Agenda item

a)    Joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

b)    Presentation by Richard Hurst, Sustainability Education Development Advisor, Children and Young People’s Services

The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services that provided members with details on the progress of a number of school programmes that engage pupils with outdoor and sustainability learning (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Members received a presentation from the Sustainability Education Development Advisor that focused on the following:-

• School carbon background
• In school support available for Secondary Schools, Academies and Primary Schools
• Energy Portal System
• School energy costs
• School Energy Data for the period 2008-2016
• Energy Performance Contract for schools
• Capital opportunities – Salix
• Renovation for Energy efficient Building (REBUS)
• Other programmes

The Chairman thanked the Officer for a very informative presentation and asked if he could provide some further analysis in relation to schools energy performance so that members could see if the CO2 reductions was a result of more schools leaving service level agreements (SLAs) or a ‘real’ reduction by schools in CO2 levels and would the programme continue to be viable in the future if schools continue to drop out of SLAs.

The Sustainability Education Development Advisor responded that the CO2 emissions were reducing before the two schools withdrew from the SLAs. However, he would be concerned if more schools withdrew from SLAs for the sustainability of the programme.

Councillor Gardner indicated that LED lighting made a difference and was the data readily available on the savings. He also asked if savings could be made during an evening when electricity costs were lower. (NB. Energy costs for schools depend on the tariff, smaller schools have a standard rate across the day, larger sites have a three band rate (day, peak (4-7.30pm) and night).  The Sustainability Education Development Advisor responded that they could provide some data on LED savings which can be significant. He also advised Members that they were not there yet with battery storage but this would be the next big step.

Councillor Patterson asked the Officer to expand on the challenges faced in working with schools.

The Sustainability Education Development Advisor indicated that time tabling in secondary schools was the biggest challenge so they used carousel themed days to get around this. Primary schools were easier to engage and most were working well with the service. They also provided annual training for business managers and caretakers. A small pilot was currently being run in Chester-le-Street schools were they were using energy to teach maths.

Councillor Patterson asked if Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee could receive the report and presentation at a future meeting to make members aware of how much schools could save.

The Sustainability Education Development Advisor commented that he does present information on savings to the School Business Managers Forum.

Councillor Clare asked in relation to the SCRP, it is responsible for delivering financial savings but also for undertaking curriculum work with schools how do these elements of the programme cross over or are they run as two separate/distinct elements of the programme. The Sustainability Education Development Advisor advised members that the SCRP programme had been successful in working with schools to make energy savings whilst making young people financially aware of the cost of energy as well as how to save energy.

The Chairman advised Members to contact the officer if they wanted to view the energy portal.

Resolved: That the report be noted.