The Head of Housing and Property has submitted a report which outlines proposals to facilitate the fitting of solar panels on Council-owned housing stock in such a way that it reduces the demands on the HRA capital programme.

Officer Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Grant project approval to fit solar panels on Council-owned housing stock in the manner described in this report;

2.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive,  in conjunction with the Head of Finance, to enter into an Agreement to Lease with the Low Carbon Hub IPS (on the basis that this would permit leases to the roof space of individual Council properties to be drawn up and executed if required) plus any ancillary agreement required; and to submit an appropriate VEAT notice to the EU; and

3.    Agree that on the basis of the matters set out in this report, the proposed arrangement with the Low Carbon Hub IPS represents best value to the Council.

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed proposals to facilitate the fitting of solar panels on Council-owned housing stock in such a way that it reduces the demands on the HRA capital programme.

Cllr Rowley, Executive Board Member for Housing presented the report and commended the initiative.

The Head of Housing and Property reminded the Board that the recent Government budget announcements and potential policy changes to the Feed-In-Tariff may impact on the viability of this project for either the Low Carbon Hub or the Council.  He explained that the Council was currently pre-registering properties ahead of the anticipated tariff changes.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Housing Panel presented the Panel’s report and recommendation.  She said that the Panel were very supportive of the overall initiative and she was pleased to note that Board Member supported the recommendation to work with the Low Carbon Hub to maximise the benefits of fitting solar panels to Council-owned housing stock.

The Board welcomed the proposals to promote communications and engagement with tenants through the secondment of a tenant liaison officer, funded by the Hub, to work with the Council’s housing and property officers and the tenants.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Grant project approval to fit solar panels on Council-owned housing stock in the manner described in this report;

2.    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive,  in conjunction with the Head of Finance, to enter into an Agreement to Lease with the Low Carbon Hub IPS (on the basis that this would permit leases to the roof space of individual Council properties to be drawn up and executed if required) plus any ancillary agreement required; and to submit an appropriate VEAT notice to the EU; and

3.    Agree that on the basis of the matters set out in this report, the proposed arrangement with the Low Carbon Hub IPS represents best value to the Council.

The Property Services Manager introduced the report which requests project approval to fit solar panels on some of the Council’s housing stock.  The Panel heard that feed in tariffs would reduce dramatically in the New Year but that the Low Carbon Hub was exploring ideas to make the best of the situation and find a viable model for proceeding with this scheme.  The arrangements would need to be clear that any risk would be borne by the Hub.  The Panel heard that the proposals would not benefit the Council directly but would assist some Council tenants through reduced fuel bills and would contribute to the wider low carbon agenda.

The Panel noted regret that a previous scheme had been cancelled several years ago and that the current report set out a better approach to the fitting of solar panels on Council-owned housing stock.  The Panel asked questions about timescales, tenants’ consent, the financial model of the Hub and the Council’s own financial investments in solar panels.

In response to a question, the Panel heard that some properties had been lined up and could potentially be fitted before the level of the feed in tariff was reduced.

The Panel agreed that the following recommendation should be made to the City Executive Board on 15 October 2015:

1.    That the City Council should make every effort to enter into a viable agreement with the Low Carbon Hub as soon as possible in order to maximise the available benefits of fitting solar panels on Council-owned housing stock.