A motion brought by Conservative Councillor Amanda Marlow has been passed by Milton Keynes City Council, directing the administration to create a clear approval route for Motability Scheme customers in council homes and ending a blanket ban that had left disabled tenants unable to charge their electric vehicles at home.
Milton Keynes City Council has voted to overhaul its policy on electric vehicle chargepoints in council homes, following a motion tabled by Cllr Amanda Marlow (Conservative, Watling Ward) on behalf of a disabled constituent who had been refused permission to install a home charger despite it being offered entirely free of charge through the Motability Scheme.
The motion, debated and carried at Full Council this week, directs the Cabinet Member for Housing to bring a revised policy to Cabinet within three months, which was later amended to nine months by the administration. The new policy must create a clear and accessible approval route for Motability Scheme customers, including disabled tenants and parents or carers of disabled children, where a property survey confirms technical feasibility. Officers have also been directed to establish a formal partnership with Motability Operations for the delivery of home charge points in council properties.
The Council has further committed to ensuring any revised policy undergoes a full Equality Impact Assessment before adoption, and to updating the Tenancy Handbook so that EV charge points are recognised as an approvable alteration for tenants with access to a driveway.
"This is a win for common sense and for disabled people across Milton Keynes. A blanket 'no' was never good enough and certainly not when the charger was free, and professionally fitted. I'm proud that we brought this motion to raise an issue experienced by many disabled Motability council tenants who have been refused permission to fit an EV charger, and prouder still that the Council has backed the motion. Now we need the administration to make good on its commitment made tonight, and to deliver this policy change within nine months, as the motion requires."
Cllr Amanda Marlow, Watling Ward (Conservative)
Unable to attend the council meeting herself, Cllr Marlow was represented by her colleague Cllr Peter Geary, who moved the motion on the floor of the chamber.
"Amanda has fought hard for this resident and for every disabled council tenant in the same position. I was pleased to move this motion on her behalf. Milton Keynes positions itself as a leader on electric vehicles, and this vote means that leadership has to extend to the people who need it most."
Cllr Peter Geary (Conservative)
The motion was brought following the case of a 70-year-old disabled council tenant in Crownhill, who had been refused permission for an Ohme home chargepoint despite Motability's approved installer offering to supply and fit it at no cost to the council. The council's own Stage 2 complaints review confirmed that no property-specific survey or Equality Impact Assessment had been carried out before the decision was made.
