The Director of Technical Services reported upon the progress of the  various projects currently being undertaken by the Council, its LSP and other partners, to ‘Reduce Wirral’s Carbon Footprint’, which was a Corporate Priority in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2010/11, and supported NI 186, one of Wirral’s LAA Targets.

The Committee was  requested to note and endorse the progress made to date on these ongoing projects as highlighted in the Wirral Wide Carbon Reduction Action Plan (Appendix A refers).

In response to questions from members regarding the promotion and take up of the home insulation scheme, the Director explained the scheme had been advertised and was now underway. Arrangements had been made for the most deprived areas to be targeted directly through the Energy Projects Plus Organisation.

It was noted that funding beyond March 2011 from HMRI  was uncertain, but there was still a need to provide heating grants in priority areas to low income households that did not qualify for the government’s grant scheme.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Williams:

“That the  Committee:

(1)  Note the performance and progress of the various Wirral-wide ‘Carbon Reduction’ projects undertaken by the Council and its LSP and other partners.

(2)  Endorse the various joint ‘Carbon Reduction’ projects being  undertaken, and support future proposed projects.”

It was moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor McLachlan  that the motion be amended by the addition of the following paragraph:

“That the Council lobby the Government with a view to ensuring that HMRI funding continues past March, 2011 failure to do so will lead to the previous funding being wasted and other areas will not receive the benefit of this investment.”

The amendment was put and lost (2:7)

The motion was put and carried (9:0)

Resolved (9:0) – That the  Committee:

(1)  Note the performance and progress of the various Wirral-wide ‘Carbon Reduction’ projects undertaken by the Council and its LSP and other partners.

(2)  Endorse the various joint ‘Carbon Reduction’ projects being  undertaken, and support future proposed projects.