New tariff on electric charging introduced
A tariff on the use of Stirling Council’s electric vehicle charging points comes into effect today (Wednesday).
From now on, vehicle owners will be required to pay a minimum fee of £1.50 at council owned EV charging points.
The new tariff is set at 25p/kwh at slow and fast charge points and 35p/kwh at rapid charge points.
In addition to the tariff, a maximum stay of 40 minutes will be applied to rapid charging points in a bid to improve availability and ensure fair usage. An overstay charge of £1 per minute, capped at £60 will be implemented to enforce this.
Councillors approved the decision to implement a tariff on EV charging points last October in response to the growing demand for electric vehicles and so the council can cover the operational costs of the units.
Environment and housing convener Councillor Jen Preston said: “The uptake of electric vehicles across Stirling is a highly encouraging sign for our long term ambitions of reaching net zero. Transport routinely accounts for a large portion of carbon emissions in Stirling and every effort towards reducing this is to be encouraged. While we want to encourage and support the continuing growth in EV ownership, we have a responsibility to ensure the infrastructure for charging vehicles remains financially sustainable. Introducing a tariff enables us to recover the energy consumption and asset management costs of the charging units.”
The demand for electric vehicles has risen significantly in the last six years with Stirling Council now ranking second out of all local authorities in Scotland for EV ownership, accounting for 10 per cent of all licensed vehicles.
In 2021 there was a 260 per cent increase in usage of council-owned charging points, consuming over 2,000,000 kw of power and costing the council a total of £134,728 in the last financial year.
Currently, it costs Stirling Council an estimated £35,000 per month to operate its EV charging network made up of 187 charging units.
A council spokesperson added: “Stirling Council boasts one of the most comprehensive EV charging infrastructures in Scotland with Castleview Transport Hub providing one of the largest low carbon EV charging facilities in the country. The solar powered park and ride facility alone provides 64 charging points for motorists.”
The council declared a Climate and Nature Emergency in October 2019. As part of its Climate and Nature Emergency Plan, the authority aims to be carbon neutral in its own operations by 2035 and achieve ‘net zero’ in 2045.
Last October council officers said the use of the chargers was expected to reduce with the introduction of the payment structure, but that information gathered would help to formulate an asset management plan for the future for maintaining, replacing and managing existing chargers and investing in more such facilities, including kerbside and domestic charging.
Sustainable development manager David Hopper had said the charges were “relatively modest” and added: “The energy costs, combined with substantial network operator capacity charges at the larger charging hubs, and the grants for maintenance ending in 2023, means the current arrangements are no longer financially sustainable.
“Whilst the principle remains to support the growth and use of Stirling’s EV infrastructure, there is a need to ensure it moves forward on a self-funding and financially sustainable basis.”
A teenage musician from Dunblane, who won the first ever Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year title in May 2022, performed for guests at an event at 10 Downing Street last week.
Fourteen-year-old pianist Juliet Robertson attended a reception to celebrate Burns Night last Wednesday, where she impressed the assembled guests with an impromptu performance on the piano.
At the invitation of the Prime Minister and accompanied by her dad, the S3 Dunblane High School pupil attended the event, which celebrated Scottish culture with guests including Scottish business, education and charity leaders, figures from the worlds of arts, culture, sport and hospitality, and faith group leaders.
Juliet was invited following her success in being Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year 2022 for her performance on the piano. She won after wowing the judges with her rendition of Clair de Lune by Debussy. Juliet started playing piano when she was four years old and is a part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Juniors.
Scottish Young Musicians (SYM) is Scotland’s leading festival of music competitions, which seeks to find Scotland’s best solo performer and ensemble. Young musicians from around the country compete to win career-enhancing prizes and perform live on a national stage in front of internationally renowned judges.
Juliet displayed her musical skills to the attendees at the Burns Night reception with an unplanned rendition of one of her favourite Debussy pieces on the piano after encouragement from fellow guests. They included Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, who is a strong supporter of Scottish Young Musicians, BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 Eryn Rae, and Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where Juliet attends RCS Juniors.
Juliet said: “To visit 10 Downing Street was so amazing and I felt so incredible and honoured to participate in the Burns
Night event.
“The inside was much bigger than I expected, and you could feel the history and importance of the place.
“Meeting Nicola Benedetti was wonderful, and she offered great advice and it was so interesting to talk to the other guests as well.
“This was an experience of a lifetime, and I was proud to represent Dunblane High School, RCS Juniors and Scottish Young Musicians at this event. Thank you to my family, teachers and Scottish
Young Musicians for all of their support.”
Simon Robertson, Juliet’s father, said: “We were all extremely surprised and in disbelief when Juliet received an invite to 10 Downing Street’s Burns Night event less than two weeks ago.
“Juliet was by far the youngest and only under-18 at the event but handled it so well.
“A highlight was chatting to the wonderful violinist and classical music proponent Nicola Benedetti who kindly offered some sage advice and was chuffed herself to meet Juliet, having been heavily involved in SYM 2022 and missing out on attending the finals in May.
“Although not planned, when the chance came Juliet accepted the encouragement from her new-found acquaintances and did not hesitate in stepping up to the piano to play one of her favourite Debussy pieces.
“When else will you get a chance to perform at 10 Downing Street?”
This was an experience of a lifetime... and I could feel the history and importance of the place Juliet Robertson