Ref: PCC/D/2023/04
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
West Mercia Police (WMP) have submitted a request for capital allocation to
purchase an electric vehicle.
There is also a request from WMP for the purchase of an additional van for
Shrewsbury SNT, to be shared with the Street Pastors in Shrewsbury.
PROPOSAL
The PCC supports the purchase:
1) of an electric vehicle for a Chief Officer up to £38,000 funded from the
capital budget for electric vehicles in 2022/23
2) of a Vivaro van costing up to £30,000 for Shrewsbury SNT, to be shared
with the Shrewsbury Street Pastors, funded from an additional capital
allocation for 2022/23
PART 1 – NON-CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT FACTS AND FIGURES
SUPPORTING REPORT
1) Chief Officer electrical vehicle
All chief officers have a company car which the PCC has stipulated that these will
be electric vehicles in the interests of efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. A
request has been received to provide a member of the Chief officer team with a
suitable vehicle at a cost of £38,000.
The fleet team reviewed currently available electric vehicles for sale, which can be
obtained in a short timeframe. The fleet team submitted 3 options for
consideration. Chief Officers have provided assurance that the nominated vehicle
provides good value as being below the average cost for the required specification
and mileage.
The proposal supports the PCC priority to reduce the carbon footprint of the Force
fleet.
2) Additional vehicle to support fleet deployment in Shrewsbury
The Shrewsbury Street Pastors have raised with the PCC an ongoing issue they
have with lack of fleet to support the work that they do, contributing to the delivery
of the Safer West Mercia Plan in the night-time economy. The PCC requested that
WMP look into how and whether a joint solution might exist. There is currently a
successful vehicle sharing agreement with the Street Pastors in the Telford area.
WMP has proposed that an engagement van be purchased for the use of local
SNTs. The Vivaros are very versatile, can be driven by C1 licence holders and can
be utilised for engagement and proactive warrant type work. These vans are very
recognisable as police vehicles and the police presence evidently registers with
the public.
The recommendation is to purchase an additional Vivaro van (a new diesel Vivaro
van as at mid Jan prices costs £27,625) for use in the Shrewsbury area which
would also provide additional capacity in the fleet.
The PCC recognises that the force will need to manage the operational
requirements of its fleet. However, the stipulation made by the PCC is that the
vehicle in question should be subject to an agreement between WMP and the
Street Pastors, to ensure both parties can make use of the resource as required.
As such, the vehicle will be jointly branded. The OPCC will be informed of changes
to the ongoing provision of the fleet to the street pastors. West Mercia Police chief
officers have been consulted on this decision and confirmed the proposed vehicle
is suitable for a dual purpose role.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
This decision supports the following element(s) of the Safer West Mercia Plan:
☐ Putting Victims and Survivors First
☒ Building a More Secure West Mercia
☒ Reforming West Mercia
☒ Reassuring West Mercia’s Communities
The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:
Make best use of and monitor the life cycle of our assets.
Reforming the existing fleet with increased electrification / greener options where
appropriate.
Supporting the work of Safer West Mercia Plan to reassure communities and
building a more secure West Mercia through the work of SNTs and local partners
in the community.
BENEFITS AND THEIR REALISATION
To ensure the timely replacement of vehicles and ensure that the force is able to
operational capacity with the right assets.
AUTHOR
Name Paul Benfield Date 20/01/2023
FINANCIAL AND TREASURER COMMENTS
1) The request is to purchase an electric vehicle for a Chief Officer at a cost of
£38,000 (net) from the electric vehicle capital budget in 2022/23.
Assurance has been obtained from the Force that this is a suitable vehicle to meet
the specification set out for chief officers and provides good value for money
based on currently available vehicles on the open market.
Current wait times on new electric vehicles is approximately 6 months.
The cost will be required to meet from the annual capital fleet replacement
programme (electric vehicles).
2) The purchase of a Vivaro van up to £30,000 as additional capital allocation
in 2022/23.
Assurance obtained from the force that this is a versatile option to support the SNT
in Shrewsbury, whilst the sharing agreement with Shrewsbury Street Pastors
provides value for money from the purchase for both organisations.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
By virtue of schedule 11, paragraph 14 of the Police Reform and Social
Responsibility Act 2011 the Police and Crime Commissioner may do anything
which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the
functions of commissioner. That includes: entering into contracts and other
agreements (whether legally binding or not) and acquiring and disposing of
property (including land).
PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act)
and other legislation. Part 1 of this form will be made available on the West Mercia
Commissioner’s website. Any facts and advice that should not be made
automatically available on request are not included in Part 1 but instead in a
separate Part 2 report.
OFFICER APPROVAL
Chief Executive Officer
Signature Date 09/02/2023
To read a PDF signed copy of this decision notice click here. If you would like this decision notices and the appendices in an accessible format please email [email protected]
