Issue - meetings

Energy Prospectus

Meeting: 09/12/2019 - Regeneration Scrutiny Committee (Item 6)

6 Energy Prospectus pdf icon PDF 611 KB

To consider the report of the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities.

The Team Manager presented the report which sought Members’ support to recommend the draft Energy Prospectus to the Executive for approval, to be released and marketed to potential project partners and investors.  It was hoped that the Prospectus would demonstrate the proactive approach being taken by the Council to increase local energy generation and offer a significant contribution towards the reduction of our carbon footprint.

 

The Officer went through the report in detail and highlighted points contained therein.

 

A Member enquired regarding the air quality in Blaenau Gwent, and also what benefits could be expected after implementation of all the proposed initiatives.    He was sceptical regarding the use of electric vehicles, as while there had been some advances, the infrastructure was still not in place for electric vehicles.

 

The Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services said the air quality in the Borough was monitored and reported through the Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis.  There were currently no issues with our air quality, and hopefully some of the initiatives outlined in the Energy Prospectus would ensure that position.  In terms of implementation of projects, there was significant funding available to invest in energy projects, and the Council had committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

 

The Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities said reduction of the carbon footprint was on the National agenda, and there may well be targets imposed in the future, and financial penalties for not hitting those targets.  In relation to the Member’s comments regarding electric vehicles, the Officer said this was also part of the National agenda, and was something that the Council could not afford not to take into account, however, there was national funding available to support this initiative.

 

A Member said he fully supported and welcomed the report.  As part of the Bridging the Gap proposals the Authority had committed to reducing its carbon footprint to zero by 2030, and he said this Prospectus was evidence that we are moving towards that target. 

 

Another Member said he also welcomed the report, but felt that it could be extended to include the wider community.

 

In response the Officer said the Prospectus was very much a starting point, and it seemed appropriate to look at businesses in the first instance as they are the largest energy users in the Borough.  However, another strand of the programme identified the need to understand how our residents use energy and what can be done to help them reduce their carbon footprint.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and the Scrutiny Committee support the Blaenau Gwent Energy Prospectus and recommend approval by the Executive Committee (Option 2).