Issue - items at meetings - Decarbonising and Energy Efficiency Capital Plan Schemes

Due to the timescales and print deadlines, the recommendations of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8 July 2024 will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of Cabinet of 8 July 2024 in respect of updating the Decarbonising the Council’s Estate’ List A Capital Plan Scheme. Particular reference was made to the Borough Councils successful applications for external grant funding from the Governments Swimming Pool Support Fund and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which would be used to support a number of Schemes.

Following confirmation of the external grant funding awarded a revised set of allocations to individual projects, under the umbrella of the ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate, were detailed in the report considered by Cabinet. In summary, a total of £930,000 would be provided from TMBC funding and £1,644,799 from external grant funding. An additional £500,000 of Borough Council funding would be required as part of updating this Capital Plan Scheme and could be added from a combination of the revenue reserve for Capital Schemes and the Climate Change Reserve.

RESOLVED: That

(1) the List A Capital Plan Scheme ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate’ be updated to include all of the projects as outlined in the report considered by Cabinet on 8 July 2024;

(2) a revised figure of £1,644,799 attributable to external grant funding be reflected in the updated Capital Plan Scheme; and

(3) an increased contribution of £500,000 by the Borough Council to the Capital Plan Scheme be approved and divided as set out below:

· £225,000 funded from the Revenue Reserve for Capital Schemes;

· £275,000 funded from the Climate Change Reserve.

Following the Council’s successful applications for grant funding relating to several decarbonising and energy efficiency projects, this report brings forward several projects under the existing List A capital plan scheme ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate’ to enable the Council to progress those projects, as well as projects being funded directly by the Council, to help deliver our Climate Change Strategy.

Consideration was given to an updated ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate’ List A Capital Plan scheme to cover all of the projects as outlined in the report, including a number of decarbonising and energy efficiency projects for which grant funding applications had been successful and several other projects being funded directly by the Borough Council, with a view to supporting delivery of the Climate Change Strategy.

Members welcomed the positive outcomes in relation to the external grant awards, details of which were set out in 1.2 of the report. In addition to the projects for which external funding had been obtained, a number of other projects which were either linked to those or had already received approval by the Council utilising its own funding were set out in 1.3 of the report.

It was noted that the capital plan scheme ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate (P06AM)’ was previously approved based on an estimate of an external funding of £800,000 and a Council contribution of £430,000, which figures now required updating following confirmation of the grant awards. A revised set of allocations to individual projects to be covered by the updated capital scheme were suggested in 1.4.3 of the report, with a total of £930,000 from TMBC funding and £1,644,799 from external grant funding.

Individual project evaluations for the new schemes were attached at Annexes 1 to 3 for information.

Although slight concern was expressed over the uncertainty around the noise level of the air source heat pumps to be installed at the Larkfield Leisure Centre, Members were assured that the level of noise would be taken into account as part of the planning process with due consideration given to mitigation measures if necessary.

In addition, particular reference was made to 1.6 of the report where the proposed procurement routes for the projects were set out and duly considered by Members.

RESOLVED: That quotations and tenders in respect of the following decarbonising and energy efficiency projects be sought and procurement routes be approved as required by paragraph 8.1 of the Borough Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, including the use of frameworks where appropriate, as set out below and detailed in 1.6 of the report:

(1) in respect of the re-felt work at Larkfield Leisure Centre, the LHC RS4 Roofing Systems Framework be utilised;

(2) in respect of the installation of solar PV at Larkfield Leisure Centre, the Laser Consult, Design, Install Framework be utilised; and

(3) in respect of the installation of air source heat pumps at Larkfield Leisure Centre, an open tender exercise be undertaken.

RECOMMENDED*: That

(1) the List A capital plan scheme ‘Decarbonising the Council’s Estate’ be updated to include all of the projects as outlined in the report;

(2) a revised figure of £1,644,799 attributable to external grant funding, be reflected in the updated Capital Plan Scheme; and

(3) an increased contribution of £500,000 by the Borough Council to the Capital Plan Scheme, with £225,000 being funded from the Revenue Reserve for Capital Schemes and £275,000 being funded ... view the full decision text for item 79