Decision details

Date of Decision:

22/05/25

Title:

Solar PV on Markets and Library.

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director Property & Facilities Services

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

On Monday 14^th February 2022, Cabinet gave authorisation of a Capital budget to identify and deliver a number of decarbonisation schemes to be funded through this budget and/or through external funding, where available.

Agenda for Cabinet on Monday 14 February 2022, 10.00 a.m. - Rotherham Council Item 107 Budget and Council Tax 2022/23 and Medium term Financial Strategy. Approved recommendation 11 of the Capital programme detailed in Appendix 3B ‘Operational Building Decarbonisation’ Capital project.

Printed minutes Monday 14-Feb-2022 10.00 Cabinet.pdf

Minute 107 refers.

‘Resolved:- That Cabinet recommend to Council: 1. Approval of the Budget and Financial Strategy for 2022/23 as set out in the report and appendices, including the proposed budget adjustments and investments, a basic Council Tax increase of 1.5% and an Adult Social Care precept of 3%.’’

The schemes would be retrospectively reported to cabinet on an annual basis (February) as part of the Climate Emergency Annual Report.

Decision:

The decision has been taken to utilise £350,000 of the Council’s capital decarbonisation budget to maximise the solar PV on the town centre markets and library rooftops.

Reasons for the Decision:

In February 2022, Cabinet approved a budget to support the decarbonisation of the Council’s corporate estate.

An opportunity has arisen to enhance the solar photovoltaics (PV) already included within the Markets and Library projects. As the site is to be electrically heated as per planning requirements, further solar PV will reduce the ongoing revenue requirements for the site following completion and avoid the need for retrofit at a later date to meet the Council’s decarbonisation targets. Maximising on site renewable generation will also improve the sites operational carbon footprint.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The Council has also considered retrofit of the site with solar panels after the completion of the current construction scheme. However, due to the Council’s 2030 target and the timeframe for decarbonisation being short a later retrofit may also void any roofing warranties applied and potentially interrupt service delivery. Installation as part of the existing project and contract is therefore preferred.

Doing nothing was also considered, but this would lead to increased revenue costs to the Council and would not ensure a decarbonised estate.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not applicable.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

None declared

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not applicable

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services – Markets and Library Solar PV.