Agenda item

Questions from Members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2.

Minutes:

The following questions were received from Councillor Paul Brown:

 

1.    How many new-build homes have been occupied in Mid Sussex and equipped by the developer with solar PV systems in the financial year 2020-2021. What is the aggregate peak power capacity and the kilogrammes of CO2 equivalent emissions saved by these installations?

 

The following response was provided by the Cabinet Member for the Housing and Planning.

 

The Government does not require new homes to be built with solar PV systems so it is not data that we would gather. We focus on future requirements as laid down by Government.

 

There are two different regulatory regimes which relate to the development of new homes: planning and building regulations.  Building regulations set mandatory standards regarding carbon reduction which must be met by developers; the Government does not require the same of the planning system. It is therefore down to the developers to meet the building regulations which they measure to show their compliance.

 

The Future Homes Standard sets out the Government’s latest changes to building regulations to ensure the reduction in carbon emissions of 31% from the 2013 level. This comes into effect in June 2022 and by 2025 (the same year when gas fired boilers are no longer permitted in new development) the Future Homes Standard will require carbon reduction emissions of between 75% - 80% compared to current levels. 

 

It is worth noting that to achieve a high energy performance rating from a building the starting point should be to minimise the need for energy consumption by ensuring a high level of insulation. This is the basis of the ‘fabric first’ approach. If the fabric first approach is followed it has been proven that heat pumps (either ground or air source) are in fact more effective than solar panels.

 

The Cabinet Member also noted that information is available about DP36 but reminded Members that during examination the Inspector said the Council should not be so prescriptive in standards regarding greenhouse emissions.

 

Councillor Brown asked a supplementary question asking what information may be available on the installation of PV systems in affordable housing? The Cabinet Member agreed to ask Officers what information is available on this subject and write to him.

 

2.    What is the peak installed power capacity of the solar PV system installed at ‘Oaklands’ Council Offices? What was the total energy generated and the equivalent kilogrammes of CO2 emissions saved by this system in the fiscal year 2020-2021?

 

The following response was provided by the Deputy Leader

 

The peak capacity of the solar PV system in the Council offices is 28.6 kw.

 

The annual report on the sustainability strategy, reported to Scrutiny Committee on 10 March 2021 stated that “PV panels on the Council’s buildings produced 27,404 kwh of solar electricity during 2020-21 [the full year total increased to 27,467 after the reports publication]; a carbon reduction of 6.9 tonnes. This accounts for approximately 10% of the council’s electricity demand. Overall, since 2017, 88,493 kwh of pollution-free electricity has been generated, the equivalent of the annual emissions from 25 homes.”

 

She also noted that the SERCO depot at the Bridge Road Industrial Estate saved about 6000 tons of carbon per year.

 

Councillor Brown asked a supplementary question seeking clarification as to whether the response referenced carbon dioxide equivalent or carbon? He also sought clarification on the numbers provided as there were 6.9 tons of co2 savings at Oaklands and 6000 tons at the SERCO depot. The Deputy Leader agreed to provide a written response.