Issue - meetings

This report is due to be pre-scrutinised at a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled to take place on 3^rd February 2022.  Any recommendations from the Committee on this subject will be reported for the Executive Committee’s consideration in a supplementary pack.

The background paper to this item has been published in a separate Background papers pack.

The Housing Development and Enabling Manager presented a report on the subject of Sustainable Warmth Funding.

In opening the presentation of the report, Officers explained that the document contained a few typographical errors.  An incorrect meeting date had been recorded.  The report also stated that the deadline to accept the allocation would be 28^th February 2021 when in fact the deadline would be 28^th February 2022.  Clarification was also provided that the maximum Home Upgrade Grants (HUGs) that could be claimed varied in accordance with the level of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, from £10,000 up to £25,000.

The Council had received a Sustainable Warmth Funding allocation of £357,500.  The funding could be used to invest in homes with EPC ratings D to G, with poor energy efficiency.  The funding consisted of HUGs, for properties not connected to the mains gas and Local Authority Delivery (LAD) grants, for properties that were connected to the mains gas.  In order for households to be eligible to benefit from this grant funding, they needed to have a household income below £30,000 or to be social housing tenants. 

The Council was aiming to recruit a new member of staff to project manage the distribution of the funding as the authority lacked capacity to do this within existing resources.

The Midlands Energy Hub was co-ordinating the Sustainable Warmth Funding scheme in the Midlands.  Act On Energy had been recruited by the Hub to promote the scheme and ensure that the correct funding was provided to the most appropriate households.

Following the presentation of the report, the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change proposed the recommendations and in doing so welcomed the funding and explained that it would help to assist vulnerable households struggling with fuel poverty.  Members were advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had pre-scrutinised the report at a meeting held on Thursday 3^rd February 2022 and the Committee was thanked for supporting the proposals detailed in the report.

During consideration of this item, it was noted that the wording of the second recommendation should be amended to state “following consultation” rather than “in consultation”.  Officers confirmed that this amendment would be reflected in the version of the report that would be published in the agenda for the Council meeting on Monday 21^st February 2022.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the Capital and Revenue Budgets (Housing and General Fund) be increased to receive Redditch Borough Council’s Sustainable Warmth scheme allocation of £357,500; and

2)         delegated authority be granted to the Head of Community and Housing Services and Head of Environmental and Housing Property Services following consultation with Portfolio Holders for Housing and Climate Change to administer the funding received in line with the grant conditions.