Agenda item

The Board were provided with an update on the progress of the Oldham Green New Deal Strategy which had been adopted by the Council in March 2020 and the Generation Oldham community energy programme.

The strategy had set a number of objectives and pledges for delivery on environmental issues in a range of work areas which broadly fit into three over-arching ‘pillars’:

·         Growing the Green Economy

·         Low carbon infrastructure and a local energy market

·         Northern Roots.

The Oldham Green New Deal Strategy had also set two carbon neutrality targets:

·         For Council Buildings and Street Lighting by 2025

·         For the borough by 2030.

Progress on the above two targets was highlighted in the report.

The Board were also informed of the impact of Covid-19 on the Green New Deal Programme.  The delivery programme was reviewed in June 2020 and a number of changes were made which were outlined in the report.  The review had identified £135K of savings from the Transformation Reserve.  Additionally, the impact of Covid-19 at a strategic level had implications for the 2025 and 2030 carbon neutrality targets.

An evidence base which targeted Green New Deal activities in Oldham was available from the Local Government Association (LGA) Green Jobs online report.  The report showed the number of jobs in Oldham which the LGA expected to be created in meeting both the national 2050 carbon neutrality target and the 2030 ‘milestone’.  The Council was targeting activities in the Green New Deal Programme to boost activity in the areas of the low carbon economy.  Key Oldham Green New Deal initiatives included low carbon electricity, low carbon heat and energy efficiency.  The achievements of the Oldham Green New Deal were outlined at Section 1.14 of the report.

Due to the financial challenge associated with Covid-19, the Oldham Green New Deal Programme had a very limited budget from resources within the Council itself.  The programme was having some success in securing external funding from a range of sources to support delivery of initiatives. In order to meet targets a strategic approach to the delivery of low carbon infrastructure across the whole borough would be necessary.  The report also highlighted carbon-offsetting – tree planting and the Government Net Zero Ten Point Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Green thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their continued interest in the strategy which had been adopted earlier in the year.  Oldham Council had been the first authority to adopt a Green New Deal Strategy.  Due to Covid-19 there had been an impact on the financing of some project which would have to be delayed or modified.  The Northern Roots project was taking shape and government funding was being sought.

Members were updated on the funding being sought for large scale renewable energy projects.  Members were also informed about a mine network which had the potential to use Oldham’s industrial heritage to extract heat.  The Coal Authority had looked at the mines under Oldham and determined that this could be one of the best opportunities in the country and the initial feasibility study was favourable.  Oldham’s activity on the Green New Deal had attracted the attention of Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and was preparing to report on best practice in terms of council policy to secure benefits of low carbon transition and Oldham had been selected as one of three deep dive studies. 

Members were also provided an update on Oldham Community Power and Generation Oldham which included the support to Saddleworth Community Hydro.  Oldham Community Power had installed some solar pv under Phase I.  Phase II had not yet happened.  There had been a setback due to Covid and also due to the DfE changing the rules on installation of solar pv on schools.  However, with the neighbourhood master planning project it was hoped to link and be guided by residents as to which buildings required solar pv to become a true community programme. 

Members asked about the youth offer and links to the Youth Council as the environment was one of their priorities and how much reassurance could be given to young people,  Members were informed that young people had engaged with the agenda.  There was a cross party group for climate change and delegates from the Youth Council had been invited and involved in driving forward the agenda.  Members were informed that some government funding was tied to specific initiatives or other guidelines which could not be applied in Oldham.  The Cabinet Member would be speaking to the Government.  Members were also informed about a developed apprenticeship standard to work with companies. 

Members queried the status of the strategy and the funding streams to take forward the Green New Deal.  Members suggested working with the Cabinet Member and relevant officers to look at funding and infrastructure.  Members also referred to the Ciitzen’s Assembly. 

The Cabinet Member confirmed that the strategy had been approved earlier in the year.  Some projects had to be stopped due to the financial implications arising from Covid-19  Members asked if organisations could be created which could access funding and were informed that funding from central government was restricted in terms of criteria and private investors would only invest if there was a lucrative return.  Members were informed that every grant was being applied for as well as EU Funding.  There was a strategy with a number of projects but due funding progress could not be made.  Members were informed that funding could be targeted, looking to how residents could become involved, the potential of a private sector partner and coordination with regeneration schemes.  It was agreed that an update would come back to Board in March 2021.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The progress of a wide range of initiatives under the Oldham Green New Deal programme, despite the challenge of Covid-19, be noted.

2.         The recognition of Oldham’s pioneering Green New Deal approach be noted

3.         The evolving approach to meeting the Council 2025 and Borough 2030 carbon neutrality targets be noted.

4.         The range of funding streams being made available by the Government to support the low carbon transition be noted.

5.         The payment of capital and interest by Oldham Community Power to its members, approved at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the integration of is approach to a Phase 2 into wider community level Green New Deal initiatives be noted.

6.         A further update on the Strategy and Funding be provide to the Overview and Scrutiny Board in March 2021.