Issue - meetings

That:

1)      the procurement strategy set out in the Procurement Business case for the contractor required for the construction of the Barkham Solar Farm be approved, and the business case be recommended to Council for approval;

2)      delegated authority be granted to the Director of Resources and Assets in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and the Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Resident Services, to implement the procurement strategy;

3)      it be noted that an updated business case and progress report will be reported back to the Executive following the conclusion of the procurement process.

The Executive considered a report relating to the Procurement Business Case for the build contractor for the Barkham Solar Farm, and to be recommended to Full Council for approval.

The Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Resident Services thanked Councillor Gregor Murray for taking this project forward to this stage. Renewable energy generation was more crucial than ever with the move away from fossil fuels and the rising cost of energy. In the interest of transparency, the updated business case including full cash flow would be considered by Overview and Scrutiny, to ensure fiscal responsibility.

Councillor Shepherd-DuBey commented that whilst the business case needed to be thoroughly examined, this project should make financial sense in the backdrop of increasing energy prices.

Councillor Jones queried whether a suitable explanation had been given as to why this project was now predicted to cost £20m, when originally four solar farms were proposed for the same total cost. Councillor Kerr stated that the project was now likely to cost in excess of £20m, and it was not for this administration to answer what happened in the previous administration. Looking forwards, an updated business case with full cash flow was now requested whilst high level briefings were also underway. Councillor Murray had been invited to briefings with officers, and it was crucial that the Council as a whole was happy with this project whilst not delaying the procurement process.

Councillor Bray commented that much of the process information was now included within the ‘part 1’ papers, which provided more transparency.

Councillor Kerr noted that the business case was now very different to the one approved at full Council last year, and the full range of options including the power purchase agreement needed to be thoroughly considered going forwards.

RESOLVED that:

1)      the procurement strategy set out in the Procurement Business case for the contractor required for the construction of the Barkham Solar Farm be approved, and the business case be recommended to Council for approval;

2)      delegated authority be granted to the Director of Resources and Assets in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and the Executive Member for Climate Emergency and Resident Services, to implement the procurement strategy;

3)      it be noted that an updated business case and progress report will be reported back to the Executive following the conclusion of the procurement process.