The Transition Director submitted a report to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 toseek programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions. 

The Cabinet decisions will be reported in the briefing note. Cllr Hayes, the Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, will present the report and propose Cabinet’s recommendations.

Recommendations: subject to the decision of Cabinet, Council is recommended to resolve to allocate a capital budget of £10.923 million to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding.

Council considered the  report of the Transition Director seeking programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions.

Cllr Hayes, the Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, introduced the report, proposed the recommendation and answered questions.

The recommendation was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

allocate a capital budget of £10.923 million to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding.

The Transition Director has submitted a report toseek programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions.  To delegate officers to enter into funding and other necessary agreement for the purpose of delivery of decarbonisation projects through this programme.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Give programme approval to the development of the decarbonisation proposals, to accept and ratify funding agreements to further reduce the Council’s carbon emissions; and any other necessary agreements or contract, as set out in this report for prospective sites at Hinksey Pool, Town Hall, Ice Rink, Leys Leisure Centre, Barton Leisure Centre and Rose Hill Community Centre;

2.    Delegate authority to the Transition Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Councils Monitoring Officer, to commence expenditure to carry out the work to develop proposals for funding and subject to their satisfactory conclusion, enter into funding and other necessary agreements, including construction contracts, for the purpose of development and delivery of decarbonisation projects across Oxford City Council estate;

3.    Recommend to Council the allocation of a capital budget of £10.923 million;

4.    Note: the programme management arrangements as set out in the report and the workload prioritisation implications for the Carbon Reduction Team; and

5.    Note that a further report on the arrangements for securing the local renewable energy source and the developed proposals will follow in due course. 

The Transition Director had submitted a report toseek programme approval and delegations to enable capital grant spend of Public Sector Decarbonisation Funding for provision of heat pumps, thermal storage and battery storage at Oxford City Council sites and development of renewable energy to power to reduce council carbon emissions.  To delegate officers to enter into funding and other necessary agreement for the purpose of delivery of decarbonisation projects through this programme.

Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, introduced the report. The Government had, at very short notice, given authorities the opportunity to bid for funding to assist with decarbonisation programmes. The Council’s successful bid for nearly £11m to assist with specific projects was very welcome, and began to address the funding gap mentioned in relation to the previous item. There would be regular updates on progress. The Transition Director noted that Heat Pumps would be central to the success of these projects and an eye was being kept on their availability as there were suggestions that they might be in short supply. The projects would be overseen and delivered by a multi-disciplinary team.

The Chair noted that the recommendation should be amended to include reference, also, to the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, given the nature of the projects proposed.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Give programme approval to the development of the decarbonisation proposals, to accept and ratify funding agreements to further reduce the Council’s carbon emissions; and any other necessary agreements or contract, as set out in this report for prospective sites at Hinksey Pool, Town Hall, Ice Rink, Leys Leisure Centre, Barton Leisure Centre and Rose Hill Community Centre;

2.    Delegate authority to the Transition Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Councils Monitoring Officer, to commence expenditure to carry out the work to develop proposals for funding and subject to their satisfactory conclusion, enter into funding and other necessary agreements, including construction contracts, for the purpose of development and delivery of decarbonisation projects across Oxford City Council estate;

3.    Recommend to Council the allocation of a capital budget of £10.923 million;

4.    Note: the programme management arrangements as set out in the report and the workload prioritisation implications for the Carbon Reduction Team; and

5.    Note that a further report on the arrangements for securing the local renewable energy source and the developed proposals will follow in due course.