Purpose

To request approval to submit an application for Phase 4 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund in order to commission heat decarbonisation plans (HDPs) covering the smaller corporate sites not included in the successful Phase 1 bid and update existing HDPs.

Decision

That the Corporate Director Resident Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action:

i)             Approves the submission of an application to Phase 4 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund for funding to the value of £80,000 for decarbonisation and net zero projects.

Reasons for the decision

Brent is seeking grant funding in order to commission heat decarbonisation plans (HDPs) covering the smaller corporate sites that were not included in the successful LCSF Phase 1 bid. This would cover 45 buildings, 9 of which are managed by Facilities Management (4 offices, 4 community centres, 1 library), 23 by Parks (12 sports pavilions, 11 public toilets), 5 by Cemeteries, 7 by Property (2 community centres, 5 void properties, and 1 Leisure Centre.

Brent is also seeking to use the grant funding to update the existing HDPs which it had written (using previous LCSF1 grant money) covering the largest 16 corporate sites. Many of the works in this first HDP have been implemented using the grant money successfully received, therefore, the update to the HDPs for these sites will make clear what the benefit of those measures has been and what works remain available for further energy and carbon savings.

Brent also intends to use the grants to create an overall net zero strategy. The strategy will summarise all progress, plus all additional available savings across the full estate, in an accessible format, using non-technical language and clear graphical representations of information.

Alternative options considered

The HDPs and net zero strategy form part of the Council’s Climate Action Workstream – ‘Leading by Example’. All climate actions workstreams form part of the Council’s Climate Emergency Delivery Strategy.

Subject to grant approval, the Corporate Director Resident Services has delegated authority to enter into a grant funding agreement.

All grant funding received will be subject to certain conditions.