Decision details

To consider overall principles for the fund and approve selected business cases and delegations.

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the Gateway criteria for the Green Recovery Fund

2)    Approve the outline business cases for retrofit accelerator programme and should there be urgency to delegate approval of the full business case to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executive of the constituent Councils.

3)    Approve the full business case for the Community Pollinator Fund and the award of £1.45m from the Green Recovery Fund

4)    Approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application and the award of £100k from the Green Recovery Fund to finalise the business case for investment in EV charging infrastructure, helping to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.

5)    Agree delegated authority to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Chief Executive of the constituent Councils, to agree the final scope and work required to finalise the Combined Authority’s EV charging proposals.

The Green Recovery Fund represents an initial programme of investment to kick-start a wide range of activity within priority areas for the region to help us advance our journey to achieve our 2030 ambitions and stimulate private investment. It provides one route to funding the proposals set out in the regional Climate and Ecology Strategy & Action Plan. Additional government resources are required, amongst other things, to enable the region to reach our shared 2030 ambitions.

·        Not opening the Green Recovery Fund – not making the fund accessible would further slow down action on tackling the climate and ecological emergencies within the region.

·        Delivering the Green Recovery Fund internally – not opening the GRF to applications from outside the Green Recovery Fund would minimise its impact, and prevent us from further collaborating with our partner Unitary Authorities.