WEST Berkshire Council (WBC) is being urged to switch to a 100 per cent renewable energy provider.

Jeanette Clifford, the lead councillor for the environment, was asked by a member of the public about whether the council uses a renewable energy supplier, at a council meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Clifford said WBC buys its energy collectively with other councils, so she did not know how much energy came from renewable sources.

In December 2018, West Berkshire Council paid £127,827 for gas, electricity, and energy. Taxpayers paid £30,668 to British Gas, £14,090 to Corona, and £80,709 to EDF.

Caitlin Burbridge, a community organiser with Citizens UK, said: “Councils have a responsibility to seek the best value for money for their residents, and spending on energy should be no different.

“With many smaller suppliers offering cheaper tariffs, and often green energy, councils should look to shop around rather than continue to stick with the Big Six.”

WBC announced on Tuesday plans to spend £750,000 on installing solar panels on council buildings. Generating some of its own energy could save the council £30,000 a year.

Cllr Clifford said: “We will start with a pilot that will generate at least 600,000 kilowatt hours a year. That’s enough to power around 150 average UK homes, so it’s a good start.

“The pilot will cover the costs of capital, generate substantial annual savings and eliminate the emission of 270 tonnes of carbon a year. And once we’re underway, we’re ambitious to grow it from there.”

A group of demonstrators gathered outside the council building in Newbury on Tuesday before the meeting, calling for more action on climate change. Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green party, gave a speech to the crowd.