The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report to inform the Committee of funding applications being submitted and prepared in pursuit of funding opportunities which would help deliver the Council’s policy commitments in relation to climate change.  The report also sought approval to spend grant funding should the applications be successful.  The following documents were attached to the report:

• Appendix 1: Green Homes Grant Memorandum of Understanding

• Appendix 2 Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund Guidance

The report explained that grants had been made available by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support national and local climate change policy objectives, through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund (energy projects for Council buildings), Low Carbon Skills Fund (for project planning and bid preparation), and the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme (housing retrofit).  The grant funding schemes were being made available at short notice with numerous rounds and tight application deadlines and the report therefore sought a delegation to accept any successful grant applications and deliver grant funded projects.

Resolved –

(1)      That the grant applications submitted and proposed to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, the Low Carbon Skills Fund and the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme be noted;

(2)      That the acceptance of the Green Homes Grant and associated MoU, as set out at Appendix 1, be noted;

(3)      That the Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport, be authorised to spend any grant monies received from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, the Low Carbon Skills Fund and the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme.