Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced  by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, and the Climate Emergency and Deputy Leader of the Council]

This report sets out the spending strategy for the carbon offset contributions collected through Section 106 monies from planning applications, to be made available for community carbon reduction projects.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and the Climate Emergency and Deputy Leader introduced the report which proposed a strategy to spend £0.390m of the collected carbon offset contributions as part of a new Community Carbon Fund over the next four and a half years. This fund would deliver collaborative projects across the borough between the Council and the community.

The Cabinet Member continued to set out the context for this decision which was reducing carbon emissions through new development which was an essential element in the Haringey Climate Change Action Plan (HCCAP) and the need to see developments achieving their carbon reductions on site.

It was further noted that approximately 90% of the borough’s carbon emissions came from sources outside the Council’s direct control. Therefore empowering, supporting, and publishing community-based action was vital for the Council to share best practice and enable grassroot projects to succeed; further aligning with the Council’s aim of collaborative working in co-production with the community. This decision would also align with the Council’s wider community wealth building work.

The following information was provided in response to questions from Cllr Palmer:

-       In relation to the £180k collected from carbon offset contributions, this was being used for fuel poverty relief and this programme was already in progress

-       The selection process for the Community Carbon Fund Allocation Panel was to be resolved, going forward. The intention was to engage with residents at the very start of the process. Cllr Hakata agreed to provide Cllr Palmer with the details of the selection process, including whether this would be cross party, once this was more fully understood and agreed.

-       Support to smaller groups for bid proposals was important and the intention was to proactively go out in the community, working with other Cabinet colleagues to share and develop knowledge on access to this fund. The Cabinet Member agreed to inform Cllr Palmer once an approach for this was established.

RESOLVED

1. To approve the use of £0.390m of the carbon offset monies collected under s106 obligations for the Haringey Community Carbon Fund and its administration.

2.   To agree to the first four-year allocation of funds from the Community Carbon Fund:

a. With a total spend of £390,000, the allocation over four financial years is proposed at:

i.          2021/22: £30,000 – scheme design, set up and advertising

ii.         2022/23: £105,000 – up to £90k initial community grants, £15k administration and advertising

iii.        2023/24 to 2025/26: Three further financial years of £85,000 grants per annum - £70,000 grants for the community, £15,000 administration and advertising

b.         To agree that where funds are not fully spent at the end of each year unspent funds will be rolled over to the next spending year, that funding could be transferred between funding years to fund more expensive projects, and that funding from other sources could be used to boost projects.

iii)        To agree that the decision to allocate the annual funding to specific carbon reduction bids in this period will be delegated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 526