Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme -Low Carbon Skills Fund Grant App

This paper seeks approval to submit applications for grant funding to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Low Carbon Skills Fund. The grant applications will be for a total of £2.6m, and are estimated to reduce the need for MOPAC funded capital expenditure by £1.15m, generate annual revenue savings of £29,000, and save 172.5 tonnes of CO2 each year.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

1. Approve the application for grant funding to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme for a total grant of £2,560,000

2. Approve the application for grant funding to the Low Carbon Skills Fund, for a total grant of up to £40,000, in support of consultancy services to support our grant project development and application process, and for the preparation of a Met Estate decarbonisation plan.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) is a £1bn fund for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects within public sector non-domestic buildings. Grant funding is available for up to 100% of the costs of capital energy-saving projects. The Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) is an aligned grant scheme, launched at the same time as the PSDS and aimed at supporting public sector bodies to engage specialist and expert advice.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The Met, in common with all GLA group organisations, has a target to reduce operational-related carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and the Mayor has an ambition for London to be carbon neutral by 2030.

2.2. The four projects proposed are to invest in sites which will form part of the retained MOPAC estate and are :

• Imber Court (Mounted Branch) – Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) heating for the reception block;

• Keston Dog Training Centre – ASHP heating for vet block, garage block, main kennels and breeding block with additional local radiant and infrared heating to the main kennels and breeding block;

• Gipsy Hill Police Station – ASHP for heating and hot water, plus replacement windows to improve thermal performance;

• Walworth Police Station – ASHP for heating with gas-fired boiler top-up for the coldest days (required due to the size of the site).

2.3. If successful the proposed projects would deliver a annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 172.5 tonnes.

2.4. Whilst the final deadline for submission of bids is 11 January 2021 the applications are treated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis and at whatever point the funds are exhausted, no further applications will be accepted.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. This paper seeks approval to submit applications for grant funding for £2.56m for capital works and £40,000 for energy consulancy. If the bid is accepted there will be a reduced call on MOPAC funding for the capital programme of £1.15m and £40,000 on the revenue budget.

3.2. The projects are expected to generate annual revenue savings on energy costs of £29,000.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. If successful, MOPAC may accept this Grant pursuant to Paragraph 7, Schedule 3 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which states that “(1)The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime may do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office. (2) That includes— (a) entering into contracts and other agreements (whether legally binding or not);

4.2. Para 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation provides the DMPC with delegated powers to approve bids for grant funding.

5. Commercial Issues

5.1. Existing MOPAC approved frameworks for Minor & Intermediate Building Works and Construction Professional Services will be used to appoint contractors and consultants to carry out these works.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.

6.2. The projects do not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered.

7. Equality Comments

7.1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

7.2. The MPS report that there are no specific diversity and inclusion matters arising from the application for the grant.

8. Background/supporting papers

• Appendix 1 MPS Report Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Grant Application