However, the Department expected local authorities to move at a quick pace, and build their capability to plan for charge point for rollout at the same time as developing projects to deliver. As a result, it took local authorities longer to develop plans to the Department’s standards than expected.17 The Department acknowledged that capability funding needed 11 EVS0018 12 Q20, 26 13 Qq 27, 48, 50 14 Q 19; C&AG’s Report para 4 15 Q21, 51; C&AG’s Report para 2.6 16 Qq 7, 51, 53; C&AG’s Report paras 2.6–2.7 17 C&AG’s Report para 10 11 to be provided at the earliest opportunity, and prior to the capital funding.18 Many local authorities had also planned to use commercial frameworks to procure their charge points, however, it was determined late on in the programme that doing so in this way was not in line with procurement regulations, meaning many had to change their approach. The Department stated that they had provided advice and support to authorities to ensure that all projects had a route to market, as well as providing template documents to replicate some of the benefits of using a framework.19