On the 30 June 2025, the Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Economy & Skills:
(i) Accepted the LUF capital grant of £19,999,126 to deliver the National Centre for the Decarbonisation of Heat and enter into the relevant funding agreement with Government (attached at Appendix 1 to the report);
(ii) Approved the City Council acting as the accountable body for LUF funding of £19,999,126 for the National Centre for Decarbonisation of Heat project;
(iii) Pursuant to the City Council’s role as Accountable Body to pass down £19,519,760 of the LUF Grant to the University of Birmingham who will be responsible for the construction of the National Centre for the Decarbonisation of Heat via a funding agreement within the deadline of 31st March 2028;
(iv) Pursuant to the City Councils role as Accountable Body, to pass down £479,366 of the LUF Grant to South and City College for the refurbishment and fit out of a training facility to complement the National Centre for Decarbonisation via a funding agreement within the deadline of 31st March 2028;
(v) Noted that MHCLG has agreed to extend the funding profile beyond March 2028 on the basis that there has been a significant delay since original project submission in June 2022 and this is reflected in the MoU with Government that has been issued for the project attached at Appendix 1 to the report; and
(vi) Authorised the Acting City Solicitor to negotiate, execute, seal and complete all necessary documentation to give effect to the above recommendations.
THE DEADLINE FOR CALL-IN IS 1600 HOURS ON THURSDAY 03 JULY 2025.