developed) and on a case by case basis when capital infrastructure projects are developed and implemented (including housing, business units, school modernisation, extra care provision, town centre regeneration and coastal/tourism infrastructure etc.)