Decision

RESOLVED:

1. That this Council notes that:

a)      Milton Keynes has the highest provision of rapid EV charge points per 100,000 residents in the UK and requires all new residential developments to include EV charge points as standard.

b)      Charging through public rapid chargers is often as expensive as running an internal combustion engine car. Electric vehicles whilst generally being better for the local and greater environment, as well as being better for health, by producing zero tail pipe emissions are also much more economical to run provided they are charged via the home charging network on cheap rate electricity.

c)      Milton Keynes City Council prides itself in delivering new build energy efficient sustainable and accessible council housing with access to EV charging across its new housing stock.

d)      The Council current policy is a blanket refusal of all requests from council tenants to install EV charge points at council homes, regardless of individual circumstances which runs contrary to the Council’s stated aims of encouraging electric vehicles.

e)      Motability Scheme customers who are disabled people and carers of disabled children, who can lease a vehicle through the scheme and are entitled to a home charge point installed free of charge by an accredited provider at no cost to the landlord.

f)       The blanket refusal policy does not appear in the Tenancy Handbook, and was adopted without a published Equality Impact Assessment that has never been subject to democratic scrutiny.

g)      Disabled council tenants who cannot afford or physically access public charging are being penalised up to £1,200 per year compared to homeowners who can install EV chargers at home and use cheap rate overnight charging, solely by virtue of being council tenants.

h)      Council tenants who require home charging often face additional practical barriers when they are directed towards public charging, and this can disproportionately affect tenants who are vulnerable or have disability and mobility needs.

1. That this Council believes that:

a)      A policy that makes no provision for disabled Motability Scheme customers without considering individual circumstances or the needs of disabled tenants should be reviewed to ensure that it is consistent with the Council's obligations under the Equality Act 2010, its net zero commitments and its own planning policy.

b)      Directing disabled tenants to use public charging points, where there are no guaranteed facilities, no guaranteed availability and no guaranteed accessibility at significantly higher cost, this should be reviewed to ensure the Council is meeting its duties under the Equality Act 2010, including its duty to consider reasonable adjustments.

c)      Where a Motability Scheme home charger is provided at no cost to the council, installed by an appropriately accredited provider confirms that installation is technically feasible, the Council should not for refuse permission on the grounds of cost or installation quality.

1. That this Council resolves to request that the Executive consider:

a)      Bringing forward a revised EV charger policy for all council tenants within nine months:

i)       acknowledges charge points as a recognised and approvable alteration for all council house tenants living in properties with access to driveways and where a property survey confirms technical feasibility;

ii)      creates a clear and accessible approval route for Motability Scheme customers who are council tenants, including disabled tenants and parents or carers of disabled children; and

iii)     is subject to a full Equality Impact Assessment before adoption.

iv)     with some requests managed earlier, if suitable electrical infrastructure does not require modification.

b)      Updating the Tenancy Handbook to reflect any subsequent changes to  any revised EV charger policy for Council tenants.

c)      Asking the Director of Environment & Property to engage with Motability Operations to establish a formal partnership for the delivery of home EV charge points in council properties.