Councillor Rebecca Langton – Leave

A Councillor declared an interest in item 8 Recovery and Resilience Planning, as detailed in the exempt minute.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 12 March 2021 and 16 March 2021

The minutes of the meetings held on 12 March 2021 and 16 March 2021 were confirmed as a true record and were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Democratic Services and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Democratic Services and the Portfolio Holder for Planning Housing and Heritage outlining phase 2 of the Green Homes Grant for Local Authorities programme and the plans for Nottingham City. The Portfolio Holders detailed some of the works include within the programme, including fitting of solar PV panels, outer wall insulation and internal wall insulation helping both tenants and owner occupiers across the city in the most deprived areas

Resolved to

(1)  Accept the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy grant, administered by the Midlands Energy Hub, with a council allocation of £2,204,550;

(2)   Include in the Public Sector Housing Capital Programme – Planned Schemes the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Phase 2 Social Housing work stream funded by £345,000 Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Phase 2 grant and £497,006 Major Repairs reserve within the Housing Revenue Account;

(3)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Development and Growth to procure and award contracts to allow delivery of the scheme, including Solar Photo-Voltaic and Solid Wall Insulation, subject to the approval of the Section 151 Officer, following finalisation of the business case, including a financial model that passes the Capital Strategy criteria; and

(4)  approve pass through of a £147,047 grant to Nottingham City Homes to cover staffing requirements for support and delivery of work streams 1 and 3.

Reasons for decision

The main driver for the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery is to reduce fuel poverty for citizens most in need. The project targets the worse performing houses aiming to increase thermal comfort and directly supports the 2018-25 Fuel Poverty Strategy.

The Programme will reduce fuel bills for the lowest income families, and will drive up energy efficiency of households, it will help the Council work towards achieving its Carbon neutral aims for 2028 as well as addressing inequalities in access to renewable energy

Other options considered

The option of not accepting the grant and sourcing alternative funding was considered and rejected as there are no alternative funding sources available offering such favourable terms.

The option to do nothing was also considered and rejected as this would not benefit citizens by reducing fuel poverty or reducing carbon emissions. 

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item(s) in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs in the public interest in disclosing the information

Before considering the exclusion of the public Councillor David Mellen took the opportunity to thank Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and IT for his years of service as a member of the Executive, as Councillor Trimble is stepping down as an executive member at the end of April.

Councillor Mellen also took the opportunity to thank Chris Henning, Corporate Director of Development and Growth, who is leaving the Authority in May, for his work and wish him luck in the future.

The Board decided to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of this/ the remaining agenda item(s) in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, as defined in Paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2021

The Board confirmed that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2021 were a true record and they were signed by the Chair

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Democratic Services and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage

The Board considered the exempt appendices to the report on the Delivery of Green Homes Grant Local Authority delivery Phase 2 in Nottingham.

Resolved to approve the recommendations as set out in minute 101  

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre

The Board considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the city Centre on Recovery and Resilience Planning.

Resolved to approve the recommendations as recorded in the exempt minute