Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding.

(a)           That the spend from the corporate climate capital programme for those elements identified as over £500k, as set out in the report to Cabinet or 29 January 2026, be approved. 

Specifically:

(i)    £700k for the installation of the next phase of solar PV across the council’s estate, and

(ii)   £1.3m for replacement of more old, obsolete street lighting with LED street lighting using the PFI contract and in line with the Council’s street lighting policy adopted September 2025.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Strategy, Performance and Sustainability in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding, to approve further individual item spend within the remaining climate capital allocation, for the identified projects.

Reason for the Decision

There is £4m remaining in the climate capital programme. Two workstreams allocated within the current climate capital programme had identified the requirement for spend above the £500k cabinet approval threshold, with the total of these amounting to £2m. Delegating approval for the further spend within the remaining allocation would allow the projects outlined in the report to proceed.

The Leader of the Council, Climate, Performance and Safeguarding introduced a report outlining the Capital Programme and the proposed capital investment across a broad range of projects within the Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology Strategy 2023 – 25. The remaining funding allocation for 2025-2027 (£4m) involved expenditure exceeding the £500k threshold, meaning Cabinet approval was required for the projects detailed in the report.

It was proposed by Cllr N Ireland and seconded by Cllr J Andrews

Decision

(a)           That the spend from the corporate climate capital programme for those elements identified as over £500k, as set out in the report to Cabinet or 29 January 2026, be approved. 

Specifically:

(i)    £700k for the installation of the next phase of solar PV across the council’s estate, and

(ii)   £1.3m for replacement of more old, obsolete street lighting with LED street lighting using the PFI contract and in line with the Council’s street lighting policy adopted September 2025.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Strategy, Performance and Sustainability in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate, Performance and Safeguarding, to approve further individual item spend within the remaining climate capital allocation, for the identified projects.

Reason for the Decision

There was £4m remaining in the climate capital programme. Two workstreams allocated within the current climate capital programme had identified the requirement for spend above the £500k cabinet approval threshold, with the total of these amounting to £2m. Delegating approval for the further spend within the remaining allocation would allow the projects outlined in the report to proceed.