Decision details

The report will seek approval to spend up to a maximum of £292,000 revenue in order to develop, operate and administer the Electric Taxi Trial project.

1.    That approval be be given for up to £292k revenue expenditure funded through an ‘Invest to Save’ model, to support the Electric Taxi Trial project, as detailed in the report; and

2.    Where no existing authority exists under the Leader’s Scheme of Delegations, delegate authority to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Director of Financial and Commercial Services, to

(a)   agree the procurement strategy together with contract terms for the Electric Taxi Trial Project and thereafter approve such contract award; and

(b)   to take such steps and measures to meet the aims and objectives of this report.

The proposed option to deliver the Sheffield City Council Electric Taxi Trial, using a combination of capital previously granted from the governments Early Measures Fund, and revenue provided via an ‘invest to save’ case, as outlined in this report, would result in benefits to air quality and carbon emission reductions, minimise financial risk to the council whilst maximising market deliverability and potential uptake.

The Council considered the following options:

Option 1 – Not delivering the Taxi Trial project.  This was discounted as the Council has a requirement to improve Sheffield’s air quality.

Option 2 – Taxi trial run by SCC Transport Services and drivers charged to take part in the trial in order to cover full costs of running the scheme. Discounted due to the rate that would have to be charged to cover costs of set up and running the scheme.

Option 3 – Taxi trial run by an external provider and drivers charged to take part in the trial in order to cover full costs of running the scheme. Discounted due to the rate that would have to be charged to cover costs of running the scheme and a lack of market interest.

None.