Agenda item

Please be advised that the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny has further agreed that the call-in procedure shall not apply to this urgent decision. This is because the decision is urgent and any delay in implementation caused by the call-in procedure would seriously prejudice the Council's or the public's interests due to the fact that the council will lose the opportunity to access funding  to support  schools in their existing endeavours in reducing carbon emissions. Also accessing this funding will support the council budget and enable further schools to take forward required condition works within the Children’s Capital Programme. Accordingly, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the decision is both reasonable in all circumstances, and that it should be treated as a matter of urgency. This is in accordance with Part 4, Section H, and Paragraph 18 (a) and (b) of the Council Constitution.

The Leader of the Council considered the report which sought approval for the acceptance of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Grant funding from the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department (BEIS) for which Haringey had been offered £2.452m across 8 primary school condition projects. Whilst the grant was from BEIS, it was administered by Salix.

The grant covered some works within these projects which lowered carbon emissions in line with the grant criteria. The Council was required to respond via letter to Salix to confirm acceptance of the funding by no later than 20 February 2021. The acceptance of the grant was an urgent Key Decision.

As the scheme had been significantly oversubscribed (£2.3 billion of applications for £1 billion of funding), the Council would need to meet these dates set out by Salix and the government in order to ensure the funding was secured and not passed to another project on the contingency list.

The Leader of the Council RESOLVED

1.    To agree to accept the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Grant funding of £2.452 million.

2.    To delegate authority to the Director of Finance to sign the Grant Offer letter to accept the grant funding.

3.    To delegate authority to the Director of Finance to agree the final terms of the grant funding agreement which includes the Memorandum of Understanding, the draft of which is attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons for decision

A decision to accept the funding enables schools to benefit in operating with lower carbon emissions including more efficient building services and reduced heat loss through building fabric (windows, roof), which assists in meeting the Council’s targets on carbon emissions.

The schemes that are eligible for the grant funding are schemes that are already in the approved capital programme for delivery in FY 21/22 based on their priority condition need following surveys across the whole education and schools estate. The decision to accept the grant will assist in funding the approved capital programme.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option is for the Council not to accept the funding. This would mean that the Council would bear the cost of these works as they are necessary to address the condition of the buildings.

Not accepting the funding could also have a potential impact on any future applications to Salix.

The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny has agreed that the call-in procedure shall not apply to this urgent decision. This is because the decision is urgent and any delay in implementation caused by the call-in procedure would seriously prejudice the Council's or the public's interests due to the fact that the council will lose the opportunity to access funding to support schools in their existing endeavours in reducing carbon emissions. Also accessing this funding will support the council budget and enable further schools to take forward required condition works within the Children’s Capital Programme. Accordingly, the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the decision is both reasonable in all circumstances and that it should be treated as a matter of urgency. This is in accordance with Part 4, Section H, and Paragraph 18 (a) and (b) of the Council Constitution.