To authorise acceptance of the offer by the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) of further European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) capital and revenue funding to the council, in order to administer the Sustainable Energy in Public Buildings project covering the Marches local enterprise partnership (LEP) area on behalf of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils.

This funding allows public authority applicants to apply for grant funding in order to enable the installation of energy efficiency measures in public buildings.

That:

(a)  Subject to the bid being successful, the Assistant Director for Regulation, Environment & Waste Services is authorised to accept the ERDF funding and to implement the project in accordance with the original bid and subsequent project change request for a 3 year project extension;

(b)  Herefordshire Council continue to act as accountable body and lead partner for the sustainable energy in public buildings project for the Marches LEP area.

1              Do nothing; by not accepting this funding the revenue savings and associated carbon reduction benefits to the council and partners of the sustainable energy in public buildings project would not be realised. We would therefore be reliant on ad-hoc capital loans to deliver energy retro-fit projects. Due to reductions in public sector budgets and decreased Government subsidies, this is becoming increasingly difficult.