Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund: Public input on spending underway

24 Oct 2024

West Suffolk Council is currently working through expressions of interest (EOI) for decarbonisation projects sent in by councillors on behalf of community organisations in their wards.

The Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund (DIF) supports community projects that advance decarbonisation efforts and contribute to reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy sources. It has already assisted town and parish councils to convert around 1,500 streetlights to light-emitting diodes (LED), saving over 200 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The latest round of the initiative received an enthusiastic response, with 29 EOIs submitted to ward members from across the community. 

Given the high level of response, the council are working through the EOIs with the assistance of the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership, and will follow up with communities as needed, with a view to making funding offers as soon as possible.  

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are thrilled by the community’s response to the Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund and the way they have engaged with their local councillors to submit their ideas. The fund is a key part of the council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fostering environmental resilience and sustainable growth. Each proposal that we received reflects a shared vision of a low-carbon future and we are carefully reviewing these applications to ensure the funding is allocated to projects that will have the greatest impact.”

The assessment process is currently underway with an evaluation of each proposal based on its potential to reduce carbon emissions, feasibility, innovation and alignment with the district’s sustainability goals.

There will also be a paper to Cabinet on Tuesday 5 November to set a framework for how the funding will be allocated between the EOIs to ensure as wide a reach as possible for the money. If this proposal is agreed, grant decisions on the individual applications will then be made in the following months using delegated authorities and shared with the community groups, who will then have a year to get the rest of the funding they need in place.

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