Decision details

That the Corporate Director – Resources approves the submission of the bid totalling £1,572,400. This being made up £492,400 Revenue and £1,080,000 Capital.

To authorise the commitment of match funding totalling up to £724,600 (subject to bid acceptance), of which £189,600 is from existing sources and to note the match funding shortfall of up to £535,000 is proposed to be met from the Council’s maintenance budget.

To note that if the application is successful, a further report will be brought forward in line with the Council’s governance process.

The Carbon Negative Challenge Fund (CNCF) has been launched by the Mayor and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Through the Mayoral Investment Funds, the CNCF allocation is focused on supporting regional decarbonisation and seeks to follow on from the previous £7million funding allocated through the Net Zero Devolution Deal, albeit through a competitive bidding process.

The Carbon Negative Challenge Fund not only presents an opportunity to support the mayor in delivering regional decarbonisation. The funding opportunity also enables North Yorkshire Council to reduce its own carbon footprint, to support communities and to facilitate community climate action. All of which supports North Yorkshire Council in its delivery of its own Climate Change Strategy.

Not bidding for CNCF was considered, including relying on other sources of external funding. But given the piecemeal availability of funding, competition and uncertainty with any external funding, it was recognised this funding through the Combined Authority, was an opportunity that should be pursued. Projects being proposed offer the Council both energy savings, Carbon Reduction and wider co-benefits in support of North Yorkshire Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Delivery Pathway, so submitting a bid was agreed to be the best option in an effort to secure funding in support of climate action.