Issue - meetings

Appendix 4 to this report is contained in the exempt section of the agenda.

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced a report on proposals relating to the procurement of gas and electricity supplies to the Council in anticipation of the expiry of the existing contractual arrangements with LASER in 2016.

The Cabinet Member explained that an options appraisal had identified the appointment of a specialist energy broker, procured through an open tender process, as the most economically advantageous route.  The new contractual arrangements would also give the Council access to additional expertise in respect of the plans to create an energy services company (Minute 115 below).

The Leader spoke in support of the proposals and asked officers to look into the possibility of utilising grant funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change towards the project.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree to the procurement and appointment of an energy broker and to proceed via the broker to procure the Council’s gas and electricity supplies in accordance with the proposals set out in the report;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, the Director for Housing, the Director of Children’s Services and the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to negotiate terms and agree the contract documents to fully implement and effect the project for the term, including any options to extend; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to award and execute all of the legal agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.