Decision details

Deferred from 22 June 2021

To agree that the Low Carbon Dorset project can make payment of a grant totalling  £1,500,000 to Canford Renewable Energy IF the application from the said applicant is approved by the Low Carbon Dorset Grant Panel and Low Carbon Dorset Board on 23^rd June and 24^th June respectively.

Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment

(a)  That Low Carbon Dorset can issue a grant award letter for £1,500,000 to the Canford Renewable Energy project that has been approved by the Low Carbon Dorset Grants Panel and Board, given that the value is over the £500,000 threshold for Executive Director decision, be agreed

(b)  That, following any future decision by the Low Carbon Dorset grants panel and board to award grants over the key decision threshold of £500k, agreement to make any such award be delegated to the Executive Director for Place after consultation with the relevant portfolio holders. Any use of this proposed recommendation would be exercised transparently, being publicised in advance in the forward plan and afterwards in decision notices published on the Council’s website.

Decision - Low Carbon Dorset Grant payments Over £500,000 - Dorset Council (wdwp.local)

Reason for the Decision:

The Low Carbon Dorset grant fund and the method by which grants are paid out by Dorset Council and claimed back from the European Regional Development Fund has already been agreed by the predecessor Dorset County Council Cabinet. When the Low Carbon Dorset programme is successfully completed it will be cost neutral to Dorset Council. However, Cabinet is required to approve all key decisions with financial consequences of £500,000 or more.