Some Pembrokeshire businesses with electric vehicle charging points will qualify for 100% business-rate relief under a scheme backed by senior councillors.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet was asked on November 2 to approve discretionary rate relief for electric charging bays for 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27.

A report by finance cabinet member Cllr Jon Harvey said: “Welsh Government has asked local authorities to provide full (100%) rate relief to Electric Vehicle Charging Point parking bays and forecourts by using its discretionary powers under section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.”

The report adds: “The scale is modest and around 200 Electric Vehicle Charging Bay assessments are expected to be added to the non-domestic rating lists across Wales.”

The relief can be backdated only to 2024/25, while the Welsh Government plans to make it a legal entitlement from April 2027 until March 2036.

“Eligible properties consist wholly or mainly of an electric vehicle charging point and associated parking bay or electric charging point forecourt which is assessed as a stand-alone property for non-domestic rating purposes and will be assigned a special category code by the Valuation Office.”

The report added: “To be eligible for the relief, the electric vehicle charging point must also be intended for use primarily by members of the public. The relief may still apply if a charging point temporarily ceases to operate and is, therefore, unavailable for use.”

Properties used for a broader purpose are not eligible, including car parks with some electric vehicle charging points and mixed forecourts offering electric charging alongside other fuels.

At the meeting, members heard from Cabinet Member for Planning and Highways Cllr Jacob Williams that Pembrokeshire currently has 459 publicly available EV chargers, the second-highest of any authority in Wales.

Members unanimously backed rate relief for businesses that meet the criteria.