Issue - meetings

Residential Solar Advise and Installations

 

 

Meeting: 04/11/2024 - Cabinet (Item 54)

54 Residential Solar Advise and Installations pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Executive Summary

The Council’s Environmental Charter has pledged the authority to assisting the wider North Norfolk district in achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Furthermore, the Council has set out in its latest Corporate Plan and Annual Action Plan specific goals and objectives to help achieve this, including “Supporting homeowners upgrade the environmental performance of their homes”. This is in recognition of the 22% of UK emissions that are produced by domestic heating, lighting and appliances.

 

This paper sets out a proposal for the provision of advice and ‘signposting’ to householders considering the installation of solar panels.

 

Options considered

 

Option 1 – Residents bulk Purchasing Scheme

Option 2 – Promote trusted traders from Norfolk County Council website (not exclusive and could also be coupled with the recommended option)

Option 3 - The Council sets up its own bank of recommended designers and installers

Option 4 Continue to promote solar panels only to those eligible for financial assistance (Do Nothing)

Option 5 Partner with a solar advice and installation service

(Recommended option)

Consultation(s)

The proposals and the options have been considered by CLT.

 

Recommendations

 

To contract with the most suitable company to deliver a combination of solar modelling and impartial advice with optional managed installation for north Norfolk householders at no cost to the Council.

To delegate authority to the Director for Place and Climate Change to reach a suitable agreement with an appropriate contractor.

Reasons for recommendations

 

To help meet the corporate objective:
“Supporting homeowners upgrade the environmental performance of their homes.”

 

To encourage and support homeowners who can afford to pay for home improvements to upgrade the environmental performance of their homes in line with the Council’s corporate objective at minimum cost and risk to the Council.

 

Background papers

 

None

 

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Adam Varley

Contact Officer

Kate Rawlings, Climate and Environmental Policy Manager,

Kate.rawlings@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

 

Decision:

To contract with the most suitable company to deliver a combination of solar modelling and impartial advice with optional managed installation for north Norfolk householders at no cost to the Council.

 

To delegate authority to the Director for Place and Climate Change to reach a suitable agreement with an appropriate contractor.

 

Minutes:

a.    Cllr A Varley introduced the report and thanked officers for their continued hard work. In 2019 NNDC declared a Climate Emergency and pledged to district wide Net Zero ambitions by 2045. Furthermore, the Council has set out in its latest Corporate Plan and Annual Action Plan specific goals and objectives to help achieve this, including “Supporting homeowners upgrade the environmental performance of their homes”. Cllr A Varley endorsed option 5, which had been successfully modelled at another Local Authority.

 

b.    Cllr N Dixon considered it may be beneficial to partner with more than one business.

 

c.     Cllr A Varley advised a vetting process had been undertaken, and the intention was to align with the one company and replicate what they had done at another Local Authority.

 

d.    Cllr V Holliday asked if there was a sufficient number of vetted local suppliers.

 

e.    Cllr A Varley was informed that there was sufficient numbers, and confirmed the approved organisation would work with local contractors.

 

f.      The Climate and Environmental Policy Manager advised that Norfolk County Council currently vet local suppliers on their trusted trader, and don’t currently vet anyone in North Norfolk. It was the expectation that the third-party organisation would work to establish relationships with local contractors to fulfil this work. The third party would take responsibility for contract delivery of the instillation.

 

 

Cllr A Varley proposed, the Chairman seconded.

 

RESOLVED

 

To contract with the most suitable company to deliver a combination of solar modelling and impartial advice with optional managed installation for north Norfolk householders at no cost to the Council.

 

To delegate authority to the Director for Place and Climate Change to reach a suitable agreement with an appropriate contractor.