An apology for absence was received from Cllr E Thandi, with Cllr Hart as substitute.

The minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday 02 January were agreed and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Items called in from the Cabinet meeting on Monday 24 February 2025

The Chair of the Overview Scrutiny Committee has called in the following items for the meeting on Thursday 06 March 2025, 7:30pm: -

Item 9 - Proposal: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be located at Thames Way, Northfleet

Reason:

·         To consider how the decision will contribute to the Council's balancing the budget exercise

·         To evaluate the advice and guidance received to proceed with the decision

·         To consider the environmental and safety risks and opportunities of the decision

Officer: Jamie Izzard, Director of Communities & Inclusive Growth

Item 11 – Local Development Scheme (LDS)

Reason:

·         To understand and evaluate how the Local Development Scheme supports the Council's objective to deliver a 'Robust' local plan

Officer: Tom Reynolds, Director (Environment)

(Please bring the Cabinet agenda for Monday 24 February 2025 previously circulated to Members).

48a.    Item 9 – Proposal Battery Storage System (BESS) to be located at       Thames Way, Northfleet

The Director (Communities and Inclusive Growth) introduced Members to the report that was presented to Cabinet on Monday 24 February 2025, and outlined that:

• Battery storage was becoming more prevalent around the country and provided additional capacity for the grid when energy was available but not being used, primarily through renewable energy such as wind farms.
• When wind farms worked during the night, at a time where the public were less likely to be drawing any energy off of the grid, the energy was then lost and effectively gets wasted.
• The proposal for battery storage would allow for that wasted energy to be stored off peak and released back into the grid when the demand for energy was higher. It was believed that this could reduce wind curtailment by 50% having a significant impact on the amount of wind energy that was being harnessed rather than wasted.
• The scheme covered a site of 1.2 hectares in Northfleet and sits between a sewage plant and Thames way. It had been a scrubland for many years and has not provided the Council with any income since it has had it in its ownership. The proposal would bring an income of around £120,000 per year as a minimum. There would also be additional fees payable if energy being stored on the site went over a certain amount, meaning the income could be up to £175,000 on top of a potential annual turnover share of 4.25% payable to the Council. On top of that, there would also be a £12,000 option fee that would be payable once the initial option was agreed. This would be for a two-year period after which/during the lease would commence and the £120,00 income would start for a period of 37 years.

The Chair noted that there was a separate planning process that was required as part of the scheme. Some Members of the Overview Scrutiny Committee were also Members of the Planning Committee and as such, they were reminded to be mindful that they do not speak in a way that suggested a pre-determined view.

Following questions and comments from Members, the Director (Communities and Inclusive growth) explained:

• The 37-year contract allowed for 35 years of energy production/energy storage, around 12 months of construction at the beginning and there would also be a period for the site to be returned to its previous condition.
• The income generated would be built in as part of the balancing the budget exercise as additional income to be used for the general fund.
• To clarify, the scheme would not directly lower energy bills for residents, but it would have an impact in terms of the overall cost of energy.
• In terms of grid capacity, it lowered the risk of national or local power outages. The scheme would bring additional power to the grid and create additional capacity locally benefiting residents and businesses. It could also provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.