Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Operational Services on the outcome of the trial of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as an alternative to standard road diesel.

Executive Councillor: S Taylor.

The Cabinet has

(a)  agreed to adopt the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil across the Council’s fleet based on the successful trial;

(b)  approved delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Place and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources and the Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene to take operational decisions regarding the implementation and ongoing management of the Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil initiative;

(c)  authorised HDC Officers to engage with neighbouring authorities to explore the wider Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil adoption across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough;

(d)  endorsed continued collaboration with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cambridgeshire Constabulary on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil usage and other partnership opportunities; and

(e)  endorsed HDC’s engagement with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to explore potential funding for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil implementation and ongoing usage and opportunities for wider Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil adoption among Cambridgeshire partners.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Operational Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated on the outcome of the trial of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as an alternative to standard road diesel.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene reported that the trial had commenced in 2023 as a means of supporting and contributing towards the Council’s Climate Strategy. Emergency response services were also invited to join the trial which included Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue and Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The Cabinet were encouraged to learn that the pilot had demonstrated operational efficiencies and contributed towards the Council’s achievement of net zero carbon goals.

In acknowledging the benefits of the trial and having welcomed the positive outcomes achieved, the Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce reminded the Cabinet that the project was a stepping stone and that there was still some work to do given that the Council’s fleet of vehicles used internal combustion engines.

A question was then raised by the Executive Councillor for Communities, Health and Leisure querying whether the income generated from green waste could be utilised to subsidise increased biofuel costs. The Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene reported that this had been built into the Medium-Term Financial Strategy going forward.

Much discussion then ensued on the four suggested recommendations arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships). Cabinet Members discussed their impact, the need to be cautious with some of the proposed recommendations in the event of there being a future UK based supplier, the scale of the proposal and extent of the work required relating to the creation of a cross partner steering group of relevant organisations and local producers within Cambridgeshire to develop the production of fuel within the District and the fact that elements of the recommendations were already being picked up by the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene as business as usual. The Cabinet were also reminded by the Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce of the work already being undertaken by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to tackle some of these themes. It was further reported that the Council’s Fleet Manager was proactively engaging with authorities within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area as well as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to share the learning which had been achieved from the pilot. With the above in mind, the Cabinet agreed not to pursue the proposed recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) and noted them at the meeting. Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to adopt the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil across the Council’s fleet based on the successful trial;

(b)  to delegate authority to the Corporate Director - Place and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources and the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64

The Panel is invited to comment on the Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil Trial Report.

Executive Cllr: S Taylor

By means of a report by the Head of Operational Services, (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil Trial Report was presented to the Panel.

Concern was expressed that the fuel was being sourced from Denmark and Holland and enquired whether it was possible to source this from the UK. It was confirmed that the fuel was not currently produced within the UK and that these countries were the nearest suppliers. It was noted that opportunities produce this locally would be monitored and further detail would be brought back to the Panel should viable possibilities arise.

It was confirmed that the fuel is produced solely from used cooking oil. Councillor Lowe observed that used cooking oil is collected nationwide and questioned whether partnerships could be develop to allow for a fuel supply within the UK. It was also suggested that kerbside collections of domestic cooking oil be investigated, with Councillor Alban observing that Bromley Borough had previously done such kerbside collections. It was noted that this was a complicated and developing market and that the district council’s influence within this market would be limited. It was also noted that the fuel as supplied was a treated product originating from used cooking oil and that this was not something which was currently available within the UK. It was proposed by Councillor Lowe to add an additional recommendation to the Cabinet report, this was seconded by Councillor Hunt and the Panel voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the proposed recommendation to the Cabinet;

6) that the leader contact the Energy secretary to request a reduction in the import tax on this product.

Councillor Hunt stated that he was impressed by the carbon savings through the change in fuel which were achieved by the trial, a sentiment which was shared by the Panel. The Panel heard, that the collaboration with Fire and Police on the trial had been extremely positive. It was confirmed that the police had joined the trial late and that their participation had been a smaller vehicle than the HGVs used by HDC and the Fire Service. The Panel heard that the site at Eastfield was under 24 hour operation due to the services on site and therefore the emergency services had been able to access the fuel as it was required. It was noted that opportunities with East of England Ambulance Trust, CPCA, MOD, local town and parish councils would be investigated as the project moved forward and the Panel wished to encourage the Cabinet and leader to contact relevant organisations to share the benefits of the fuel and collaborative working. The Panel felt that this would give a benefit both financially and environmentally in the significant carbon savings which could be made through developing further partnerships. It was proposed by Councillor Hunt to add an additional recommendation to the Cabinet report, this was seconded by Councillor Tevlin and the Panel voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the proposed recommendation to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44