Agenda item

To follow after publication of the relevant Cabinet report on Monday 24^th February.

Members were provided with a presentation from the Environmental Programme manager (slides are in the published pack). During the ensuing discussion the following points were made;

·         The proposal for two Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) would be submitted to Cabinet on the 3 March 20.

·         There was a need to get the SPVs up and running; in due course there would be a strategic partnership established under City Leap after a procurement process.

·         It was a matter of speculation as to why the Government required SPVs to be set up, as a requisite to obtain funding.  We understood that this was a condition for all local authorities, and was a requirement from the Treasury. The rationale of the SPV was essentially a requirement to access grant funding.

·         BCC had been successful in the first funding application round but were now sharing learing with other Local Authorities.

·         Proposals for the delivery of heat networks for Bedminster and the Temple Meads areas would also be going  to Cabinet on 3rd March 20. These areas had been selected due to demand for services and the proximity to supply.

·         Planning policy would be utilised to ensure the heat networks served  new developments but there were currently no plans  to connect existing individual houses, although it was hoped this could be prioritised in the future. Early investigations of this are being considered although we anticipate actual connections of individual houses is likely to be some years away .

·         All BCC connection agreements currently  meet Heat Trust standards – and would be required to adhere to upcoming heat network regulation.

·         There were financial viability issues regarding trading in boilers, although this would be looked into further.

RESOLVED;

That the Overview and Scrutiny relay their comments about Heat Networks to the Cabinet meeting on 3^rd March 20.