The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report providing an update on the progress made to date in developing a business model which facilitated the build of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling station in Leeds. In addition, the report sought approval to the request for a commitment from the Council to support the project, including a commitment for the additional funding required for the fleet conversion. Furthermore, the report sought the Board’s support for the Council’s involvement in OFGEM’s Network Innovation Competition (NIC), which would look to fund elements of a CNG filling station project.
Members welcomed the submitted report, highlighting how the proposals would help in an environmentally sustainable way to further establish the Leeds Enterprise Zone and also develop the local economy.
RESOLVED –
(a) That support be given for the Council’s involvement in the NIC bid;
(b) That approval be given to the injection of £1.58 million into the Capital Programme to be fully funded by unsupported borrowing (contingent on the success of the NIC bid), for use as set out in the submitted report;
(c) That authority be given to provide the Director of Environment and Housing with the necessary delegated powers to enter into the contractual arrangements with Northern Gas Networks (NGN) for the delivery of a gas main connection;
(d) That in principle support be given to the decision to enter into arrangements with a private sector partner to deliver a CNG station, which is anticipated to be a joint venture.