Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Property, Investment and Contract Management

Purpose of report

To update the Executive on the outcome of the bid that Cherwell District Council (CDC) has submitted for energy efficiency capital works (non-repayable government grants) and, as a result, to seek approval for CDC to proceed with its proposed programme of capital works. The funding body (Salix) has confirmed that CDC’s funding application has been rewarded to the amount of £5.986m out of the £6m bid.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To note the outcome of the bids that Cherwell District Council has submitted for energy efficient capital works (non-repayable Government Grants).

1.2       To approve Cherwell District Council (CDC) progressing its own Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme capital works programme in line with the grant award to CDC.

Resolved

(1)          That the outcome of the bids that Cherwell District Council has submitted for energy efficient capital works (non-repayable Government Grants) be noted.

(2)          That Cherwell District Council (CDC) progressing its own Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme capital works programme in line with the grant award to CDC be approved.

The Assistant Director Property, Investment and Contract Management submitted a report to update the Executive on the outcome of the bid that Cherwell District Council (CDC) has submitted for energy efficiency capital works (non-repayable government grants) and, as a result, to seek approval for CDC to proceed with its proposed programme of capital works. The funding body (Salix) has confirmed that CDC’s funding application has been rewarded to the amount of £5.986m out of the £6m bid.

At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Woodcock, Leader of the Labour Group addressed the meeting. In response to Councillor Woodcock’s comments regarding how the buildings were chosen and how other sites could obtain funding, the Lead Member for Clean and Green explained that buildings on the list were the council’s biggest carbon emitters. Other buildings had not met the criteria for funding under this tranche but all council owned buildings would be looked at to see how carbon emissions could be reduced and advice and support given. The Commercial Director Commercial Development, Assets and Investment undertook to provide information to Councillor Woodcock in relation to the Sunshine Centre, Banbury.

Resolved

(1)          That the outcome of the bids that Cherwell District Council has submitted for energy efficient capital works (non-repayable Government Grants) be noted.

(2)          That Cherwell District Council (CDC) progressing its own Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme capital works programme in line with the grant award to CDC be approved.

Reasons

The 100% grant funding allows CDC to take unprecedented long-term sustainability improvements to its properties to deliver financial and carbon savings. This is in line with CDC’s Climate Action Framework, to seek funding opportunities to take action where normal business cases are challenged.

Alternative options

Option 1: Reject the PSDS programme of works in its entirety

CDC will still need to undertake a large programme of works to achieve carbon neutrality and will be presented with situations, such as leisure centre heating requirements, that will require unique financing mechanisms to provide a suitable business case