Agenda item

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Sub Committee received a report of the City Surveyor which summarised progress against the energy reduction targets set out in the Carbon Descent Plan 2009. Members noted that the City’s total energy expenditure for 2013/14 was £15.1m, compared with £14.4m for 2012/13.

To forestall anticipated price rises, in June 2009 Chief Officers agreed to adopt an energy reduction target of 15% by 2015; rising energy costs remained a significant financial risk identified on the Medium Term Financial Plan, with a recent independent report indicating that the City could expect energy cost rises between 30 and 40% by 2017/18.

In response to Members’ questions, officers reported that a 10% reduction over 4 years was achievable, but to do it in 1 year would be demanding in terms of staffing resource and capital investment. This option would be discussed by the Summit Group in Autumn 2014.

RESOLVED – That the following be recommended to Finance Committee:

(a)  A new overall revised energy reduction target of 10% be adopted for the period 2014/15 – 2017/18;

(b)  For future reporting, energy usage should be adjusted each year for weather;

(c)  Energy usage for the wholesale Markets should be reported for landlord controlled areas only and should exclude energy usage that is solely tenant controlled; and

(d)  The Energy Manager should be tasked with revising targets (annually) for individual Chief Officers based on their savings potential and, if appropriate, presenting options for “invest to save” schemes.