Agenda item

This report seeks approval for the allocation of resources to enable the installation of an alternative, low carbon heating solution at Willesden Green Library and other energy conservation measures following the Council’s successful bid for grant funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4 (PSDS P4) with the project aiming to deliver significant carbon savings, improve energy efficiency, and reduce operational costs.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)       Approve a total capital budget of £917,628, which included £807,000 for installation, £111,000 contingency, and staff capitalisation costs.

(2)       Note that the total capital budget of £917,628 would be sourced from £667,628 Salix grant and £250,000 from the Carbon Offset Fund. The budget would be split across delivery of the following two projects: Willesden Green Library and Willesden New Cemetery.

(3)       Acknowledge the findings of THE Equality Impact Assessment (detailed within Appendix 1 of the report) regarding the installation of an alternative heat supply at Willesden Green Library that included the results of a public consultation undertaken.

(4)       Note the grant spend timeline stipulated by Salix and its implication on the delivery of the project, particularly when it comes to the requirement to spend all grant funding by March 31^st, 2026, as set out in section 5.3 – 5.4 of the report.

(5)       Note the significant financial, energy and carbon savings that the delivery of an alternative heat supply at Willesden Green Library would provide as set out section 3.7 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 24 November 25

Councillor Rubin (as Cabinet Member for Climate Action & Community Power) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods & Regeneration seeking approval for the allocation of resources to enable the installation of an alternative, low carbon heating solution at Willesden Green Library and other energy conservation measures following the Council’s successful bid for grant funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4 (PSDS P4).

In presenting the report, Councillor Rubin outlined how the proposed scheme had been designed to represent another practical approach in the delivery of Brent’s climate and energy commitments through the retrofitting of the existing and outdated heating system at Willesden Green Library with a low carbon Air Source Heat Pump.  Members were advised that the project aimed to deliver significant carbon savings whilst improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs which would not only strengthen the resilience of the building as an important community asset but would also support the Council in bringing heat production back under its control and helping to move towards its Net Zero 2030 goal.  In highlighting that the majority of investment required to deliver the scheme would utilise funding secured through a successful Salix bid under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4, the provision of additional funding through the Council’s Carbon Offset Fund was also commended and acknowledged as a sensible future focussed investment supporting wider climate ambitions whilst also delivering operational savings.

In support of the proposals outlined, members were keen to recognise the value of Willesden Green Library as a community asset recognising libraries as trusted, accessible spaces that served as hubs for learning and engagement with the integration of sustainable practices also welcomed as a means of being able to transform the spaces into living examples of environmental responsibility. Recognising the way in which the installation of the alternative, low-carbon heating solution proposed at Willesden Green Library would address the outdated heating system currently in place, which it was noted had disrupted the provision of services within the building, members were keen to commend use of the Carbon Offset Fund to support the introduction of a modern, energy-efficient system that would enable the library to operate more reliably whilst delivering significant financial savings, reducing energy consumption and cutting carbon emissions.

Residents and service users were also thanked for their patience whilst delivery of the scheme was being developed, with officers also confirming the plans in place and timetable designed to ensure completion of the project within the required timescale under the grant conditions.

In welcoming the way in which the scheme had been designed to support the Council’s wider climate ambitions whilst delivering financial savings and addressing heat supply issues in a well-used and much valued building Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)       Approve a total capital budget of £917,628, which included £807,000 for installation, £111,000 contingency, and staff capitalisation costs.

(2)       Note that the total capital budget of £917,628 would be sourced from £667,628 Salix grant and £250,000 from the Carbon Offset Fund. The budget would be split across delivery of the following two projects: Willesden Green Library and Willesden New Cemetery.

(3)       Acknowledge the findings of THE Equality Impact Assessment (detailed within Appendix 1 of the report) regarding the installation of an alternative heat supply at Willesden Green Library that included the results of a public consultation undertaken.

(4)       Note the grant spend timeline stipulated by Salix and its implication on the delivery of the project, particularly when it comes to the requirement to spend all grant funding by March 31^st, 2026, as set out in section 5.3 – 5.4 of the report.

(5)       Note the significant financial, energy and carbon savings that the delivery of an alternative heat supply at Willesden Green Library would provide as set out section 3.7 of the report.