Issue - meetings

This report requests authorisation to increase the budget for the Community & Wellbeing Centre boilers replacement project.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)        Authorise additional funding of £55,000 from the Capital Receipts Reserve to deliver replacement boilers and controls at the Community & Wellbeing Centre.

(2)        Authorise the purchase of the equipment required now to carry out the works.

The Committee received a report requesting authorisation to increase the budget for the Community & Wellbeing Centre boilers replacement project.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Alternative heating sources. The Committee noted that officers had investigated the possibility of providing a ground-source heat pump or air-source heat pump for the premises, but that these had been found to not be viable for the building due to its insulation.

b)            Savings provided by new boilers and controls. The Committee noted that the proposed new boilers and controls were estimated to provide a 25% saving in the electricity running costs. This reduction would be relative to the energy costs at the time.

c)            Arrangements during works. Following a question from a member, officers informed the Committee that the works would be undertaken in such a manner as to not disrupt the normal operation of the Centre.

d)            Securing project at current costs. The Committee noted that it was proposed that the works to replace the boilers would be undertaken in the summer of 2023 and considered that Officers should be approved to confirm arrangements with suppliers to avoid inflationary costs.

e)            Amendment to recommendation. Councillor Hannah Dalton proposed and Councillor Liz Frost seconded an amendment to include an additional recommendation as follows:

“That the Committee authorise the purchase of the equipment required now to carry out the works.”

Upon being put the amendment was carried unanimously.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Authorise additional funding of £55,000 from the Capital Receipts Reserve to deliver replacement boilers and controls at the Community & Wellbeing Centre.

(2)      Authorise the purchase of the equipment required now to carry out the works.