Decision details

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and the Environment that sought authorisation to redirect unspent HRA funds from the existing Capital Programme in accordance with the decision making and spending delegations within the Budget and Policy Framework.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:-

The options are to either authorise the redirection of existing capital funds enabling the award of contract, or not. If not approved, it could potentially conflict with the Council’s  climate change aspirations and the need to improve the EPC rating of our homes.

The officer preferred option is to authorise officers to redirect capital funds and award a contract for the installation of Solar PV panels.

Councillor Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Brookes:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Having declared an interest Councillor Hanson did not take part in the discussions or vote on this item.

Resolved:

That Cabinet authorises officers to redirect funds to procure and award a contract for the installation of Solar PV panels to 35 sheltered bungalows, which is estimated to deliver a CO2 saving of 35 tonnes per year.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The Council has a target to be Carbon Neutral by 2030. The installation of Solar PV panels is one of a range of measures designed to improve the thermal comfort of homes, lower customers energy bills and reduce the impact of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and thus increasing the overall EPC rating of these properties. A further benefit of this will be a reduction in energy bills for residents in our sheltered bungalows, supporting health and wellbeing.