Issue details

Ensuring contracts are now in place for gas and two-thirds of electricity supplies.
The intent is that the larger electricity supplies (known as half-hourly or ‘HH’ supplies) would be provided through a sleeving arrangement, but it has not proven possible to secure bids for this through an open tender. A sleeving solution has been offered through a compliant Public Sector Buying Organisation framework, but will not be available until August 2022.
There is a clear and pressing need to maintain a compliant contract for power to supply council buildings, streetlights, and schools.
Failure to make arrangements before the current contracts expire on 31 May 2022 would mean the council pays off-contract rates until new contracts are in place. These rates are up to 100% more expensive.
It is therefore not financially viable to await for a key decision to be taken at the next cabinet meeting on 7 June 2022.