Decision details

The Community Services Manager outlined the report and advised that work had been undertaken to decarbonise the seven year old fleet (one small electric van for building and the cleaning maintenance team and industrial sweeper). The report outlined that whilst there was a need to continue to look at decarbonising the fleet, service risk failure was a significant risk to consider and therefore whilst options were explored, in the interim the use a transitional fuel of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) could be explored which would generate significant carbon savings as outlined in section seven of the report.

The Chair, Councillor Turner, advised that she was keen to pursue the electrification of fleet vehicles as soon as possible and had undertaken her own extensive research. She informed Committee that Stroud was ahead in terms of the progress being made to decarbonise our fleet compared to other authorities.

The Community Services Manager responded to Members questions with the following responses:

• He would provide the detail to Councillor Green outside of Committee on the total number of days the electric sweeper had been non-functional and the cost implications of this compared to value for money.
• The Chair, Councillor Turner, was keen for him to explore the use of hydrogen however refuelling and the cost of hydrogen was more problematic and expensive currently.
• SDC were looking to use recognised sources to obtain HVO however conversations could be had with Ubico regarding accessing HVO from other areas such as hospitality.
• SDC had currently been consulting with the Operations Manager at Ubico on HVO, however he was open to using local knowledge within the district such as James Hygate who was working on biofuels in Berkeley as Councillor Sutton suggested.
• HVO vehicles were good value for money in terms of carbon saving costs despite being more expensive.

Proposed by Councillor Watson and Seconded by Councillor Layfield.

Councillor Layfield welcomed the transitional step.

Councillor Hynd welcomed the pragmatic and progressive way forward and thanked the officer for contributing towards being a pioneering Council.

Councillor Watson concluded HVO was the most suitable solution at this time for carbon and air quality benefits as an interim solution to full fleet electrification.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.