Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy)

The report seeks approval for Stockport Homes to continue with solar PV investment.  An offer from Empower Communities would see Stockport Homes/SMBC continue with solar PV within the borough and truly cement Stockport as the Solar PV ‘capital’ of Greater Manchester.  The ‘Rent a Roof’ (RaR) Model offered by Empower Communities offers great benefits to be realised by the tenants who are expected to save around £158 each year on their electricity bills. The Council/SHL will also receive approximately £3m over a 20 year period.

The Executive is recommended to:-

·         note the contents of this report;

·         to approve that further work is carried out as described, with a view to the Council/SHL entering into a contractual relationship with Empower Communities to take forward this proposal; and

·         delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Corporate and Support Services to prepare and enter into a legal agreement with Empower Communities to facilitate the installation of the solar panels, as described within this report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax, 0161 474 4319, andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider a proposal to continue with solar PV panel investment through the ‘Rent a Roof’ (RaR) Model offered by Empower Communities. The offer also provided benefits for those tenants who took part in the scheme and had panels installed who could save approximately £158 per year on electricity bills.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the Council and Stockport Homes Limited entering into a contractual relationship with Empower Communities to take forward the proposed ‘Rent a Roof’ model for the provision of solar PV equipment, subject to the additional work being carried out as described in the report.

(2) That the Corporate Director of Corporate and Support Services be authorised to prepare and enter into a legal agreement with Empower Communities to facilitate the installation of the solar panels, as described in the report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details proposals for the Council to enter into a contractual relationship with Empower Communitiesto facilitate the installation of solar panels on the Rent-a-Roof model.

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

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for the Council to enter into a contractual relationship with Empower Communities to facilitate the installation of solar panels on the Rent-a-Roof model.

The Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) (Councillor Patrick McAuley) attended the meeting to answer questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

It was stated that since the publication of the report, the government had issued a consultation paper which proposed to reduce the level of the existing feed-in-tariff from January 2016.  If enacted, the scheme as proposed could not continue beyond that date.  Should approval be given to the proposed scheme by the Executive on 6 October, there would be scope to install solar photovoltaic panels on approximately 500 properties before the changes to the feed-in-tariff took effect.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         A discussion took place in relation to the analysis undertaken of the different models of procuring and installing the solar photovoltaic panels.  It was stated that in the light of the current feed-in-tariff rate combined with the risk and capital cost of procuring the panels, the rent-a-roof model proved the best option.

·         Work was already taking place to ensure that should the Executive give approval to the proposals, then the necessary legal agreements would already be in place to provide legal rights of access.

·         It was important to ensure that following the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on tenant’s properties, the opportunity for environmental education was provided to try and achieve a wider behavioural change.

RESOLVED – That the proposed approach to the provision of solar photovoltaic panels on Stockport Homes properties on the ‘Rent a Roof’ model be endorsed.