Opposition councillors have called on Reform UK leaders to reinstate plans for solar panels on council buildings.
A previous Durham County Council pledge to build the devices is set to be scrapped by cabinet members on Wednesday.
Liberal Democrat opposition councillors say the decarbonisation scheme, initially proposed for eight buildings, would have saved £77,000 per year.
But Reform UK argues the local authority is spending too much money on net zero projects. Leading councillors have also pledged to stop buying electric vehicles for council workers.
It comes after the new administration voted to scrap the council’s climate emergency pledge in July, which aimed to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
Urging cabinet members to rethink the decision, Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said: “This project would not only save money, it would cut carbon emissions by 60 tonnes a year, and increase our energy security.”
The former cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change said the council has saved £13 million in the past year through climate-saving efficiencies.
He added: “We are really concerned that the ideology of some members of this administration is coming before common sense. Why on earth would you scrap a project which is going to save so much money?”
Durham County Council received a national award last year for its carbon reduction and was praised for its use of green technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage.
The Liberal Democrat plea was backed by Consett North county councillor Kathryn Rooney, who said: “We cannot see any possible financial reason for scrapping this project. It is a no-brainer. Money has already been spent on preparing for this project, and Reform is likely to have to pay compensation to the contractor too.
“Not only are they willing to give up on £1.5 million of savings, but they will also be wasting tens of thousands of pounds more. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.”
The move to scrap the climate pledge means the council can focus on other key services, Reform UK said.
Darren Grimes, deputy council leader, added: “The Liberal Democrats are trying to dress this up as free money falling from the sky, but the facts tell a very different story.
“This £574,000 scheme depended entirely on borrowing. The supposed £77,000 a year energy ‘savings’ are swallowed almost pound-for-pound by £73,500 a year in debt repayments in the early years, before you even factor in inspection and maintenance costs. That means for the first 8 years - there are no savings at all. Zero.”
Read more
- County Durham economic strategy criticised as a 'talking shop' with no delivery plan
- Council warned support for major North East incinerator is 'starting to fall apart'
- Scheme that penalised anti-social behaviour labelled a 'disaster' by Durham police
The claim that recent climate-saving efficiencies saved the council £13 million in the past year was also branded “smoke and mirrors”.
Cllr Grimes added: “Reform was elected to clean up the council’s finances, not to indulge the Lib Dems’ obsession with green virtue-signalling.
“We’ll back schemes that deliver real, bankable savings for the people of County Durham.”
Share