Decision details

The report will seek the following decisions;

(i)                 An authority for Kirklees Council to enter into grant agreements to receive both revenue and capital funding from Cheshire West & Chester (as the accountable body for the England’s Community Forests’ Trees for Climate programme) for the White Rose Forest Project – both in Kirklees Council’s capacity as the WRF accountable body and also as a grant recipient;

(ii)               An authority for Kirklees Council to enter into grant agreements (in its capacity as accountable body) with the other parties to the White Rose Forest Project (from time to time) re both revenue and capital funding;

(iii)             An authority for Kirklees Council to enter into grant agreements (in its capacity as accountable body) with third party landowners who are not party to the White Rose Forest Project joint venture agreement;

(iv)              An authority for Kirklees Council to vary the existing joint venture project agreement/enter a new joint venture project agreement for the White Rose Forest Project upon completion of the White Rose Forest Plan expected December 2020.    

1)    That authority be granted to Kirklees Council as the accountable body for the White Rose Forest, for the four key decisions in respect to the ‘Trees for Climate’ grant and revising the joint venture agreement, namely;

(i)            an authority for the Council to enter into grant agreements to receive both revenue and capital funding from Cheshire West and Chester (as the accountable body for ‘Trees for Climate’ programme) re White Rose Forest Project – both in Kirklees Council’s capacity as the accountable body for the White Rose Forest and also as a grant recipient

(ii)          an authority for the Council to enter into grant agreements, in its capacity as accountable body, with the other parties to the White Rose Forest (from time to time) re both revenue and capital funding

(iii)         an authority for the Council to enter into grant agreements, in its capacity as accountable body, with third party landowners who are not party to the White Rose Forest joint venture agreement

(iv)         an authority for the Council to vary the existing joint venture project agreement/enter a new joint venture project agreement for the White Rose Forest Project upon completion of the White Rose Forest Plan expected December 2020.

2)    That authority be granted for the Council to take a leadership role across the geography of the White Rose Forest joint venture to deliver the White Rose Forest Plan as a way of tackling the emergency climate and support a ‘green’ economic recovery.