The Environment and Sustainability Policy Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss a grant for electric vehicle infrastructure, and to review their work programme. The meeting will also include a public forum, where members of the public can ask questions or make statements.

Depot Charging Scheme Grant

The committee will consider a report seeking approval to apply for, accept, and spend up to £1 million in funding from the Department for Transport's (DfT) Depot Charging Scheme.

The Depot Charging Scheme aims to help organisations to switch to zero-emission vehicles by providing funding for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at fleet depots. The scheme provides funding for up to 75% of eligible costs, capped at £1 million per application.

Bristol City Council intends to apply for the full £1 million available under the scheme. The council would provide 25% match funding, which will be met using the Corporate Decarbonisation Fund.

The report pack states that the following depot sites have been identified for the installation and expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure:

• Sandy Park Fleet Depot, Brislington, Bristol
• Underfall Yard (Docks), Cumberland Rd, Bristol
• Eastville Depot (GPE), New Stadium Rd, Eastville, Bristol
• Cater Road (GPE), Cater Rd, Bristol
• Sea Mills Depot (GPE), Bristol Parks, Sea Mills Depot, 41 Sea Mills Lane, Bristol

The officer recommendations are that the committee:

1. Approves the report.
2. Approves the submission of a funding application to the Department for Transport's Depot Charging Scheme for up to £1 million.
3. Authorises John Smith, Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with Councillor Martin Fodor, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, and the s151 Officer¹, to accept and spend the grant funding if awarded, and to enter into and finalise all necessary contractual arrangements required for the drawdown and use of the grant.

The report pack includes an Equality Impact Assessment, which states that the project is expected to have a positive or neutral equality impact, and an Environmental Impact Assessment, which states that the project is expected to have a positive environmental impact by reducing emissions from council fleet vehicles.

Policy Committee Work Programme Setting

The committee will also receive a report summarising the outcomes of the work programme setting workshop held on 24 June.

The report pack notes that Councillor Martin Fodor, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, and other members of the council were invited to the workshop to ensure an opportunity for full cross-party engagement in reviewing and further developing the policy committee work programmes.

The report pack states that a number of new policy development ideas were suggested by members and officers in advance of the workshop, and that each of these were reviewed by the committee at the workshop.

The new policy development ideas include:

• Pesticide Reduction Policy and Plans
• Stop Glysophate
• Reduce, reuse and redistribution of food and food waste management, prevention first approach
• Food sustainability - make the council policy explicit
• Circular economy - improving and encouraging reuse, repair and recycling
• Carbon accounting
• Progress and set out council Electric Vehicle fleet strategy and plans
• Communal bins
• Tree replacement strategy
• Net Zero Terraced Streets feasibility study/pilot
• Retrofit and Carbon reduction
• Nature recovery plan for all parks
• River pollution

The report pack notes that the committee agreed that the cross-cutting nature of the Environment and Sustainability remit needs more communication with other committees, and that more joint briefings and joint work is recommended.