Purpose

1.     
To seek approval for the allocation of funds from the 23/24 and
24/25 Decarbonisation Fund for the purposes of a Public Sector
Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant funding bid, spend to save
energy efficiency projects and electric vehicle infrastructure
projects.

2.     
To seek approval to submit a bid to the Public Sector
Decarbonisation Scheme, Phase 3c (PSDS3c) and if successful to
accept and spend any award.

3.     
To authorise the submission of applications to future grant funding
opportunities related to decarbonisation measures which may arise
from 2023-2025.

4.     
To seek approval to enter into contract for 23/24 spend to save
energy efficiency projects to reduce consumption and create savings
on the Council’s energy bills.

Content

That Cabinet:

1.     
Noted the proposed approach to decarbonisation of the Corporate
Estate as set out in this cabinet report, and the proposed plan to
progress decarbonisation works from 2023-2025.

2.     
Authorised the allocation and spend of up to £5,000,000 from
the 23/24 Decarbonisation Fund and up to £5,000,000 from the
24/25 Decarbonisation Fund on the programme and strategy for
decarbonising the council’s Corporate Estate as detailed in
this report.

3.     
Authorised the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Energy
and Waste, and the Director of Finance to approve a further draw
down against the 2023/24 Decarbonisation Fund of up to
£1,000,000 and against the 2024/25 Decarbonisation Fund of up
to £1,000,000 in connection with the fleet decarbonisation
programme and strategy outlined in this cabinet report.

4.     
Authorised the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Energy
and Waste, and the Director of Finance to submit a bid for up to
£5,000,000 (with match funding of up to £10,000,000
provided from the Decarbonisation Fund as set out in recommendation
2) to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, Phase 3c (PSDS3c),
and, in the event that the bid is successful, to accept and spend
any successful award.

5.     
Authorised the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration, in
consultation with Director of Finance to submit applications to
future grant funding opportunities related to decarbonisation
measures which may arise during 2023-2025, provided that such grant
funding opportunities either; (i)
require no match funding or; (ii) match funding can be met through
unallocated funds within the 2023/24 or 2024/25 Decarbonisation
Fund and provided that if any such bid above the value of
£500,000 is successful the acceptance and spend of such bid
is brought back to Cabinet.

6.     
Authorised the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Energy
and Waste, and the Director of Finance to procure, agree and enter
into any contracts required in connection with the matters outlined
in the above recommendations.

7.     
Authorised the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration, in
consultation with Director of Finance to draw down on the proposed
funding routes outlined in this cabinet report and agree the terms
of and enter into contracts required for spend to save energy
efficiency projects to reduce consumption and create savings on the
Council’s energy bills.