Issue - meetings

Motion by Councillor Webber - EV Infrastructure

“Committee:

1.          Notes that the Edinburgh Climate Commission, in its report 'Forward, Faster,Together’ outlining recommendations for a Green Recovery identified the roll out of universal EV charging networks with access for all as a priority action.

2.          Notes that the Policy and Sustainability Committee agreed the recommendations of the Edinburgh Climate Commission at its meeting on 23 July 2020 including those relating to EV charging networks.

3.       Notes that despite this and previous commitments on EV and parking infrastructure Electric vehicle charging device statistics published by the Department for Transport on 10 November 2020 show that City of Edinburgh Council is the worst performing local authority area in Scotland for provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

4.       Notes that, in contrast to neighbouring local authority areas such as East Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council has been unable to make progress with its strategy to install a network of on-street electric vehicle charging ‘hubs’ across the Capital.

5.       Therefore instructs the Director of Place to take all necessary action to prioritise the roll out of a universal EV charging network in line with the recommendation of the Edinburgh Climate Commission and, as a first step to ensure past failures are avoided and the required action is taken, reports to Committee within two cycles with an action plan and milestones for the roll out.  Further, as part of this report the Director should provide options to promote the electrification of vehicles in Edinburgh which seek to bring together council, residents and business with a view to better prepare the city for a carbon neutral transport infrastructure.”