Agenda item

The Better Neighbourhoods Programme

Resolved: The Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved the following:

      i.         The Better Neighbourhoods programme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

     ii.         Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £2,060,000. The total scheme value is £2,060,000.

    iii.         The Combined Authority enters into a Funding Agreement with each of the West Yorkshire local authorities for expenditure up to the amounts indicated in the report, which was £397,324 for Bradford, £155,475 for Calderdale, £310,950 for Kirklees, £604,624 for Leeds and £259,125 for Wakefield.

   iv.         Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The Combined Authority Assets Solar Project – Bus Stations

Resolved: The Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approves that:

      i.         The Combined Authority Assets Solar Project – Bus Stations scheme proceeds through decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery)

     ii.         Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £366,310. The total scheme value is £476,203.

The Committee considered a report which summarised proposals for the progression of and funding for projects under Investment Priority 4 (Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental Sustainability Investment within the West Yorkshire Investment Strategy (WYIS)), that had been considered at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

It was noted that the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee had been authorised as a delegated decision-making authority at the Combined Authority meeting held on 24 June 2021.

The Better Neighbourhoods Programme

The Better Neighbourhoods programme forms part of the wider Climate and Environment Plan (CEP) Wave 1 portfolio. The programme would work with the five West Yorkshire local authority partners, to provide grants of £5,000 to £50,000, to local communities, with a particular focus on those communities considered disadvantaged, to fund projects that would support the transition to net zero carbon.

Members discussed the project and made the following observations:

·       It was observed that no benefit cost ratio was outlined in the submitted report. Members enquired how the plan would demonstrate that this funding delivered value for money (VfM) when the projects were examined at the end. Officers indicated that VfM will involve aggregating what could be a really diverse set of outputs and that might hide some pockets of really low or really high VfM.VfM will be assessed as part of the programme evaluation, planned to be completed by March 2025. Officers also saidthat members would be updated as this project progressed.

·                  It was indicated that benchmarking was vital to ensure healthy competition between local authorities was positive and that unified communication between these partners and the Combined Authority was delivered. Officers indicated that processes were in place to ensure that this would be the case.

·                  Members expressed a desire that the application process remained as straightforward as possible to ensure that funding was targeted at the groups who required it most and to ensure these projects benefitted as many people within West Yorkshire as possible.

·                  It was noted that the report interchangeably used the phrases CO₂and CO₂e and, in future, it should be made clear which term was being applied and in what context.

·                  Members expressed a desire that more external organisations should be involved with these projects.

Resolved: The Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved the following.

      i.         That the Better Neighbourhoods programme proceeded through to decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and that work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

     ii.         Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £2,060,000. The total scheme value is £2,060,000.

    iii.         That the Combined Authority enter into a Funding Agreement with each of the West Yorkshire local authorities for expenditure up to the amounts indicated in the submitted report, which was £397,324 for Bradford, £155,475 for Calderdale, £310,950 for Kirklees, £604,624 for Leeds and £259,125 for Wakefield.

   iv.         That future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

The Combined Authority Assets Solar Project – Bus Stations

The Combined Authority’s Assets Solar Project – Bus Stations formed part of the wider Climate and Environment Plan (CEP) Wave 1 portfolio. The scheme would deliver 233 Kilowatt Peak (kWp) of solar panels to seven West Yorkshire bus stations, located in Batley, Bradford (Interchange), Brighouse, Castleford, Cleckheaton, Keighley and Ossett. The scheme’s objectives aimed to reduce carbon emissions by a gross figure of 393 tonnes over a 25- year period and reduce energy consumption from the national grid, reducing energy costs by £1,700,000, based on current energy prices, over the same time period.

Members discussed the project and made the following observations.

·                It was questioned whether implementing solar panels at bus stations represented the most optimal use of the funding available, while acknowledging the beneficial visual impact this policy would have on the public. Officers confirmed that it was good practice to utilise the assets available to the Combined Authority, as the savings yielded could be directly spent in ways beneficial to the people of West Yorkshire.

·                Members enquired if energy efficiency was being considered as part of the proposals. Officers responded that they were examining the possibility of savings being made on public holidays and less travel intensive days. It was indicated that some bus stations could generate more power than they consume if additional solar panels were installed where the appropriate load bearing capacity was available.

·                A query was made about how the initiative would impact Wakefield Bus Station which was owned by the bus operator, Arriva. Similar enquires were made about Huddersfield Bus Station and officers indicated that they would investigate and provide feedback in due course.

·                Members expressed a desire for the project to have strong ambitions given the Combined Authority’s scale and influence in relation to partner councils.

·                It was questioned whether this project could be delivered in the timescales provided in view of the ongoing impact of price inflation. Officers indicated that, due to extensive discussions with the project consultants, they had strong confidence the project would be completed within the expected timeframe. It was noted that the solar panels would also be subject to a 25 year warranty in case future maintenance was required.

·                Members enquired whether rain harvesting measures had been considered which could be useful in relation to roof installation. Officers reported that rain harvesting would definitely be suggested for other schemes.

Resolved: The Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved that:

      i.         That the Combined Authority Assets Solar Project – Bus Stations scheme proceed through to decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and that work commence on activity 5 (delivery)

     ii.         Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £366,310. The total scheme value is £476,203.