46 Proposed Solar Farm - Barkham PDF 491 KB
[A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for Members to debate this item]
To consider a recommendation from the Executive in relation to the commencement of a solar farm in Barkham.
RECOMMENDATION That, subject to securing the necessary planning consents, Executive asks Council to:
1) recommend the capital expenditure of the £20,283,000 funded from borrowing as previously set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan;
2) approve delegation of decisions around the final extent and configuration of the Solar Farm to the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Finance Officer) in conjunction with the Lead Member for Resident Services, Communications and Emissions where scheme amendments will not result in the average annual net income after capital financing costs falling below £200k;
3) note the estimated net income (after running costs and capital financing costs) of £12.0m over 25 years (equal to £480k per year on average) will be introduced into the Councils annual budget using an equalisation reserve;
4) approve commencement of the Solar Farm at Barkham.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Council considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 91 to 102, which sought approval for the development of a solar farm on Council-owned land at Barkham.
The report stated that the proposed solar farm would produce enough energy to offset the Council’s total carbon emissions. It would also generate a return on investment in excess of 5% which would provide funds for investment in other priorities in the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.
The decision was referred to full Council due to the value of the investment required. It was felt that the development of the solar farm would be a significant statement of intent in the Council’s move towards “net zero”.
It was proposed by Gregor Murray and seconded by Laura Blumenthal that the recommendations in the report be approved.
It was moved by Sarah Kerr and seconded by Imogen Shepherd-Dubey that Recommendation 4 in the report be amended as follows:
“4) approve commencement of the Solar farm at Barkham subject to the full business case, and Recommendations 1, 2 and 3 being recommended for approval by the Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee first.”
Sarah Kerr stated that the principle of generating renewable energy was accepted. However, the proposals in the report were not supported by a robust business case with transparent financial information.
Gregor Murray stated that the proposed amendment was not acceptable.
Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost. The voting was as follows:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Rachel Bishop-Firth |
Sam Akhtar |
Keith Baker |
Shirley Boyt |
Parry Batth |
|
Prue Bray |
Laura Blumenthal |
|
Rachel Burgess |
Chris Bowring |
|
Stephen Conway |
Phil Cunnington |
|
Peter Dennis |
Michael Firmager |
|
Carl Doran |
John Halsall |
|
Lindsay Ferris |
Pauline Helliar-Symons |
|
Paul Fishwick |
Graham Howe |
|
Maria Gee |
Pauline Jorgensen |
|
David Hare |
Norman Jorgensen |
|
Clive Jones |
John Kaiser |
|
Sarah Kerr |
Abdul Loyes |
|
Morag Malvern |
Charles Margetts |
|
Adrian Mather |
Rebecca Margetts |
|
Andrew Mickleburgh |
Stuart Munro |
|
Ian Shenton |
Gregor Murray |
|
Imogen Shepherd-Dubey |
Barrie Patman |
|
Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey |
Jackie Rance |
|
Caroline Smith |
Angus Ross |
|
|
Daniel Sargeant |
|
|
Chris Smith |
|
|
Wayne Smith |
|
|
Alison Swaddle |
|
|
Shahid Younis |
|
Upon being put to the vote, the recommendations in the report were approved. The voting was as follows:
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Sam Akhtar |
Shirley Boyt |
Keith Baker |
Parry Batth |
Rachel Burgess |
Rachel Bishop-Firth |
Laura Blumenthal |
Carl Doran |
Prue Bray |
Chris Bowring |
|
Stephen Conway |
Phil Cunnington |
|
Peter Dennis |
Michael Firmager |
|
Lindsay Ferris |
John Halsall |
|
Paul Fishwick |
Pauline Helliar-Symons |
|
Maria Gee |
Graham Howe |
|
David Hare |
Pauline Jorgensen |
|
Clive Jones |
Norman Jorgensen |
|
Sarah Kerr |
John Kaiser |
|
Morag Malvern |
Abdul Loyes |
|
Adrian Mather |
Charles Margetts |
|
Andrew Mickleburgh |
Rebecca Margetts |
|
Ian Shenton |
Stuart Munro |
|
Imogen Shepherd-Dubey |
Gregor Murray |
|
Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey |
Barrie Patman |
|
Caroline Smith |
Jackie Rance |
|
|
Angus Ross |
|
|
Daniel Sargeant |
|
|
Chris Smith |
|
|
Wayne Smith |
|
|
Alison Swaddle |
|
|
Shahid Younis |
|
|
RESOLVED That, subject to securing the necessary planning consents, Council:
1) approve the Capital expenditure of £20,283,000 funded from borrowing, as previously set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan;
2) approve delegation of decisions around the final extent and configuration of the Solar farm to the ... view the full minutes text for item 46
31 Proposed Solar Farm - Barkham PDF 491 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
That, subject to securing the necessary planning consents, Council be asked to:
1) recommend the capital expenditure of the £20,283,000 funded from borrowing as previously set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan;
2) approve delegation of decisions around the final extent and configuration of the Solar Farm to the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Finance Officer) in conjunction with the Lead Member for Resident Services, Communications and Emissions where scheme amendments will not result in the average annual net income after capital financing costs falling below £200k;
3) note the estimated net income (after running costs and capital financing costs) of £12.0m over 25 years (equal to £480k per year on average) will be introduced into the Councils annual budget using an equalisation reserve.
4) approve commencement of the Solar Farm at Barkham.
Minutes:
The Executive considered a report requesting authority to proceed with the development of a solar farm at Barkham.
The Executive Member for Resident Services, Communications and Emissions drew Members’ attention to the fact that report was requesting £30,283,000 funded from borrowing to build a solar farm of up to a 36 Mega Watt Peak capacity on land owned by the Council in Barkham. This would lead to a reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint as a Borough by approximately 1%, or the equivalent of the Council’s usage on an annual basis.
Councillor Murray advised that the project would also provide an opportunity to plant approximately 18,000 trees and protect and improve hedgerows and public rights of way around the site. After running costs and servicing the debt the projected annual revenue, based on current energy prices, would be around £0.5m per annum, which could then be reinvested in other climate emergency initiatives.
Councillor Margetts welcomed the fact that trees would be planted which would ensure that the site was screened from visitors to California Country Park, nearby roads etc. One issue that had been a concern to his residents was about construction on the site and particularly lorries accessing the site. In order to limit disruption to residents Councillor Murray confirmed that the intention was that large construction material would be taken to a site nearby where they would be held and then moved to the site using smaller vehicles. In relation to the solar panels the intention was that they would be kept at the docks until required and then brought in on a demand basis.
RESOLVED that, subject to securing the necessary planning consents, Council be asked to:
1) recommend the capital expenditure of the £20,283,000 funded from borrowing as previously set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan;
2) approve delegation of decisions around the final extent and configuration of the Solar Farm to the Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Finance Officer) in conjunction with the Lead Member for Resident Services, Communications and Emissions where scheme amendments will not result in the average annual net income after capital financing costs falling below £200k;
3) note the estimated net income (after running costs and capital financing costs) of £12.0m over 25 years (equal to £480k per year on average) will be introduced into the Councils annual budget using an equalisation reserve.
4) approve commencement of the Solar Farm at Barkham.