Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:  

 

Green Deal is the Governments new energy efficiency policy, launched in October 2012. It is a fully accredited route for householders and property owners to have their properties and energy use behaviour assessed and for key measures to improve energy efficiency to be identified, financed and installed. The legislation stipulates that key players, involved at all relevant stages will be rigorously assessed and certified by appropriate bodies to provide maximum confidence in the process.

 

The Executive Councillor is asked to approve the establishment of a partnership of the Cambridgeshire Districts to deliver the Green Deal work proposal, subject to detailed approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authorities involved at Public Service Board.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

 

The Executive Councillor resolved to:

 

                    i.      To approve the establishment of a partnership of the Cambridgeshire Districts and Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver the Green Deal work proposal, subject to detailed approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authorities involved at Public Service Board;

 

                  ii.      To approve the conduct of a procurement exercise and award of contract(s) to one or more Green Deal commercial providers to be let on a County wide basis and in collaboration with Cambridgeshire Local Authorities.

 

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 Environmental Quality and Growth Manager  regarding the Green Deal.

 

The Officer made the following points in response to members’ questions.

                i.      The potential that up front fees would put off potential customers had been considered. The Partnership would consider a variety of models offered by providers and take up the most attractive based on a number of considerations. The onus would be on the providers to find a solution for up front costs.

              ii.      Training community groups to carry out the initial assessment might offer a solution.

            iii.      The Partnership would take into account the opportunities for the City of Cambridge to include a non-domestic properties. This is something that will be considered, however, the current guidance concentrated on domestic properties.

           iv.      Green Deal will be attractive to landlords, as costs would be recovered from the tenant via energy costs.

             v.      The Green Deal potential locally is not as strong as some parts of the country and there will be a need to promote what the council could offer in order to attract providers and to promote competition. If no provider could be found there would be little ‘ECO’ money for Cambridge.

 

Members were concerned that recent press report suggested that to-date the scheme had achieved very little nationally. It was suggested that marketing the Green Deal would be key. The Environmental Quality and Growth Manager  reminded members of a recent successful DECC bid for a pilot project. This would deliver over 200 home assessments over Cambridgeshire and form the evidence base to produce some locally focussed promotional materials. This activity would help to raise public awareness.

 

Concerns were raised that the scheme would be overly complicated. The Officer agreed that it was complicated.

 

Members discussed the staffing implications and were assured that while an initial additional half time post was needed to establish the scheme, it was not envisaged that this need would continue once the scheme was up and running.

 

Councillor Saunders proposed an amendment to the second recommendation to add clarity. Additional wording in bold:

 

To approve the establishment of a partnership of the Cambridgeshire Districts and Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver the Green Deal work proposal, subject to detailed approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Authorities involved at Public Service Board;

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the amended recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

 

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

Not applicable.