Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services with an update on the Carbon Management Plan.

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services providing an update on progress so far with a series of Energy Programmes (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

Members were pleased to hear that the County Council was on track to exceed it’s Phase 2 savings targets of 40% carbon reduction by 2025. It was reported that Property Services was due to host a conference for public sector organisations to raise the profile of Electric Vehicles and offer the opportunity to meet professionals from the industry on 3 July 2017. As part of the discussion on Electric Vehicles, the Panel noted the potential for income generation as a result of developing a framework of EV charging points across the county.

RESOLVED:

That the Buildings Land and Procurement Panel recommends to the Executive Member Policy and Resources that:

a)    Good progress on the Carbon Management Plan Phases 1/ 2 and the Energy Performance Programmes Phases 1-3 delivering estimated cost savings of £29.9m is noted.

b)    That £80,000 of resources from the Cost of Change fund is used to provide the necessary professional resources in Property Services to develop feasibility studies, designs and procurement strategies for Phases 4 and 5 of the Energy Programmes.

c)    That £2.72m of resources is committed from the Policy and Resources Energy Budget to deliver:

• A further major programme of LED replacement lighting in the corporate estate
• Installation of a network of Electrical Vehicle charging points
• Conversion of the small vehicle service fleet and staff pool cars from diesel to electric on a phased basis
• A programme of Local and Bulk Battery Storage subject to a positive business case and viable Return on Investment

The above is currently estimated to deliver an annual saving of at least £450,000 per year on a recurring basis.

d)    Approval be given to the procurement and spend in relation to the Energy Programmes in this report.

e)    The Director of CCBS be given delegated authority to commit resources and let contracts for Phases 4 and 5 Energy Programmes in consultation with the Executive Member Economic Development.

f)     The economic, social and reputational benefits of continuing to take a lead in design and delivery of innovative energy programmes is noted.