Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Meeting held remotely via Zoom due to COVID 19 crisis

Contact: Email: committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk  Direct Line: 01403 215465

Items
No. Item

18.

Notes of previous meeting held on 13th January 2020 pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 13th January 2020.

Minutes:

The notes of the meeting held on 13th January 2020 were received by the group.

19.

Report on the Renewal of Energy Purchasing Contract through LASER

The Group will discuss a report from the Head of Property and Facilities

Minutes:

The Head of Property and Facilities presented a report on the options for the appointment of an energy procurement company to provide energy procurement services.  He explained that the Council had had a long standing arrangement with LASER (Local Authority Energy Buying Group).  LASER was a part of the Commercial Services Group wholly owned by Kent County Council.  LASER had completed the tender process for the flexible energy framework contract to run from October 2020 to September 2024.  This required confirmation from its member authorities that they wished to participate.

 

The Head of Property and Facilities explained that it was the Council’s preferred option to be able to buy energy over a period of time.  By enabling the buyer to purchase blocks of energy both before and within the contracted supply period, it removed the risk of settling an energy requirement on a single day.  The contract arrangement provided for the use of a green tariff which supported the Corporate Plan priority of protecting the environment and increasing biodiversity.

 

The Members of the Finance and Assets Policy Development Advisory Group noted the report and supported the recommendation to continue the arrangement with LASER.

20.

Forward Plan Extract for the Finance and Assets Portfolio pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Finance and Assets Portfolio

Minutes:

The Group noted the Forward Plan extract for the Finance & Assets portfolio.

 

Councillors asked questions around the current levels of cash collection.  The Director of Corporate Resources said that the Council had tried to introduce a cashless payment system in the Council’s rural car parks when charging was introduced but many customers so far had preferred cash.  It was thought the rate of cashless collection might increase due to the COVID 19 situation.