North Yorkshire Council

 

Executive Member for Managing our Environment

 

25th April 2023

 

Funding application to the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund

 

Report of the Corporate Director – Resources

 

 

1.0

Purpose of Report  

1.1

To authorise the submission of an application for external funding from the

Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund Phase 4.

 

 

2.0       Background              

 

2.1       The Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund Phase 4 was announced by the Government on 28th March 2023 to provide public sector bodies with access to funding to engage specialist advice and skills required to create heat decarbonisation plans and/or detailed designs to prepare for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency works.

 

3.0       Issues                                    

 

3.1       Details in respect of the scheme are as follows: -

 

·           The funding is for producing a heat decarbonisation plan(s), updating an existing heat decarbonisation plan(s), or where an up-to-date heat decarbonisation plan(s) is already in place, a standalone detailed design(s) up to at least RIBA stage 3.

·           Heat decarbonisation plan(s) and detailed designs must be delivered in respect of public sector building(s) that have a fossil fuel heating system currently in place and take a whole building approach to decarbonisation.  Organisations should prioritise design works on buildings with fossil fuel heating systems nearing their end of life (10+ yrs old).

•      The application window opens on the 26th April 2023 at 2pm, going by history linked to the applications for Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Schemes which were oversubscribed within 6 hours it is expected that this scheme will also be over-subscribed, so applications must be ready for submission on the date and time the application portal opens.

•      A decision on if the application has been successful is not expected until June / July 2023.

•      All schemes that receive grant funding are required to be completed before the 28th March 2024.

 

3.2       In developing the proposed bid for funding the Council has considered a range of factors, including: -

 

•      The relatively short period of time for the development and delivery of the schemes.

•      The deliverability of a broad range of eligible schemes including both heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects.

•      The availability of resources to develop, manage and deliver a programme of work including internally, within Align Property Partners and the contracting supply chain.

 

4.0       Financial Implications                     

 

4.1       The funding bid being applied for is to fund the design work for the proposed schemes, if successful providing 100% of estimated costs.

 

4.2       The corporate properties have been identified on the basis of their current levels of energy utilisation and carbon emissions and age of heating systems.

 

5.0       Legal Implications                            

 

5.1       This is a key decision for the application to the Low Carbon Skills Fund and the proposal to apply for funding was entered on the Forward Plan in March 2023, with the decision being dealt with under decision call in exemption procedure due to the exact date of the opening of the funding portal being unknown.

 

5.2       The Grant Application & Acceptance process has been followed for the application is currently being reviewed by Legal Services and Finance.

 

5.3       The Terms & Conditions of the grant are being reviewed by Legal Services, any additional conditions on the offer letter if the funding application is successful will be reviewed by Legal Service before the acceptance of the offer is approved.

 

6.0       Equalities Implications                    

 

6.1       There are no equalities implications.

 

7.0       Climate Change Implications                     

 

7.1       The proposed grant application will contribute to the reduction in the Council carbon emissions by developing detailed designs for the schemes around low carbon technology options that could be used to decarbonise the site, what facilitating work would be required and how this could be transitioned into the delivery stage.

 

 18.0

 

 18.1

Recommendation(s)     

 

The Executive Member for Managing our Environment is recommended to:

 

i)     Approve the funding application for submission.

 

 

Gary Fielding

Corporate Director – Resources

County Hall, Northallerton

 

17th April 2023

 

Report Author – Kristina Peat

Present of Report – Kristina Peat      

 

Background Documents:  None