Issue - meetings

David Ayton-Hill (Assistant Director of Communities) responded to a question from Councillor Kondakor, confirming that the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) is a mixture of research and development (R&D) and small-scale manufacturing but this may increase in the future.

In response to the Chair, David Ayton-Hill confirmed that the Nuneaton town board is the governance arrangement that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council will use to apply for a bid to the government for the towns’ fund; the board needed to be set up to apply for the town fund. Councillor Peter Butlin, Councillor Bill Olner and Councillor Clarke are on the town board.

David Ayton-Hill noted that there have been more cars on the road despite the council promoting the opposite. He continued that Warwickshire’s economy is benefitting from research and development into electric vehicles.

David Ayton-Hill agreed to circulate a briefing note on the sources of the components from the battery centre and the carbon footprint they produce. Councillor Peter Butlin (Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property) stated that there remains a question mark over the ethical basis of some of the sources of battery components. Councillor Kondakor stated that Warwickshire should recycle batteries as the unethical materials would already be in the UK.

In response to Councillor Shilton, David Ayton-Hill stated an electric charging vehicle strategy is being developed and a grant has been received from the government to implement electric charging points in Warwickshire. He continued that they are working on a concession contract with a company where revenues would be shared with charging points and this will be rolled out.