Agenda item

To receive a report by the Head of Environmental Management on the Council’s Carbon Management Plan.

(Councillor DM Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment, was in attendance for this item).

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Environmental Management (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) providing an update on progress against the targets contained in the Council’s Carbon Management Plan (CMP). Members noted that achievement of a 15% reduction in its carbon emissions meant that the Council was on course to meet the target to reduce CO2e by 30% in the period to 2013. A 7% reduction in energy costs had also been achieved over the previous 2 year period.

Members were advised of ongoing works to determine which efficiency saving measures would be most appropriate for each of the Council’s 10 main sites and noted that over 70% of the Council’s total energy spending had been on the five main sites, which included three leisure centres.

The Panel was informed that the terms of a three year programme to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at the Council’s main sites had been based on pay back figures using the Government’s feed-in-tariff. The cut off date before which PV schemes would qualify for income at the current rate had recently changed and, therefore, figures shown at Annex C of the report would need to be revised. In addition, the recommendation relating to the installation of PV systems would be subject to a reassessment of their viability. The Panel was advised that owing to the change and the resulting decrease in the return on investment which was now expected to be around 6.2%, it was still considered to be advantageous to install PV panels up until 31 March 2012, when the return would be further reduced. However, it might be necessary to reduce the number of site installations.

In response to questions, the Panel was advised that the Council would be looking at reducing carbon emissions as well as saving energy and the Salix Energy Fund would be utilised in this respect. Research continued to be undertaken in conjunction with the leisure centres and other departments in order to identify the most suitable measures with the shortest payback times. Owing to the fact that the market in PV systems was fluctuating, the Panel recommended that the payback calculations should be updated to reflect current market rates.

The Panel was informed that although the Council would not benefit directly from the Government’s Green Deal, it would, in conjunction with other local authorities, have a part to play in promoting such energy saving schemes to residents and businesses.

RESOLVED

  that on the understanding that that the payback calculations are updated and further analysis of the viability of the project is undertaken in light of government policy changes, the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  note the good progress that has been made towards the implementation of the Council’s Carbon Management Plan and the positive impact this has had on energy use and energy bills at the Councils main sites;

(b)  support ongoing cross-functional energy reviews to maximise cost savings and the continued use of the Salix ring-fenced funding and Environment Strategy Capital funding to implement further energy saving projects, and

(c)  support the installation of Solar PV panels at the Council’s main sites which will generate a significant ongoing revenue stream for the Council.