Decision details

Further to Cabinet Minute No. 112/20 (9 December 2020), that approval is given to submit an application to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) in advance of 11 January 2021 without a Strategic Investment Unit (SIU) assessment on the basis that the authority will not accept any grant or enter into any funding agreement until after the appraisal is undertaken and a sufficient score has been obtained.

At its meting on 9 December 2020, Cabinet gave approval to submit an application to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) by the 11 January 2021, subject to (i) a satisfactory Strategic Investment Unit (SIU) assessment being achieved, and (ii) the interim Director of Regeneration and Growth and Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer being satisfied with regards to the proposed governance arrangements (including terms and conditions) governing the scheme prior to formal submission of the application.

The authority now needs to submit the application before the SIU appraisal is completed, as the application needs to be submitted in advance of 11 January 2021 and it is unlikely that all the detail will be available to complete a full SIU appraisal by this date. It has also now become clear from the guidance that the funding is limited and is being allocated on a first come, first serve basis for complaint applications.

The submission would be made on the basis that the authority does not accept any grant or enter into any funding agreement until after the SIU appraisal is undertaken and a suffice score has been obtained.

The Council could decide not to proceed any further with the bid to PSDS and replace systems as required with more carbon intensive gas fired systems at an estimated cost of £890,000.