Agenda item

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED –

1.       That the Council make additional funding available to demonstrate its intention to meet the SALIX requirement that the project did not proceed at risk be approved.

2. That Cabinet agree to the addendum to the report and delegate to the s151 officer and Monitoring Officer, in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance to agree the final financial budget required to deliver the schemes, the completion of all necessary formalities and to identify the source of any additional funding, or terminate the schemes if no longer financially viable, be approved.
3. That the interim Head of Mid Kent Legal Services be authorised to complete all necessary legal documentation and formalities to give effect to these recommendations be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To support the delivery of the Council’s ambition to make its own operations and services carbon neutral by 2030.

Councillor Luke Everitt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction introduced David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Property who presented the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The UK Power Network (UKPN) tendering process was complicated and a request was made for a ‘layman’s explanation as to how it worked.

-       A number of requests were made to UKPN for additional load capacity.  UKPN provided estimates which were based on current load usage and any requests currently in the pipeline. 

-       Each organisation making a request had 30 days to either accept or reject the quotation from UKPN. Until such time as the offer had either been accepted, rejected or the 30 days had elapsed, the organisation remained in their place in the queue. 

-       If an organisation accepted the quote provided by UKPN, the quotes given to the other organisations in the queue changed.  UKPN would then provide revised quotes for all those organisations who remained in the queue. 

-       UKPN would inform the organisation the quote previously given was no longer valid and another request for a quote would have to be submitted.  In short, the process began again.

-       The remaining 5% of emissions were made up of carbon usage from the make-up of the building, including elements of the fabric of the building e.g. insulation.

-       Insulation was not part of the current funding request.  The funding was specific to boilers. 

-       This infrastructure was seen as vital for the health and wellbeing of the community.

-       It was important for the Council to show its commitment to Carbon reduction on the assets it currently owned.

-       The 7% reduction in CO2 emissions was very welcomed and delivered on the Commitments made by the Borough Partnership. 

-       Cabinet agreed to proceed with Option 2 as detailed in the main report.

-       Of the three recommendations, recommendations one and three remained the same.  Recommendation two would be amended as follows:

“Cabinet agree an addendum to the report and delegate to the s151 officer and the Monitoring Officer, in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, to agree the final financial budget required to deliver the scheme, the completion of all necessary formalities and to identify the source of any additional funding or terminate the schemes if no longer financially viable.”

To note, the matter was decided taking the exempt information set out in the agenda as read

RESOLVED –

1.       That the Council make additional funding available to demonstrate its intention to meet the SALIX requirement that the project did not proceed at risk be approved.

2. That Cabinet agree to the addendum to the report and delegate to the s151 officer and Monitoring Officer, in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance to agree the final financial budget required to deliver the schemes, the completion of all necessary formalities and to identify the source of any additional funding, or terminate the schemes if no longer financially viable, be approved.
3. That the interim Head of Mid Kent Legal Services be authorised to complete all necessary legal documentation and formalities to give effect to these recommendations be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To support the delivery of the Council’s ambition to make its own operations and services carbon neutral by 2030.