Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport seekingapproval on the delivery of the ‘Low Carbon across the South East’ (LOCASE) project funded via European Regional Development Funds which will aim to support businesses across the South East Local Enterprise Partnership to improve their energy efficiency.

1.            The Sustainable Business Programme Manager and Head of Sustainable Business and Communities, Mrs McKenzie, introduced a report that sought approval for the delivery of the Low Carbon across South East (LOCASE) project funded via European Regional Development Funds.  She advised that the project’s value was £18 million and was an accessible business support programme across the SELEP area, providing grants to small businesses.

2.            Mrs McKenzie responded to questions by Members as follows:-

a)    Mrs McKenzie advised that the usage of water did not within this funding.  She gave examples of how the funding could be used by a business eg a feasibility study, an audit, marketing, relocation etc to increase its efficiency in low carbon.

b)    Mrs McKenzie was able to forward a list of companies to Members that had received support in the last round of funding.  She explained that her Team provided generic advice and had procured a framework of suppliers to give to businesses. 

c)    There would be a strict criteria followed before funding a business.  The businesses were assessed by the Sustainable Business Team then by the Funding Panel. 

d)    Mrs McKenzie explained that as part of the proposal for EU funding, KCC had agreed to contribute £134,377 in-kind match funding over three years of the project.  She was able to provide figures from the last round to Members outside the meeting.  Mrs McKenzie’s advised that her Team, over the three years, would bring in £18 million which was good value for money.  

e)    It was agreed that a report and appendix headed “European Funding Update” submitted to the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee on 3 March 2016   be forwarded to Members. This report indicated that, based on the projects already approved and others in the course of being evaluated, over £45 million in EU funding was likely to have been secured by Kent by the end of the first quarter of 2016 in support of its priorities.

f)     Members were assured that no funding would be forwarded to the successful businesses that applied for funding until the EU grant funding was banked and receipts from the businesses were received. 

g)    Mrs McKenzie concluded that the funding was secured until 2020 regardless of the outcome of the European Referendum.

3.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)   the responses to questions by Members be noted; and

(b)   the Cabinet Committee endorsed the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to approve the delivery of the Low Carbon across the South East as detailed in appendix A of the report.