Agenda item

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director-City Futures.  Following the approval of a capital budget amendment of £3.5m for the installation of renewable energy and energy efficiency works on Council buildings, the report sought approval of the proposed scope of the programme, to include£33k match funding contributions towards two Heat Network Delivery Unit grant applications, the use of funds as development costs to pilot a community energy project and to approve the process for business case approval of individual programme elements.  

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:

i)               Approves the proposed programme scope.

ii)              Approves the allocation of £33k as match funding contributions to two Heat Network Delivery Unit grant funding applications.

iii)            Approves the use of this funding allocation for any development costs required for the pilot of a community energy project on a Council owned building.

iv)            Approves the principle that individual schemes within the programme scope can be submitted directly for financial approval within the capital approval process.

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

The proposed scope would ensure maximised cost and carbon savings for the Council, demonstrating its leadership in climate mitigation. 

7.3.2

The recommendation to not fully finance the heat network feasibility from this funding but to use some of it as match funding to draw down grant funding will enable more of the local renewable energy fund to be spent on capital delivery.

7.3.3

The recommendation to use some of this allocation to fund any required development costs to pilot a community energy scheme was due to a commitment in the 10 Point Plan, which sought to increase the amount of community owned energy in the city. 

7.3.4

The decision-making recommendation will enable the timely delivery of the local renewable energy programme. 

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

The alternative decision-making option would be for each Policy Committee where a project was taking place to agree the business case of the project and then approval to draw down funding is sought from Strategy and Resources Budget, which due to timescales of reporting cycles, would be a lengthier process. 

9.1

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director-City Futures.  Following the approval of a capital budget amendment of £3.5m for the installation of renewable energy and energy efficiency works on Council buildings, the report sought approval of the proposed scope of the programme, to include£33k match funding contributions towards two Heat Network Delivery Unit grant applications, the use of funds as development costs to pilot a community energy project and to approve the process for business case approval of individual programme elements.  

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:

i)               Approves the proposed programme scope.

ii)              Approves the allocation of £33k as match funding contributions to two Heat Network Delivery Unit grant funding applications.

iii)            Approves the use of this funding allocation for any development costs required for the pilot of a community energy project on a Council owned building.

iv)            Approves the principle that individual schemes within the programme scope can be submitted directly for financial approval within the capital approval process.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The proposed scope would ensure maximised cost and carbon savings for the Council, demonstrating its leadership in climate mitigation. 

9.3.2

The recommendation to not fully finance the heat network feasibility from this funding but to use some of it as match funding to draw down grant funding will enable more of the local renewable energy fund to be spent on capital delivery.

9.3.3

The recommendation to use some of this allocation to fund any required development costs to pilot a community energy scheme was due to a commitment in the 10 Point Plan, which sought to increase the amount of community owned energy in the city. 

9.3.4

The decision-making recommendation will enable the timely delivery of the local renewable energy programme. 

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The alternative decision-making option would be for each Policy Committee where a project was taking place to agree the business case of the project and then approval to draw down funding is sought from Strategy and Resources Budget, which due to timescales of reporting cycles, would be a lengthier process.