Issue - meetings

To receive a report seeking approval to proceed with the project to install Solar PV panels at various One Leisure sites.

Executive Councillor: B Pitt.

The Cabinet has

(a)  approved the project to be funded by the use of reserves, and the project to be added to the Council’s capital programme to be delivered across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years; and

(b)  delegated the Corporate Director - Finance & Corporate Resources (Section 151), in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources to make any consequential amendments to budgets and release of necessary funds to deliver the project.

With the aid of a report by the Facilities Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to a proposal to proceed with the project to install Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels at various One Leisure sites.

The Executive Councillor for Communities, Health and Leisure introduced the report, and in doing so, reported that the proposals had resulted from the core of the Climate Strategy work and the Council’s quest to become net zero in carbon emissions by 2040. Whilst a number of challenges remained on this journey, including matters such as external funding and the development of new technologies, the proposals before Cabinet sought to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions whilst also generating financial savings. The total project cost would be £412,000 with a payback period of 8.25 years. The funding for the project was proposed to be met from Council reserves.  

Attention was then drawn to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships), where particular mention was made of the variation in the payback period across all sites. A suggestion had been made by a Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel to utilise the funding for the St Ives site for battery storage across the three sites. The Cabinet concurred that this suggestion was not deemed suitable at the present time as it was felt that the current proposal generated a positive return for the Council. Additionally, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) had proposed an additional recommendation for consideration by the Cabinet relating to applying greater weight to tender applicants from within the District. The view was held that it would be difficult to redraft the Council’s current procurement policy within the timeframes given and that it would be preferable to work with the supplier which had already been identified.

Matters that were discussed included the savings on utility costs to be achieved as a result of the project and the potential increases in electricity costs in future years. In concurring with the suggestion made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) for the Panel to see the progress of the project as it developed and after 12 months of implementation, it was

RESOLVED

  that Cabinet

(a)  approve the project to be funded by the use of reserves, and the project to be added to the Council’s capital programme to be delivered across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years; and

(b)  delegate the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources (Section 151), in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources to make any consequential amendments to budgets and release of necessary funds to deliver the project.

The Panel is invited to comment on the One Leisure PV Solar Installs Report.

Executive Councillor: B Pitt

By means of a report and presentation by the Facilities Manager (copies of which were appended in the Minute Book), the One Leisure PV Solar Installs Report was presented to the Panel.

The Panel heard that the export had not currently been included due to the connection times of UK Power Networks, the aim was to install the system and then a decision on how to manage any generated surplus could be looked at on a case by case basis. The Panel also heard that the designs were based on half hourly data for each centre, based on this there was an anticipated return of over 75%.

Concern was expressed over the usage of lithium and alternative methods of battery storage were queried, alongside the recyclability of the panels at the end of their lifespan. The concerns around lithium were observed and the Panel heard that further detail on the recyclability would be sought and reported back to the Panel at a later date.

The bundling within the report with the return at the St Ives site expected to be 12 years against the other sites at 8 years was of concern to the Panel, particularly the concern that this would affect the SALIX recycling fund. It was further suggested that the £52,000 for the St Ives site may be better used to provide battery storage for the other three sites. The Panel were assured that the project would be funded by Council reserves and that the project was anticipated to have an excellent payback. It was noted that due to the nature of energy consumption at leisure centres, there would be a much different usage when compared to a residential property, and that the designs proposed would make the best use of the available array as possible. Furthermore, it was noted that to proceed with the project across all four sites would massively reduce overhead and that there would be significant financial and environmental benefits through the implementation of the scheme. The Panel were advised that an annual return of 12.1% was anticipated.

It was observed that the siting of the panels within the rooves of the centres would be a much better location than taking up valuable agricultural land, it was also suggested that the Panel would like to see the progress of the project as it developed and after 12 months of implementation.

It was noted, that energy usage at the St Ives site was more sporadic than the other three sites due to the services provided there.

The Panel heard that there had already been successful installs of solar panels across the council’s estate, including Eastfield House and One Leisure and that this was part of the first stage of introducing renewable energy generation.

The Panel were advised, that a solar canopy was due to be installed in the carpark at One Leisure St Ives Indoor following funding from Sport England. It was noted that the steelworks for this type of project doubled the payback  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33