URL: https://democracy.croydon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2595

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: This report is seeking Cabinet Member approval of the procurement strategy for the Local Electric (Previously stated as Low Emission) Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding application. The report details the proposed approach to tender for chargepoint services to deliver the LEVI scheme.   This will include the route to market through adoption of London Councils’ Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for a single joint procurement with individual contracts, lotting strategy, contractual form and approach to evaluate tenders.

Content: This report is seeking Cabinet Member approval of the procurement strategy for the Local Electric (Previously stated as Low Emission) Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding application. The report details the proposed approach to tender for chargepoint services to deliver the LEVI scheme.   This will include the route to market through adoption of London Councils’ Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for a single joint procurement with individual contracts, lotting strategy, contractual form and approach to evaluate tenders. For the reasons set out in the report and Part A and Part B Appendices the Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment AGREED:             1.1         To approve the LEVI procurement strategy as part of a consortium led by Bexley via London Councils DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) established for electronic vehicle infrastructure supplies and services development for a concession contract with an estimated value of [£7,014,966 to be confirmed during the procurement] and a term of 15 years. This recommendation includes running a further competition (Call-off - Procedure) for selecting a Supplier and awarding the Project Agreement to the selected Supplier.   1.2         To note that this will be a partnership led procurement for a 15-year contract (as recommended by the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV - Part of the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero).  The details and form of the DPS and the procurement process - including an Invitation to Tender for the Council specific requirements issued to all Suppliers appointed to the Members List Lot on this DPS – are forecast to commence from September 2025. The earliest date for contract award is likely to be January 2026, meaning that it is anticipated that LEVI funded chargepoints would be installed from March 2026 onwards.   The LEVI fund presents an opportunity to deliver a significant investment in the transition to electric vehicles in Croydon, supporting wider sustainable transport and carbon reduction objectives.  As part of this funding OZEV requires local authorities to work in partnerships to procure charging infrastructure collaboratively. In London, this means coordinating with London Councils and forming borough partnerships to secure LEVI Capital funding and undertake joint procurement. This collaborative approach is recommended to achieve increased purchasing power, ensure value for public money, and realise economies of scale in delivering new charging infrastructure.   The ‘Partnership 5’ is a consortium formed through a Memorandum of Understanding which establishes a framework for cooperation among the boroughs participating in the LEVI Programme, including the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, and Havering.  The consortium allows each borough to meet their own distinct EV requirements at the Borough level (and require local Borough management of contract performance), retaining local control whilst aggregating their demand together into a single Prime Contract, for the delivery of LEVI EV supplies and services.   Under the terms of the LEVI grant funding, a competitive tender process is required to seek operator funding against the LEVI funding allocation and to result in Concession contract(s) covering supply, installation, maintenance, and operation of public on-street electric vehicle charging points with one or more operator(s). The Partnership is required by LEVI to access a supplier, call off and single aggregated contract against the London Councils DPS framework. This approach increases the amount of private investment that can be leveraged into the Council’s delivery of electric vehicle charging points.      Do Nothing   The OZEV’s partnership approach requires councils to work collaboratively to secure future LEVI grant funding.  If the Council chose not to work in partnership and access this LEVI grant funding this would be likely to slow the adoption of electric vehicles in Croydon and make it harder for the Borough to meet national and local climate commitments.   This approach would risk having to return the LEVI development and capability funding back to OZEV.  This funding has been made available to the council to progress the LEVI procurement and the Council’s draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy (which supports the LEVI procurement). This funding would therefore be at risk of claw back if we were not to proceed.   Standalone Procurement   A standalone procurement approach by Croydon Council would not meet the LEVI grant mandate, which requires a partnership approach as set out in this report.  Not accessing LEVI grant funding would be likely to slow the adoption of electric vehicles in Croydon and make it harder to meet national and local climate commitments.   Similar to the ‘Do Nothing’ option, this approach would also risk having to return the LEVI development and capability funding back to OZEV .  This funding has been made available to the council to progress the LEVI procurement and the Council’s draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy (which supports the LEVI procurement). This funding would therefore be at risk of claw back if we were not to proceed.  

Date of Decision: November 10, 2025