Decision details

Cabinet agreed to the establishment of a new Zero Carbon Communities grant scheme with criteria as set out in Appendix 1 to the report from the Director for Health and Environmental Services.

The new Zero Carbon Communities grant aligns with the ‘Green to our Core’ Council priority, and the shift to zero carbon emissions by providing support to parish councils and community groups for projects that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote behaviour change.

The new grant will enable a significant increase in community engagement activity around the zero carbon agenda and will help re-engage parish councils and community groups in the Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership (SPEP). 

The new grant will result in activities at a local level which achieve:

·                     energy use reduction and renewable energy production

·                     a better understanding of the need for, and a stronger commitment to, the shift to   zero carbon, at individual and community level.

1.            Cabinet could agree or disagree to the setting up of a new Zero Carbon Communities grant scheme.

2.            Cabinet could approve proposed design of the scheme including criteria and guidance with or without changes.

Financial

Funding for the Zero Carbon Communities Grant is provided for within budgets allocated to the now closed Community Energy Fund. The budget for this has come from the Renewables Reserve from retained non-domestic rates from new renewable energy schemes. £36,229 has been allocated in the 2018-19 budget and will be carried forwards into 2019-20.  £55,000 has been allocated in the 2019-20 budget, giving a total allocation of £91,229.

Legal

Funding agreement with grant recipients will be drawn up in accordance with templates approved by the legal team. Funding agreements will allow variation or recovering of the grant in specific circumstance

Staffing

Proposals can be delivered within existing staff resource.

Risk Management

Where risks are identified these will be managed within the Council’s usual risk procedure

Equality and Diversity

Organisations applying for grants will be required to have an equal opportunities policy.

Climate Change

The proposed grant scheme aims to reduce carbon emissions and raise awareness of climate change issues.