Great Yarmouth Council's new van fleet to cost £1.8m

Great Yarmouth Borough Council's  'green revolution' has moved a step closer after cabinet members agreed to the proposal.

It would see the authority replace its fleet of vans used for housing maintenance and other work around the borough with electric ones.

Great Yarmouth town hall (Image: Denise Bradley)

It is part of plans to transfer services from Norse back under the authority's control by September next year.

Currently, its fleet of vans is in a "poor condition" and prone to breaking down, needing high levels of maintenance that costs about £7,000 per lorry, according to a report.

Electric bin lorries being trialled in Caister-on-Sea last year (Image: GYBC)

It costs more than £420,000 a year to run them, which is estimated to cost £2.1m over five years. 

The decision to invest in the electric vans is part of its green fleet strategy, and it even follows a trial of electric bin lorries in Caister-on-Sea in September last year. 

Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

Carl Smith, leader of the council, welcomed the decision, saying it will help save money in the long term. 

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The switch to eco-friendly vehicles will also need more electric charging points, something which the council says it is working on.

In the meantime, the plans are to offer electric vehicles to staff who are able to charge them at home, with the council to pay for any additional energy costs.

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) said: ‘‘’This is a very positive step in our journey towards our Net Zero ambitions and we look forward to seeing an ever-increasing number of electric vehicles in our fleet.’’

In June this year, GYBC agreed to stop its service agreement with Norse and transfer this back to a council company structure, with plans to run its social housing services back under its control by September 30, 2024.