Issue - items at meetings - Photovoltaic Solar Panel Implementation Plan for Non-Housing Properties - Update

(1)               That Strategic Director of Resources and Director of Finance be given delegated authority to approve the purchase and installation of PV solar panels for the 3 main council corporate administration buildings (referred to in paragraph 3.11 of the report), to be refurbished in the Workstyles Phase 2 transformation project approved at Cabinet on 8^th December 2011, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Central Services;

(2)               That any approval given under paragraph (1) above shall apply only after:

(i)                 more detailed costs for the business case and a proposed funding model for such purchase and installation are provided by specialist PV solar sub contractors following a tendering exercise to be undertaken by the Strategic Construction Partnership contractor carrying out the building works contract for Workstyles Phase 2 and;

(ii)               the publication of the Government’s decision on the FiT payment consultation document; and

(3)               That with respect to schools sites, it be agreed that the Government FiT changes consultation feedback is needed before the council can discuss the revised business cases, pay back periods and possible funding mechanisms with the list of schools that have shown an interest in the PV solar installations that the council have consulted with previously.

174.1    Councillor J. Kitcat introduced the report which provided an update on the installation of photovoltaic solar (PV) panels to non-housing council owned property, taking into account recent changes to the feed-in tariff proposed by the Government which were out for consultation and would directly affect the previously proposed business case for the provision of PV panels.  He noted that the likelihood was that the changes would have an adverse impact to the previous business case making most of the proposed installations unviable and therefore an alternative option was proposed for the two tendered Lots.

174.2    Councillor Mitchell stated that it was regrettable that the likelihood was to have to scale-down the proposed installations but she hoped that the revised option would be taken forward should it be the only viable one.

174.3    RESOLVED:

(1)         That Strategic Director of Resources and Director of Finance be given delegated authority to approve the purchase and installation of PV solar panels for the 3 main council corporate administration buildings (referred to in paragraph 3.11 of the report), to be refurbished in the Workstyles Phase 2 transformation project approved at Cabinet on 8^th December 2011, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Central Services;

(2)         That any approval given under paragraph (1) above shall apply only after:

(i)           more detailed costs for the business case and a proposed funding model for such purchase and installation are provided by specialist PV solar sub contractors following a tendering exercise to be undertaken by the Strategic Construction Partnership contractor carrying out the building works contract for Workstyles Phase 2 and;

(ii)         the publication of the Government’s decision on the FiT payment consultation document; and

(3)         That with respect to schools sites, it be agreed that the Government FiT changes consultation feedback is needed before the council can discuss the revised business cases, pay back periods and possible funding mechanisms with the list of schools that have shown an interest in the PV solar installations that the council have consulted with previously.