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RESOLVED:
 

(1)  
That Council approves an increase in capital expenditure of
£2.4m into the capital programme for the decarbonisation work
to the three leisure centres. The overall budget will be profiled
across 2024/25 and 2025/26.
 

(2)  
That Council approves an increase in the capital budget of
£250k for the Royston Leisure Centre (RLC) gym extension, to
ensure the extension is built to net zero carbon standards.
 

(3)  
That Council approves revenue expenditure of up to £757k for
termination and removal fees of the gas CHPs at North Herts Leisure
Centre and Hitchin Fitness and Swimming Centre. This would be
funded from General Fund reserves.
 
REASONS FOR
DECISIONS:
 

(1)  
In May 2019, North Herts Council passed a climate emergency motion.
This declaration asserted the council’s commitment toward
climate action beyond current government targets and international
agreements. This is currently pursued through the North Herts
Climate Change Strategy 2022-2027 which sets out what the council
will aim to do to reduce its own carbon emissions to achieve Carbon
Neutrality for the Council’s own operations by 2030 and a Net
Zero Carbon district by 2040.
 

(2)  
Gas use from our leisure centres is a significant contributor
towards the Council’s own emissions. In 2022-23, gas use
across the three leisure centres accounted for 1,428 tonnes CO2e.
This equates to 45% of the Council’s Scope 1-3 emissions.
Taking action to replace gas heating for our leisure centres with
low carbon alternatives is the single most effective action we can
take towards meeting our target of being carbon neutral by
2030.
 

(3)  
There is currently a capital allocation in the 2024/25 budget to
build a gym extension at Royston Leisure Centre.