2.1 The UK government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy was published in March 2022 and sets out how the government plans to support the UK market to reach 300,000 public EV charge points by 2030.
2.2 A £450 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund will see local authorities able to bid for funding to help accelerate the rollout of EV hubs and on-street charging.
2.3 Alongside these funding opportunities and to help ensure councils are delivering adequate charging infrastructure, the government are also considering imposing a statutory duty on local authorities to plan and deliver for electric vehicle infrastructure.
2.4 In Cumbria the One Public Estate (OPE) initiative provides an umbrella body where local authorities, NHS, Police, NDA, Cumbria Tourism and LEP can develop strategic solutions across Cumbria. This approach may be unique in the country and the involvement of a wider grouping of public sector bodies adds a huge amount of momentum. Cumberland wants to support the local economy, either by helping to ensure that workers have access to charging stations near home or workplace (or both); and to ensure that the hugely important visitor economy is supported by provision of charge points at destinations. In Cumberland this may mean a remote car park, heavily used by people visiting a natural feature or attraction.
2.5 Many local authorities have now recognised the threat from climate change. Cumberland council through our draft Climate and Nature strategy 2024-2027 will : Proactively engage in making Cumbria carbon neutral by 2037 whilst embedding adaption and recovering biodiversity, creating an abundance of thriving plants and wildlife.
2.6 Cumberland Council has included the following statement in the Council Plan regarding the climate emergency and low carbon alternatives.
'The climate and environmental emergency will be at the forefront of our decision making and policy development.
We will encourage others to do the same and set an example in using resources sustainably, looking for low carbon or carbon neutral alternatives in what we buy and how we work. Making a fair and just transition to a more sustainable Council and Cumberland.’