Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Matthew Bird and Zoe Nicholson

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 12 following exclusion of the public.)

(Key decision):

(1) To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to initiate feasibility and due-diligence work as required for the project outlined in section 2 and exempt appendix 1 of this report, and for other potential green energy initiatives up to a value of £50,000 from revenue funds.

(2) Subject to (1) above, to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet member for finance and assets, to provide up to £100,000 for development funding to take the solar farm proposal set out in section 2 and exempt appendix 1 of this report, to planning submission, subject to further due diligence being carried out.

(3) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to procure Local Partnerships to carry out due diligence work as required, including that of the development proposal referred to in recommendation (2) above.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, seeking an allocation of revenue funding to enable a later decision to be made regarding development of, or financing of, proposed green energy initiatives; and to facilitate associated due diligence work.

Thanks were conveyed to OVESCO and officers for their work on the project.

The Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, at its meeting on 15 March 2021, made the following recommendation to Cabinet:

To support the recommendations in the report subject to the following amendment to recommendation (2) being considered by the Cabinet:

(2) Subject to (1) above, to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet member for finance and assets, and in consultation with the Chair of the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, to provide up to £100,000 for development funding to take the solar farm proposal set out in section 2 and Appendix 1 of this report, to planning submission, subject to further due diligence being carried out.

The recommendation from the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), was presented by Councillor Boorman, Vice-Chair of PPAC and considered by Cabinet during their discussions. Councillor Nicholson responded that all necessary feasibility and due-diligence work would be undertaken for the project. A full business case would be presented at July’s Cabinet meeting and PPAC would have an opportunity to review this, prior to determination at Cabinet. This negated the incorporation of PPAC’s recommendation to the resolution below.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to initiate feasibility and due-diligence work as required for the project outlined in section 2 and exempt appendix 1 of this report, and for other potential green energy initiatives up to a value of £50,000 from revenue funds.

(2) Subject to (1) above, to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet member for finance and assets, to provide up to £100,000 for development funding to take the solar farm proposal set out in section 2 and exempt appendix 1 of this report, to planning submission, subject to further due diligence being carried out.

(3) Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to procure Local Partnerships to carry out due diligence work as required, including that of the development proposal referred to in recommendation (2) above.

Reasons for decisions:

Investigating the opportunities to develop and enable solar energy production directly supports the aims of the Council detailed within the Corporate Plan 2020-2024 to lead the community to net zero carbon and engage with the community energy sector.

Supporting community energy generation could enable community investment and assist with community wealth building objectives. Developing solar generation within the district will help meet goals and targets detailed within the Climate Change & Sustainability Strategy including the overarching net zero carbon by 2030 targets. Investing in operational solar farms is a potentially viable financial decision for the authority that could diversify  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54