The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which seeks approval for the approach to the procurement of energy and water for the period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2020.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.            approve the use of the Kent County Council energy procurement framework via its trading arm LASER (the specialist public sector energy buying organisation) for a further four years (2016-2020) to procure the Council’s energy contracts from October 2016 and water contracts from April 2017;

2.            approve the continuation of the energy purchasing approach of:

a.    a flexible contract for larger electricity and gas supplies

b.    a fixed term fixed price contract for smaller quarterly billed supplies;

3.            delegate authority to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Head of Financial Services to select the most appropriate ‘flexible energy contract basket’ option; and

4.                  approve that, as part of the annual budget setting process, the Lead Member will determine the proportion of renewable energy purchased under the contract each year in consultation with the Head of Financial Services (S151 Officer) and Director of Community Services.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report which sought approval for the approach to the procurement of energy and water for the period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2020.

The Board Member, Climate Change and Cleaner Greener Oxford presented the report and recommended it to the Board. The Chair of Scrutiny said that the proposals had been reviewed by the Finance Scrutiny Panel and he was pleased to note that the Panel’s two recommendations had been accepted by the Board.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.            approve the use of the Kent County Council energy procurement framework via its trading arm LASER (the specialist public sector energy buying organisation) for a further four years (2016-2020) to procure the Council’s energy contracts from October 2016 and water contracts from April 2017;

2.            approve the continuation of the energy purchasing approach of:

a)    a flexible contract for larger electricity and gas supplies

b)    a fixed term fixed price contract for smaller quarterly billed supplies;

3.            delegate authority to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Head of Financial Services to select the most appropriate ‘flexible energy contract basket’ option; and

4.            approve that, as part of the annual budget setting process, the Lead Member will determine the proportion of renewable energy purchased under the contract each year in consultation with the Head of Financial Services (S151 Officer) and Director of Community Services.

Invited:

Jo Colwell – Service Manager Environmental Sustainability

Paul Spencer – Energy and Carbon Manager

For the Finance Panel to pre-scrutinise the Energy and Water supply contract procurement decision.  This item was referred to the Finance Panel by the Scrutiny Committee on 12 January.  This is an opportunity for the Panel to make recommendations to the City Executive Board.