Purpose

To present recommendations for the installation of solar panels on Dereham Leisure Centre Roof seeking go/no-go decision

Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Full Council:

1)     To agree to the release of £120,000 from Growth and Investment Reserve to add to the £160,000 from the (previously released) Breckland 2035 funds, to enable the installation of solar PV panels on the roof of Dereham Leisure Centre.

2)     to delegate authority to accept the terms and conditions of any future grant funding secured to Executive Member for Waste, Environmental Health, Licensing and Sustainability in consultation with the Executive Director as officers continue to explore all funding opportunities.

3)     That delegation is given to the Assistant Director Contracts and Operations and the Council Solicitor in consultation with the Executive Member for Property, Projects, and Procurement to carry out negotiations with Parkwood Leisure and associated companies to obtain the best outcome for the Council.

Reasons for the decision

The recommendation supports the Breckland 2035 strategy agreed in 2021, namely, to decarbonise premises towards the goal of reaching Net Zero by 2035 and deliver against Priority 1 of the Sustainability Strategy (2021-2035) ‘Reducing our own impact as an organisation on the environment’.

The recommendation would provide a ‘cost avoidance’ benefit through the reduction in energy costs and in the exporting of excess energy generated back to the Grid - detailed in Section 4.0 Expected Benefits of the report.

Alternative options considered

Options:

1)     To release funding of £120,000, to supplement £160,000 from existing Breckland 2035 funds, and proceed with the delivery of solar panel installation on the roof of Dereham Leisure Centre.

2)     Do nothing.