The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “N”) provides an update on delivering the flagship projects and also other significant climate and environmental developments since the declaration in 2019, including proposals for distributing £40-50m gain share funding, in line with the West Yorkshire Climate & Environment Plan, Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme and delivery of key sustainability projects in the District.

Recommended –

That the Committee notes the progress made on delivering a sustainable, clean growth District.

(Andrew Whittles - 07581 007609)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “N”) was submitted to the Committee and provided an update on key environmental delivery programme following the Climate Emergency declared by the Council in 2019.

Five ‘flagship’ projects were identified by the Council which were the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) charging point network and increased numbers of electric vehicles, the delivery of a district heat network (which could potentially offer savings for the Council and partners on the cost of heating), utilising the opportunities offered by hydrogen, increasing renewable energy and electricity generation on the Council’s estate and a reduction in energy consumption from street lighting.  The report updated Members on the delivery of these as well as other environmental and climate developments deemed significant.

Officers advised that the Council’s carbon emissions had reduced by half and a report would be presented in relation to the recently launched Clean Air Zone.  They further advised that the increase in the number of EV charging points throughout the district in terraced streets and areas with limited or no off-street parking would be expanded by providing neighbourhood charge points which were installed but had not yet been commissioned.  The Council had already introduced electric vehicles into its fleet, including a refuse collection vehicle and was developing proposals for charging infrastructure to be installed to facilitate a change to electric vehicles (cars and small vans) an EV leasing scheme for staff was also being developed.

In addition, in order to achieve reductions in heating costs and emissions further an application for funding to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) was made which would be used along with a contribution from the Council to connect 6 council buildings to a cleaner District Heat Network (DHN). Whilst the procurement of land was started by the Council, the facility itself would be developed by the private sector.

Other projects hi-lighted included the upgrade of street lighting to LED which was completed by approximately one third.  Possible solar park sites were being looked into and a domestic energy retro fitting scheme to enable residents to improve energy efficiency in their homes was just one element of the gain share programme in wave 1 of the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan.

Officers also advised Members that the Council was working with partners to develop a hydrogen production facility.  A HyBradford facility would also enable tankered transport of H2 and piped supplies to key organisations within a 1km radius. 

Members were then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions, the details of which and the responses given are as below.

Members asked if the hydrogen that would be produced was green and as it would be blended into the natural gas supply, how it would be used.  Officers advised that it was green and a profitable use would be for vehicles with the facility acting as a fuelling site.  Costs were equivalent to diesel so the only additional cost would be the acquisition of vehicles to use it.  There was also a brief explanation of other potential uses if not for vehicle fuel.

A Member asked how hydrogen was made and how much was needed to run a bus.  Officers provided a brief summary of how power could be generated to use in an electrolyzer to separate the hydrogen and oxygen from each other in water.  There were different categories of hydrogen fuel based on the source of electricity used (e.g. whether from re-newable or fossil fuel sources).

A Member commented that hydrogen fuelled vehicles may not be as affective and could struggle with the topography of the district.

A Member asked how many vehicles were operated by the Council in light of the replacement of 27 and how long it would be before they were all swopped.  Officers advised that the Council ran 450 vehicles, replacements were on order but there was a 6 month wait for delivery.  Changing vehicles would depend on the natural replacement cycle as the fleet aged.

A Member asked how the charging points were being managed as assistance was difficult to obtain when there was a problem.  Officers advised that an EV Officer was tasked to chase the relevant companies for service.

There were questions raised about retro-fitting to housing stock as the cost per house equated to approximately £11,000.  Members asked what was carried out for this amount of money.  The Officer present was not in possession of the details requested but Members stated that they needed to know what work was carried out.

In relation to the District Heat Network scheme, if usage was to change, a Member asked if there was a ‘plan B’ and when a decision would be made on the planning application.  Officers advised that a decision would be made either at the end of the year or early in the new year.  Details of what was proposed was shared with Members and that a feasibility study had been carried out.  If successful it could be further rolled beyond the city centre.  There were lots of ideas being considered.

Resolved –

1.         That the Committee notes the progress made on delivering a sustainable, clean growth District.

2.         That a further report be presented to the Committee in twelve months’ time

Action: Strategic Director, Place