Milton Keynes Conservative councillor Amanda Marlow is bringing a motion to Full Council demanding an end to the council’s blanket refusal to allow EV chargers in existing council homes, a policy she says makes a mockery of the council’s own green agenda.
Councillor Marlow, representing Watling Ward, has taken up the case of Derek, a 70-year-old disabled pensioner living in a specially adapted council bungalow, who was refused permission to install an EV charger despite the installation being offered free of charge through the Motability Scheme.
Milton Keynes City Council prides itself on being a leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, with new council homes incorporating EV charging facilities. Despite this, existing council tenants are being refused permission to install their own chargers, regardless of individual circumstances or disability needs.
Cllr Amanda Marlow said:
“There is something deeply wrong with a council that proudly installs EV chargers in new council homes, champions its green credentials, and then tells a disabled pensioner he cannot have one, even when the installation costs the council nothing.
“You cannot credibly claim to be green and inclusive while blocking your most vulnerable tenants from making the switch to electric. This policy makes an absolute mockery of the council’s net zero ambitions. If the council genuinely wants residents to switch to electric vehicles it needs to remove these unnecessary barriers to home charging”
“When tenants in brand new council properties have access to home chargers why are existing tenants not afforded the same accessibility.”
“As councillors, we should always be looking at how we can help people, and that means not putting unnecessary barriers in their way. This policy must change, and our motion demands exactly that.”
Derek, who is 70 years old and lives in a specially adapted council bungalow in Milton Keynes, has been a Motability Scheme customer for twenty years. He ordered an electric vehicle through the scheme, which entitles him to a home charger supplied and fitted free of charge by accredited installer Ohme. When he applied to the council for permission, he was refused.
Derek said:
"I genuinely cannot understand why the council is saying no. Motability Operations are paying for the whole thing; the charger, the installation, everything. It costs the council absolutely nothing. All I needed was permission. Instead, I've been told to use public chargers, which I physically cannot do because of my disability and health conditions. I have mobility problems, COPD and debilitating health issues. Waiting at a public charger simply isn't always an option for disabled people. What makes it worse is that I believe Milton Keynes City Council is breaking the Equality Act.
My disability is why I need this charger at home, and why using public charging is impossible for people like me.
The council has never once looked at my individual circumstances, they've just said no to everyone as a blanket policy. That is not how you treat disabled people and it has to change."
Home charging on a cheap overnight tariff can cost approximately £4 per full charge, compared with £39 at a public rapid charger. For someone on a fixed income, that difference can amount to more than £1,200 annually.
The Conservative motion calls for the blanket refusal policy to end, with a revised approval process brought to Cabinet within three months, subject to technical feasibility as well as requesting engagement with Motability Operations. Conservatives are particularly concerned that this current policy has failed to properly account for the circumstances of disabled tenants and are therefore calling for an Equality Impact Assessment and updated guidance for all council tenants.
