Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Communities attached.

Decision made

1.    That should the Council be successful in its phase 3 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant application, approval is granted to provide a contribution of £300,000, comprising the required ‘like for like’ fossil fuel replacement contribution of £203,000 and a contingency of £97,000. 

2.    To note that should the Council be successful in its 2021 Air Quality grant application match funding contribution of £28,241 will be required of which £11,995 will be existing budgeted officer time and £16,246 from the existing Climate Emergency & Air Quality Budget.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) presented a report of the Director of Communities providing an update to the latest air quality and decarbonisation grant bids.

The report also requested grant approval for the Council to make the necessary contributions towards grant funding, should it be successful with the grant bids, namely;

A query was raised as to whether there would be a charge for the Cycle Hub hire and confirmation was provided that their use would be free of charge. 

The timescales involved in the grants was discussed and it was anticipated that decision would be made in January.  Appropriate arrangements to ensure we meet the grant conditions would be put in place.

A member of the public requested further information on the use of ANPR data and would put his questions in writing so that a response can be provided.

Decision made

1.     That should the Council be successful in its phase 3 Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) grant application, approval is granted to provide a contribution of £300,000, comprising the required ‘like for like’ fossil fuel replacement contribution of £203,000 and a contingency of £97,000. 

2.     To note that should the Council be successful in its 2021 Air Quality grant application a match funding contribution of £28,241 will be required of which £11,995 will be existing budgeted officer time and £16,246 from the existing Climate Emergency & Air Quality Budget.

Reasons for decision

In September 2021, Full Council approved the submission of a PSDS, phase 3 grant application, including a capital contribution of up to £500,000; the exact sum to be approved by the Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing.

At the same September meeting it was also agreed that the Council would submit an application as part of the DEFRA Air Quality Grant Scheme. Following final release of the scheme it was found that the scheme had been divided into two lots. The grant application submitted covered works under ‘Lot 1’ and are largely capital works. These required a contribution of 10% of the total grant application.

Other options considered and rejected

The alternative option would have been not to agree to contribute the required sums. This would result in the grant bids not being accepted, no decarbonisation works being undertaken to the ‘Big 6’ buildings and no air quality improvements being undertaken. It was also likely to jeopardise any future grant application bids.