Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme projects, involving (1) ASHP replacement to Annex and heating upgrades at Macbeth and (2) ASHP replacement and heating upgrades at Brook Green.
Reasons for urgency:
H&F Council won a Salix grant to upgrade from gas heating systems to electric low carbon air source heat pumps in two properties – The Macbeth Centre Annex and Broadway Nursery. This grant accounts for two thirds of the total cost of upgrading the old gas system to an electric system alongside other building fabric improvement. In order to draw down on the grant, the Council will need to urgently procure a capital works contractor. The grant, worth roughly £465,330, must be utilized before March 2022, or otherwise will be lost and cannot be awarded again; an application for an extension was rejected by the funding partner. In addition, if the Council is unable to spend the grant within the above timeframe there is a risk that future applications for grant funding will not be considered, which could have a knock-on effect on delivery against the 2030 net-zero carbon target. Due to the short-notice nature of the grant, the impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains, and other logistical problems (discovery of asbestos etc.), there is an urgent need award the contract as soon as possible so work can begin before the grant expires.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure/Income - Revenue between £500,000 and £5m and Capital between £1.5m and £5m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 14/12/2021
Report access: Open report with exempt appendix;
Report Type: Cabinet Member Decision;
Decision due: Before 24 Dec 2021 by Strategic Director of the Economy Department
Department: The Economy department
Contact: David McNulty Email: David.McNulty@lbhf.gov.uk.