A £14.5 million scheme to install thousands of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the West Midlands has received approval from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Board. The initiative aims to deliver 9,500 EV chargers on local streets, enhancing convenience for residents and driving forward the region’s green transport goals.
Despite the plan’s green ambitions, the project has sparked concerns among some members regarding transparency and political involvement. The Investment Board authorized senior officers to finalize the business case and negotiate contracts with suppliers, but several members expressed unease over the limited political oversight in earlier stages.
Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, opposed granting officers additional powers for the scheme. Highlighting Coventry’s successful model—where over 2,500 chargers were installed using Department for Transport (DfT) support without diverting funds for overheads—O’Boyle criticized the proposed allocation of £300,000 to administrative costs. He argued this undermines public accountability and urged more direct political involvement before the project advances further.
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Echoing concerns about the approach, Walsall Council leader Mike Bird questioned the focus on on-street charging points rather than dedicated charging stations. Bird noted resident opposition to chargers directly outside homes and called for lessons learned from Coventry’s electrification experience to be shared widely. He emphasized the need for elected members to have a stronger say in budgeting and decision-making processes to ensure accountability for both successes and setbacks.
Transport for West Midlands spokesperson Andrew Page acknowledged the importance of employing staff to manage the charging scheme’s finances and revenue distribution but refrained from commenting on governance matters.
According to the project report, these funds are intended primarily to benefit residents without off-street parking, while also accommodating other users such as tourists, commuters, taxis, and commercial vehicles. The scheme aims to significantly expand local, mostly low-power, on-street EV charging infrastructure across England, driving commercial investment and accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles.