Agenda and minutes

Agreed as an accurate record.

The report set out the draft revenue budget and capital programme of the Administration and Finance Groups for 2014/15, along with indicative projections for the following four years.

Members were informed that the Council was looking to make significant savings of around £13.1m on top of the £76m delivered over the last four years across the whole Council. This would include savings of £1.539m from within the Administration and Finance Groups which would be largely achieved through service efficiencies without impacting on the level of service provided.

Reference was made to a significant number of Council Central departments which provided support functions and as such the demand on these services was driven by the front line services which they supported. Therefore, there was a limit to the extent to which these services could be further reduced whilst also continuing to respond to the same level of service demand.

Members were informed that some of the savings proposals had been developed through the HIP Business Improvement Delivery Programme. Reference was made to the Phase 2 restructures which had taken place within both Procurement and Revenue Services which made up the majority of the proposed savings within the Finance Group, and the restructures within the Policy, Performance and Partnerships, Legal and Human Resource Service which made up the majority of the proposed savings within the Administration Group.

The Committee was informed that there would be no increases in fees and charges and this was welcomed by Members.

In relation to the Council’s draft Capital Programme, it was noted that despite the current financial difficulties in local government finance, there would be a proposed significant capital investment of around £382m.

RESOLVED –

1.      That the budget projections contained in the report be noted together with the acknowledgment that the delivery of services to residents of the Borough was not being affected by the savings which the Council was making.

For this witness session of the Committee’s review into Reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint the following information was received:-

Decentralised Energy – Heat and Power- At the last meeting of the Committee discussion took place on the feasibility of this Council operating a Heat and Power plant, similarly to the Bunhill Energy Centre, in the London Borough of Islington. 

The Council’s Energy Manager also referred to the Pimlico District Heating Undertaking which had been around since the 1950s and was the first major initiative to combat London’s air pollution, ahead of the Clean Air Act 1956. The scheme provided heating and water services to 3,256 homes, 50 commercial premises and three schools within the area at a reduced energy cost.

In addition, Pimlico reduced carbon emissions by 11,000 tonnes per year.

Members were provided with details of potential heat and power networks within the Borough which included area close to Uxbridge High Street, Hillingdon Hospital and Brunel University. For such a network to work, the Council would have to work closely with both partners and customers. Reference was also made to the site of the old EMI vinyl factory in Hayes and officers were asked to give this site consideration as a potential network.

Reference was made to the different technologies used:

·           Gas Fired Central Boilers

·           Combined Heat and Power

·          Energy from Waste

·           Anaerobic Digestion

·    Solar Power

·           Air and Ground Source Heating

It was noted that for such a facility to be implemented within the Borough, it would require high level technical feasibility and financial modelling. Members acknowledged that as part of a long term strategy, initiatives such as at Pimlico and Bunhill would provide long term energy savings and benefits for the Council, its partners and its residents.

Discussion took place on Absorption Chilling, which was used in the summer to convert hot water to cool water and officers were asked to consider this in any considerations of Decentralised Energy. Members were informed that Absorption Chilling was cost effective and more economical than electrical chillers and therefore would reduce energy costs.

In conclusion the Committee agreed:

·        That decentralised energy would reduce the Council’s carbon footprint

·        The experience of other Council’s transference of waste heat could be replicated at Hillingdon

·        To understand the feasibility of Decentralised Energy in Hillingdon detailed research and special purpose business models would be required.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) – Members were reminded that at the last meeting discussion took place on Anaerobic Digestion which was the use of farm and food waste and the using of the gas produced to generate heat and electricity.

The Council’s Energy Manager provided Members with information on the feasibility of such an operation within the Borough. Examples were provided of AD operations which other local authorities had implemented which included Windsor and Maidenhead who had an AD facility in Buckinghamshire.

The benefits of AD to the Council would be:

·        Reducing the amount of food waste which would go to landfill which was one of the key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

The Committee was asked to give consideration to nominate a Member to be appointed to the new Hillingdon Safer Neighbourhood Board.

RESOLVED –

1.      That Council be asked to appoint Councillor Richard Mills as a representative to serve on the Hillingdon Safer Neighbourhood Board.

Noted.

Noted.