(1)Each authority listed in Schedule 20 must prepare, in respect of each year (beginning with 2017), a report containing a buildings efficiency and sustainability assessment.
(2)A “buildings efficiency and sustainability assessment” is an assessment of the progress made by the authority, in the year to which the report relates, towards improving the efficiency and contribution to sustainability of buildings that are part of the authority’s estate.
(3)A report must, in particular, include an assessment of the progress made by the authority, in the year to which the report relates, towards—
(a)reducing the size of the authority’s estate, and
(b)ensuring that buildings that become part of the authority’s estate fall within the top quartile of energy performance.
(4)If a building that does not fall within the top quartile of energy performance becomes part of the authority’s estate in the year to which the report relates, the report must explain why the building has nevertheless become part of the authority’s estate.
(5)A report under this section must be published not later than 1 June in the year following the year to which it relates.
(6)In carrying out its functions under this section, an authority must have regard to guidance given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
(7)For the purposes of this section, a building is part of an authority’s estate if—
(a)the building is situated in the authority’s area, and
(b)the authority has a freehold or leasehold interest in the building.
(8)The Minister for the Cabinet Office may by regulations provide for buildings of a specified description to be treated as being, or as not being, part of an authority’s estate for the purposes of this section.
(9)In this section, “building” means a building that uses energy for heating or cooling the whole or any part of its interior.