By the Energy Reduction Manager (Michael Potter).

The Energy Reduction Manager, Michael Potter, referred Members to pages 13-20 of the agenda and explained that the report provided an update and gave the Panel an overview of the progress being made to deliver the Panel’s energy reduction strategy. 

The key areas covered were noted as follows:

• Energy Consumption
• Town Hall Solar Performance
• RBWM Energy Switch to Save
• Schools Energy Saving Competition
• Town Hall Water Usage and Reduction Project
• Work planned over the next period until the next Sustainability Panel

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were noted:  

Ø  That Chairman congratulated the Energy Reduction Manager on the energy cost saving for corporate buildings of just under £250k.  Councillor Derek Sharp commented that it would be good to have a screen in Reception to display the good news on.  The Chairman agreed to contact the Managing Director, Alison Alexander, to find out what the current situation with the non-operational screen was.

Ø  That the cleaning of the solar panels on the Town Hall roof cost approximately £400. 

Ø  That the solar panels were checked following the fireworks and there where no issues observed with debris or otherwise. It was noted that the condition of the panels would be checked in February to see if it would be beneficial to have them cleaned again.

Ø  Martin Fry requested that the uptake figures in Hurley after the second round of the RBWM Energy Switch to Save scheme be provided to him by the Energy Reduction Manager.

Ø  Councillor Lynda Yong informed the Panel of her unpleasant experience with her energy supplier when they had called to put pressure on her to stay with them.  Councillor Yong expressed concerns for the elderly residents in the Royal Borough who needed to switch.  It was requested that more help / support be given to the elderly, especially those without access to computers.  The Energy Reduction Manager explained that the Council offered help with registration to get people onto the scheme but had not looked at the next step (re: actually switching).  This was something that could be looked into going forward. 

Ø  Councillor Derek Sharp requested that with regard to energy consumption that the lease of Grenfell Park be re-looked at when it was up for renewal.  It was felt they should be paying for their energy otherwise they had no incentives to be ‘green’.

Ø  The cut-off date for the February auction was the 13 February 2017.  It was requested that the Energy Reduction Manager emailed all Councillors to notify them of this date to help encourage them to switch energy suppliers.

Ø  That the numbers entering an auction did make a difference as it was a collective energy scheme.  It was noted the more that signed up meant the better deals offered by the energy suppliers.

Ø  It was suggested that the Energy Reduction Manager looked into whether the Mayor or Deputy Mayor would be available to attend the Schools Energy Saving Competition on the 23 February 2017.  It was noted that this would be reported in the press.  The Chairman and Vice-Chair stated that they hoped to be able to attend the event on the 23 February 2017.

Ø  The Energy Reduction Manager believed that the energy suppliers would not offer businesses a better deal if the dates of the auctions were changed to the end of the financial year.

Ø  That the difference in the annual water consumption between what was expected and what was calculated based on automatic metering was considered a ‘huge amount’. It was hoped that the Town Hall water reduction project would help close the gap,

Ø  It was not expected that the contingency fund to upgrade the urinals would be needed in full.

That work planned over the next period included:

o    Instruction of the water control upgrades subject to member approval.

o    Delivery of the Energy Switch to Save Scheme.

o    Delivery of the Schools Energy Saving Competition.

o    Tendering of the corporate building LED upgrade phase 2.

o    Tendering of the Town Hall BMS project.

RESOLVED Unanimously; That the Sustainability Panelnotes the report, the progress made and comments on the proposed work plan over the next period as detailed in paragraph 11.22.

RESOLVED; That the Sustainability Panel approves the upgrade of the urinal controls for a total cost of £7,120 and a trial of restricting flow to the taps for £300 using capital code CY03(Councillors Marion Mills, David Coppinger, Nicola Pryer, Lynda Yong and Simon Werner = For and Councillor Derek Sharp = Abstained).