Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:  

Cambridge has limited options on how it can demonstrate low carbon leadership and stimulate significant reductions in carbon emissions within the built up city. Recent studies have shown that a Joint Venture between the City Council and the University of Cambridge and using the Local Authorities ability to prudentially borrow could create an economically viable combined heat and power (CHP) operation that will deliver return on investment producing a new income stream, reduce carbon emissions and protect parts of the Cambridge community against significant future energy price increases. 

It is proposed that further work is undertaken in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, with the potential to draw down on available funding from the Intelligent Energy Europe programme and LCDI.

Decision of the Leader:

              i.      Agreed to support the City Council’s continued involvement in the Cambridge District Heating project subject to the approach set out in this report;

            ii.      Agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Environment to make a final decision on the Intelligent Energy Europe ‘opt out’ issue as set out in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 of the report following consultation with the Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy, Chair and Opposition Spokespersons.

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 Director of Environment regarding the project to investigate the potential of Implementing District Heating in Cambridge City Centre.

Councillor Herbert suggested that overall this was a good idea and asked for more information on the funding. The Director of Environment stated that, subject to the proposal being agreed, a bid for funding would be included in the budget setting report.

Concerns were raised about the lack of a suitable location. The Senior Sustainability Officer confirmed that consultancy firm AECOM had been commissioned to assess the suitability of a range of sites. If no single site were identified, it would be possible to split in infrastructure over two sites. There would be an additional cost associated with a split site.

The split between the University and Colleges was discussed. The officers confirmed that the University was a partner to the project and the Colleges were potential customers. Both form important components of the project. Currently five colleges had expressed an interest and there was a potential to extend this to other colleges, or other bodies, once the core proposal was established.

Councillor Bick welcomed the project and an opportunity for like-minded bodies to work together. Leaning from this project would be used to inform future schemes and had a potential for domestic applications.

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

Not applicable.