Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources.

This report provides an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estate’s portfolio including some schools and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts. The report sets  out a  proposed change in strategy for the procurement of our energy within a framework that requires Cabinet approval on the basis that the likely cumulative value of contracts entered into is greater than £10m which requires Cabinet approval.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

(1) Support the approach of a flexible contract, working with STAR and e-energy and other local authority partners to try to obtain the best prices for energy from April 2023 and to delegate approval of these new contracts to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources to approve and sign the new estate’s portfolio energy contracts and the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Place Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services to approve and sign the street lighting and other highway energy-based contracts.

(2) Request that officers continue to identify and implement cost effective energy efficient measures to reduce energy usage.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or e mail: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estates portfolio, including some schools, and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts.

The report further set out a proposed change in strategy for the procurement of our energy within a framework that required Cabinet approval on the basis that the likely cumulative value of contracts entered into was greater than £10m.

RESOLVED - (1) That the approach of a flexible contract, working with STAR and e-energy and other local authority partners to try to obtain the best prices for energy from April 2023 be supported and endorsed and that approval be delegated for the new contracts to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources to approve and sign the new estate’s portfolio energy contracts and the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Place Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services to approve and sign the street lighting and other highway energy-based contracts.

(2) That officers be requested to continue to identify and implement cost effective energy efficient measures to reduce energy usage.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estate’s portfolio including some schools and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts. The report sets  out a  proposed change in strategy for the procurement of our energy within a framework that requires Cabinet approval on the basis that the likely cumulative value of contracts entered into is greater than £10m which requires Cabinet approval.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

a)    Support the approach of a flexible contract, working with STAR and e-energy and other local authority partners to try to obtain the best prices for energy from April 2023 and endorse to delegate approval of these new contracts to the  Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources to approve and sign the new estate’s portfolio energy contracts and the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Place Management in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services to approve and sign the street lighting and other highway energy-based contracts.

b)    Request that officers continue to identify and implement cost effective energy efficient measures to reduce energy usage.

Officer contacts: Emily Brough, emily.brough@stockport.gov.uk

James Kington, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk

Sue Stevenson, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

Kora Yohannan, kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estate’s portfolio including some schools and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources (Councillor Malcolm Allan) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members enquired about how the Council were making sure that it didn’t get caught up in another situation with relaying on a company with third party links to another organisation. In response, it was stated that there were no sanctions in place at the time, but Stockport Council were locked into a fixed term contract. Currently, there are a few control checks including procurement processes, pricing checks, not necessarily going with the cheapest and also looking at greener options with another degree of flexibility.

·       Clarification was sought regarding STAR and its benefits including the reductions in price and not paying the market rate. In response, it was noted that there would be a detailed risk and discussion that would take place and it would depend on what is brought forward.

·       It was commented that active management would have an impact on the people to maintain the management of the contract and the longer term costs.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

This report provides an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estate’s portfolio including some schools and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts. The report sets out a proposed change in strategy for the procurement of our energy within a framework that requires Cabinet approval on the basis that the likely cumulative value of contracts entered into is greater than £10m which requires Cabinet approval

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contacts: Emily Brough, James Kington, Sue Stevenson, Kora Yohannan by email at emily.brough@stockport.gov.uk, james.kington@stockport.gov.uk, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk, kora.yohannan@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview on the energy contracts held by the Council both for its estates portfolio, including some schools, and the street lighting and other highway-based energy contracts.

The report set out a proposed change in strategy for the procurement of energy within a framework that required Cabinet approval on the basis that the likely cumulative value of contracts entered into was greater than £10m.

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.