Purpose

The Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation
with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Regulatory and
Environment, is implementing the following decision made by Cabinet
on 5 November 2024 regarding the Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund
(Report number:
CAB/WS/24/057):
 
‘The officers, in consultation with the
Portfolio Holder for Governance, Regulatory and Environment, be
authorised to award the entirety of the remaining balance of the
Fund to eligible projects on the basis set out in part 2 of Report
number: CAB/WS/24/057.’

Decision

The specific details of the decision being
implemented under delegated authority granted by Cabinet on 5
November 2024 is as follows:
 
To make grant offers to community
organisations who applied via their local ward members to the
Council’s Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund (DIF) for
part-funding of projects to decarbonise community
asserts.  The offers will be made to all
organisations which submitted a technically viable proposal before
the deadline of 6 September.  The basis
of the grant offers will be the mechanism outlined in the Cabinet
report. This was designed to ensure the fund was shared fairly and
offers did not exceed the available funding.  This will be to offer a grant of up to 50 percent
of the cost of the scheme or £15,000, whichever is the
lower. 
 
For schemes involving solar panels and
batteries, applicants will also be offered the chance, in lieu of a
DIF grant, to have their solar panels funded by the Council’s
existing Solar for Business scheme and a battery installed by the
Council using the DIF. Alternatively they can take the DIF grant as
a part contribution to their own project.

Reasons for the decision

To implement the Cabinet’s decision
taken in November 2024 as quickly as possible.

Alternative options considered

Not applicable – the method of awarding
the grants was already decided by Cabinet subject to further
evaluation of the bids to determine which were viable and what the
maximum grant ‘cap’ should be.