Issue - meetings

The Community Energy Fund for Cambridgeshire Appendix A document is too large to attach to the agenda in hard copy format. An executive summary is included instead of the full document. All documents are published on the Council’s website:

(i)      The main report, Appendix A (executive summary) and Appendix B are attached to the agenda document.

(ii)      The full Appendix A is accessible via the following hyperlink (please copy all lines as the address is split over 3):

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=Community%20Energy%20Fund%20Report%20and%20Appendices&ID=990&RPID=32414135&sch=doc&cat=13026&path=13020%2c13021%2c13026

Matter for Decision:  

In February 2010, Cambridgeshire Horizons commissioned consultants to scope the potential for the development of a Cambridgeshire Community Energy Fund, linked to national zero carbon homes policy. This work was commissioned alongside work to establish the Cambridgeshire Renewables Infrastructure Framework (CRIF), developed to assist the county’s transition to a low carbon future. The establishment of a Community Energy Fund (CEF) could help to deliver some of the renewable and low carbon energy projects identified as part of the CRIF. The development of such a fund would also assist developers in meeting their carbon emissions obligations by offsetting residual emissions associated with development through payment into a fund at a set price per tonne of carbon. The fund would then channel this investment into local energy efficiency of energy generation projects to help deliver emissions savings. This initial piece of work, which was presented to Councillors from across the county in July 2010 raised a number of key issues that required further investigation.

In response to these issues, consultants were commissioned to carry out further work, which considered these issues in detail. The study was included as Appendix A of the Officer’s report. The study concluded that a county-wide fund would be the most sensible approach to adopt and provides a basis to continue work on developing a Community Energy Fund across the districts and in consultation with Central Government.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

Noted the findings of the Stage 2 report (Element Energy 2012) and supported officer engagement in the next stages of developing a county-wide fund.

Reason for the Decision:

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Senior Sustainability Officer regarding the Community Energy Fund for Cambridgeshire.

The committee made the following comments in response to the report:

(i)                Targets for on-site carbon reduction could make a greater impact on long term carbon reduction than off-setting payments. It would be beneficial to explore options on how to encourage this through the Local Plan Review.

In response to Members’ questions the Senior Sustainability Officer confirmed the following:

(i)                The Decarbonising Cambridge Study provided an evidence base that on-site carbon emissions could be reduced by up to 70% for sites in the city. An option would be included in the Local Plan Review to require developers to do more than the nationally defined target of 44 – 60%. Officers recognised it was not practicable to reduce carbon to meet the full requirements of national zero carbon policy on all sites (eg small ones due to constraints on land availability), but the intention was to head for zero carbon overall.

(ii)              Developers would have a statutory duty to contribute towards carbon reduction. Developers would have the option to undertake carbon reduction work, or off set carbon emissions through payment into a fund at a set price per tonne of carbon. The fund would provide monies for carbon reduction projects.

(iii)            The CEF could fund projects in the city and Greater Cambridge Area. There was potential for inter-authority projects so joined up work could be undertaken. The national verification scheme setting out project criteria was still being developed by Central Government.

(iv)            The City Council would monitor and feed into the Central Government policy development process. The zero carbon policy should be finalised by 2016.

The committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.