To approve the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Energy Strategy.

The Marches LEP programme manager introduced the report and highlighted the key elements of the energy strategy. It was explained that a formal launch of the strategy was planned for October 2018 and that the strategy would also inform the refresh of the Strategic Economic Plan.

The energy strategy steering group would be responsible for taking the work forward, which would include producing a detailed action plan. An important step would be to ensure that senior officials from energy companies were aware of the strategy and its objectives.

In discussion of the strategy Councillor Lester highlighted the value to Herefordshire Council of the Energy from Waste plant which was a joint project with Worcestershire County Council. The plant had significantly reduced waste sent to landfill from the county and as a closed system had minimal impact on air quality. As the plant was located outside the Marches LEP boundary at Hartlebury in Worcestershire it had not been included in the Marches energy strategy.  

It was agreed that moving forward the strategy should include energy facilities and opportunities in the wider region that could have benefit for the Marches area. The Marches LEP programme manager was tasked to action this with the steering group.

Subject to the above action being progressed it was resolved that:

(a)  the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Energy Strategy at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.