Agenda item

Summary:

The Corporate Plan and Net Zero Action Plan both required the exploration of the deployment of solar PV on the Council’s car parks.  This report summarises this possibility on the Council’s Car Park at the Reef Leisure Centre, Sheringham in terms of sustainability, climate action and return on investment for the Council. It proposes a scheme that it is considered brings multiple benefits and will serve as a demonstration project and pilot for potential further schemes of a similar nature.

Options considered:

1.      To build a 2 bay solar car port at the Reef.  Reducing the Council’s carbon footprint, supplying the Reef with renewable energy and providing a return on investment for the Council

2.      To build a 3 bay solar car port at the Reef. Reducing the Council’s carbon footprint, supplying the Reef with renewable energy and providing a return on investment for the Council

3.      To not build a solar car port at the Reef. Not contributing to our Net Zero Strategy and Action plan or protecting against the fluctuations in energy prices to the leisure centre.

Conclusions:

It is recommended that the scheme is approved for the project to construct a two bay solar array (option 1) on the Reef Car Park as outlined in the business case and that supplier A is appointed as the contractor.

Recommendations:

It is recommended:

·      To appoint supplier A to design and build a solar car port at the Reef, in accordance with the costs and specifications for two rows of photo voltaic arrays as set out in the business case (confidential appendix A) within the allocated budget for this scheme

·      To delegate to the Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment, agreement on the detailed design of the scheme

·      To delegate to the Assistant Director for Environmental and Leisure Services to negotiate a suitable agreement with Sports Leisure Management Ltd. (Everyone Active) for matters relating to the electricity supply and any operational matters relevant to the site and the leisure contract

·      To delegate to the Environment and Climate Policy Manager to explore options for further installations at other Council-owned assets (e.g. other leisure centres) as soon as this project is successfully underway

.

Reasons for

Recommendations:

·       To generate renewable energy to supply the Reef Leisure Centre and aid the Council’s transition to Net Zero, reducing carbon and producing an associated cost saving from carbon avoided

·       To provide a return on investment reducing the Council’s and/or its contractor’s energy costs

·       To help protect the electricity supply to the Reef against ongoing energy price increases thus helping secure the use of the asset for the District

·       To demonstrate the viability, acceptability, desirability and deliverability of this renewable technology to inform decisions about its potential roll-out on other parts of the Council’s estate

·       To showcase the scheme to inspire landowners, businesses and the wider community to embrace renewable energy generation

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Nigel Lloyd

Ward(s) affected Sheringham South

·      To appoint supplier A to design and build a solar car port at the Reef, in accordance with the costs and specifications for two rows of photo voltaic arrays as set out in the business case (confidential appendix A) within the allocated budget for this scheme

·      To delegate to the Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment, agreement on the detailed design of the scheme

·      To delegate to the Assistant Director for Environmental and Leisure Services to negotiate a suitable agreement with Sports Leisure Management Ltd. (Everyone Active) for matters relating to the electricity supply and any operational matters relevant to the site and the leisure contract

·      To delegate to the Environment and Climate Policy Manager to explore options for further installations at other Council-owned assets (e.g. other leisure centres) as soon as this project is successfully underway

Reasons for the decision:

·       To generate renewable energy to supply the Reef Leisure Centre and aid the Council’s transition to Net Zero, reducing carbon and producing an associated cost saving from carbon avoided

·       To provide a return on investment reducing the Council’s and/or its contractor’s energy costs

·       To help protect the electricity supply to the Reef against ongoing energy price increases thus helping secure the use of the asset for the District

·       To demonstrate the viability, acceptability, desirability and deliverability of this renewable technology to inform decisions about its potential roll-out on other parts of the Council’s estate

·       To showcase the scheme to inspire landowners, businesses and the wider community to embrace renewable energy generation

·     To appoint supplier A to design and build a solar car port at the Reef, in accordance with the costs and specifications for two rows of photo voltaic arrays as set out in the business case (confidential appendix A) within the allocated budget for this scheme

·    To delegate to the Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Environment, agreement on the detailed design of the scheme

·     To delegate to the Assistant Director for Environmental and Leisure Services to negotiate a suitable agreement with Sports Leisure Management Ltd. (Everyone Active) for matters relating to the electricity supply and any operational matters relevant to the site and the leisure contract

·     To delegate to the Environment and Climate Policy Manager to explore options for further installations at other Council-owned assets (e.g. other leisure centres) as soon as this project is successfully underway

Reasons for the decision:

·      To generate renewable energy to supply the Reef Leisure Centre and aid the Council’s transition to Net Zero, reducing carbon and producing an associated cost saving from carbon avoided

·      To provide a return on investment reducing the Council’s and/or its contractor’s energy costs

·      To help protect the electricity supply to the Reef against ongoing energy price increases thus helping secure the use of the asset for the District

·      To demonstrate the viability, acceptability, desirability and deliverability of this renewable technology to inform decisions about its potential roll-out on other parts of the Council’s estate

·      To showcase the scheme to inspire landowners, businesses and the wider community to embrace renewable energy generation