Agenda item

The Panel will consider the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for Public Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Kirklees Update.

Contact:

Jason Smith, Electric Vehicle Project Manager

The Panel considered an update on Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for Public Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Kirklees which was introduced by Councillor Moses Crook – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing.

Jason Smith, Electric Vehicle Project Manager gave a presentation, and the Panel were advised that;

• The Electric Vehicle (EV) project included rapid charger installations funded by the market and Kirklees capital investment, the LEVI fund for localised EV hubs, CRSTS funding for EV trials, salary sacrifice car schemes, and an EV strategy to inform future planning.
• Transport for the North data projected Kirklees would require 926 public/residential charging points by 2025 and approximately 2,199 by 2030.
• Kirklees had the lowest number of charging points per 100k population in West Yorkshire.
• The Department for Transport provided £343 million capital and £37.8 million resource funding through the LEVI scheme over two financial years. Kirklees received £282,000 for Phase 1 and £2,212,389 for Phase 2, with additional capability funding for project staff.
• The LEVI fund aimed to deliver neighbourhood hubs and on-street charging, predominantly 7kW–22kW chargers, with some rapid chargers if market conditions allowed.
• WYCA led procurement and created a West Yorkshire EV Charging framework in summer 2024.
• Six providers were appointed to the framework: Zest, Ubitricity (Shell), Amey, Char.gy, Urban Fox (Balfour Beatty), and Blink. Phase 1 ITT completed in January 2025, securing an additional 58% private sector contribution, increasing the fund value from £1.41m to £2.23m.
• Phase 1 was expected to deliver 148 charging points across 25 locations in Kirklees. The contract was signed in July 2025, starting an 18-month delivery window. Ward engagement was scheduled for January 2026.
• A customer pricing strategy was agreed to maintain reasonable public charging costs. Phase 2a/b would focus on on-street charging infrastructure, as directed by Government.
• Phase 2a site selection targeted densely terraced areas using GIS data provided by the Energy Saving Trust. Green areas were identified as focus zones, excluding Phase 1 polygons.
• Capability funding for Kirklees totalled £257,000, with £87,000 expected for 2026/27. It funded the EV Project Manager (0.5 FTE) and Assistant PM (1.0 FTE), with additional revenue for Highways and Legal/Procurement roles. Funding was confirmed until April 2027, with potential extension.

The Panel noted the presentation and during the subsequent discussion, raised the following questions and points:

• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to the rationale for the locations decided for Phase 1, it was advised that Phase 1 was a pilot and funding requirements necessitated a focus on urban areas. Locations were data-driven, based on officer recommendations and an audit of car parks ranked by capacity, occupancy, safety, and other factors. It was also noted that the use of funds was considered more beneficial in densely populated areas, and that this work would be complimented by improvements in public transport in rural communities. It was confirmed that Phase 2b would aim to address gaps and utilise available capital funding to support other areas. The Panel noted the response, and it was agreed that the data showing the rationale for the chosen Phase 1 locations be shared with the Panel.
• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to maintenance, it was advised that responsibility for maintenance would sit with the provider and that contractual provisions would support this. The contract was for 15 years, with plans for this to be refreshed midway through the term to reflect the market at that time.  It was also noted that a key change was the introduction of the EE Charging Regulations 2023, requiring all chargers to remain at 98% working order. The Panel noted the response, and it was agreed that the contract information be shared with the Panel.
• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to innovation and how flexibility would be maintained to adopt new advancements, it was noted that chargers were aligned with the second-hand electric vehicle market and that technology was filtering down from high-end to lower-end models. It was advised that work continued with multiple providers to introduce innovation and that providers were held accountable for maintaining an innovative approach.
• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to competition in the regulation of prices and the role this played, it was advised that the challenge in terms of competition was noted as rapid chargers being installed by fast-food restaurants and supermarkets, however many long-stay car parks in Kirklees were owned by the Council. It was noted that the pricing strategy would be updated as required, and any future charging points would need to follow the competition.
• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to enforcing compliance in relation to pricing, margin caps, and sanctions for non-compliance, it was advised that this was covered within the KPIs of the original contract.
• In response to questions from the Panel in relation to VAT and encouraging the entire population to move towards EV charging, it was advised that over the 15-year contract period, consideration may be given to ways of facilitating home charging tariffs.

The Panel noted the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for Public Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Kirklees update, and it was recommended that;

RESOLVED:

1. The data set showing the rational for Phase 1 locations be shared with the Panel.
2. The details of the contractual information be shared with the Panel.