DMFD1 Electric Vehicle Charging Points for the London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Commissioner Governance Direction 2018

On 1 April 2018, the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) replaced the abolished London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). To provide an appropriate degree of scrutiny and accountability for the Commissioner’s functions, the Mayor approved (MD2260) a governance direction for the LFC. The direction enumerates those matters requiring consent by the Mayor (Part 1 of the direction) or the Deputy Mayor for Fire (Part 2).

The proposal set out in this form and its appendix falls under provision 2.1b:
A commitment to expenditure (capital or revenue) of £150,000 or above as identified in accordance with normal accounting practices.

Electric Vehicle Charge Points

Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCPs) were installed at 78 of the LFC’s premises in 2015. Since the introduction of 57 electric range extended and Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles into the London Fire Brigade fleet, the demand for EVCPs across the estate has increased considerably.

A tender for further installation works and management of new and existing EVCPs was conducted using an existing local authority framework agreement. Two suppliers submitted compliant tenders, and it is proposed that the contract is awarded to the bidder who offered the most economically advantageous tender.

In 2015, Government grant funding of £790k was secured to install EVCPs on Brigade premises, with points installed at 78 sites. This includes nine fire station forecourts where the points are accessible to the public.

In 2016, all fleet cars were replaced with 57 electric range extended or Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Following the introduction of these vehicles, the usage of the existing EVCPs increased significantly from 28 sites used in 2015/16. The majority (78 per cent) of the charging activity in kWh is from LFC electric fleet cars.

With the car schemes emission limits currently undergoing consultation to reduce the CO2 limit and introduce requirements around other air quality emissions, it is expected the number of plug-in cars used for business purposes will increase.

The draft London Environment Strategy (LES) sets out actions for the GLA Group to deliver. These include ‘Using the GLA Group estate to support the delivery of infrastructure to facilitate charging and refuelling of electric and hydrogen vehicles, for example at fire station forecourt parking’. The strategy set out targets to reduce fleet emissions including ‘all cars in GLA Group support fleets being zero emission capable by 2025’. To achieve this a continued programme of installing charging infrastructure across the estate is necessary.

The Public Sector Equality Duty – and the potential impacts of this decision on those with protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation) – has been considered by the London Fire Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience. No impacts have been identified.

All relevant considerations, particularly regarding the balance of London Fire Brigade and public use of the charging points, are discussed in report LFC-0011 to the London Fire Commissioner, which is appended to this decision.

LFC finance comments are set out in Part 2. The expenditure is to be funded through sums available in an earmarked reserve held by the Commissioner. There are no direct financial implications for the GLA.

LFC legal comments are set out in the report at Appendix 1. GLA lawyers have confirmed there are not particularly legal implications for the GLA.