Issue - meetings
SME Energy Improvement Grants Programme 2021
Meeting: 21/04/2021 - Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee (Item 6)
6 SME Energy Improvement Grants Programme 2021 PDF 336 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
David Esdaile(Environmental Sustainability Officer) presented the report. This would be the third phase of the programme to award funding to SMEs for energy reduction projects. Following feedback, changes had been made to the programme. It was proposed to provide:
· A 50% grants up to £10,000 to SMEs who carry out heat decarbonisation and renewable energy projects.
· To continue to provide 50% funding up to £5,000 to SMEs for all other retrofit projects that see the installation of energy efficient technologies such as lighting upgrades and more efficient machinery.
Councillor Leema Qureshi, (Scrutiny Lead, Resources) asked questions on the report regrading the following issues:
· Case study highlighted in the report. Clarification was sought about the overall costs and the SME’s contributions to the grant.
· It was noted that the business would have contributed half of the costs covering such things as the purchase of solar panels and installation.
· The need to allocate a small business with a small turn over a £10K grant.
· It was noted that overall, the Council had supported around 43% of the costs of project. Therefore, it was felt that supporting 50% of the costs was appropriate
· The controls in place regarding the release of funding.
· It was noted that the SMEs were only paid the grant once the works had been completed. Due diligence checks were undertaken to ensure the works had been carried out in line with requirements.
The Committee asked a number of questions and discussed the following points:
· The work to encourage smaller businesses to compete and apply for grants. The reasons for awarding a 50% grant rather than follow the same approach for the school retrofit project.
· It was noted that SMEs varied in size. The first phase had been made up mostly of smaller businesses. It was considered that allocating businesses 50% of the costs (rather than the full amount) encouraged best practice and businesses to take ownership of the project. The feedback suggested that they supported the initiative and that the size of the grant was sufficient.
· Officers provided support to SMEs in applying for the funding, in a number of ways.
· The impact of Covid on the initiative and business investment.
· It was found that all of the funding for the previous rounds had been allocated quickly. In addition, Officers continue to receive lots of enquiries and it was found that SMEs still wished to take the opportunity to invest.
Members welcomed the welcomed the programme to reduce the carbon footprint.
|
1. Approve the grant funding of £400,000 to deliver the SME Energy Reduction Programme 2021.
2. Authorise the Corporate Director Place to enter into grant agreements and make any associated decisions in order to distribute the funding in accordance with this report.
3. Authorise the Corporate Director Place to nominate a Council Officer or Officers as the Corporate Director Place shall determine to sign on behalf of the Council any grant agreements and or offer letters necessary for the fulfilment of this scheme. |
Minutes:
David Esdaile(Environmental Sustainability Officer) presented the report. This would be the third phase of the programme to award funding to SMEs for energy reduction projects. Following feedback, changes had been made to the programme. It was proposed to provide:
· A 50% grants up to £10,000 to SMEs who carry out heat decarbonisation and renewable energy projects.
· To continue to provide 50% funding up to £5,000 to SMEs for all other retrofit projects that see the installation of energy efficient technologies such as lighting upgrades and more efficient machinery.
Councillor Leema Qureshi, (Scrutiny Lead, Resources) asked questions on the report regrading the following issues:
· Case study highlighted in the report. Clarification was sought about the overall costs and the SME’s contributions to the grant.
· It was noted that the business would have contributed half of the costs covering such things as the purchase of solar panels and installation.
· The need to allocate a small business with a small turn over a £10K grant.
· It was noted that overall, the Council had supported around 43% of the costs of project. Therefore, it was felt that supporting 50% of the costs was appropriate
· The controls in place regarding the release of funding.
· It was noted that the SMEs were only paid the grant once the works had been completed. Due diligence checks were undertaken to ensure the works had been carried out in line with requirements.
The Committee asked a number of questions and discussed the following points:
· The work to encourage smaller businesses to compete and apply for grants. The reasons for awarding a 50% grant rather than follow the same approach for the school retrofit project.
· It was noted that SMEs varied in size. The first phase had been made up mostly of smaller businesses. It was considered that allocating businesses 50% of the costs (rather than the full amount) encouraged best practice and businesses to take ownership of the project. The feedback suggested that they supported the initiative and that the size of the grant was sufficient.
· Officers provided support to SMEs in applying for the funding, in a number of ways.
· The impact of Covid on the initiative and business investment.
· It was found that all of the funding for the previous rounds had been allocated quickly. In addition, Officers continue to receive lots of enquiries and it was found that SMEs still wished to take the opportunity to invest.
Members welcomed the welcomed the programme to reduce the carbon footprint.
|
1. Approve the grant funding of £400,000 to deliver the SME Energy Reduction Programme 2021.
2. Authorise the Corporate Director Place to enter into grant agreements and make any associated decisions in order to distribute the funding in accordance with this report.
3. Authorise the Corporate Director Place to nominate a Council Officer or Officers as the Corporate Director Place shall determine to sign on behalf of the Council any grant agreements and or offer letters necessary for the fulfilment of this scheme. |