Issue - meetings

To inform Members of the introduction of National Indicator 187 which deals with the Council's performance in Tackling Fuel Poverty, seek authority to provide additional financial incentives to provide home insulation and also to undertake an area based home energy conservation and affordable warmth initiative.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)                 applications be invited from house owners in the Borough aged 60 or over, living in a Council Tax band A to D property and not in full time employment or in receipt of benefits, to have loft and / or cavity wall insulation installed in their homes;

2)                 applications be invited from accredited private landlords in the Borough, owning tenanted properties in a Council Tax band A to D, to have loft and / or cavity wall insulation installed free of charge; and

3)                 applications be invited from the owners of pre-1919 houses in the Town Centre area to apply for lifetime loans, to enable their homes to be adequately insulated and heated, on a non-means tested basis covering 50% of the cost of the work.

The Committee considered a report on the introduction of National Indicator 187 (NI 187) with effect from April 2008.  Officers reported that NI 187 had been included in Worcestershire County Council’s Local Area Agreement (LAA) and, therefore, the Council would be obliged to identify those people living in fuel poverty in poor housing conditions.  Monitoring of performance in tackling fuel poverty would be required from April 2009.

Members were informed that applications to three schemes would be managed as follows:

Over 60’s Scheme

Applications be limited to the first 200 installation measures at an approximate cost to the Council of £40,000 in total.

Landlord’s Scheme

Applications be limited to the first 100 installation measures at an approximate cost to the Council of £20,000 in total.

Town Centre Scheme

Applications be limited to a budget of £40,000.

Officers reported that the British Gas Council Tax Insulation Scheme would continue in 2009/10 and that the Government’s Warmfront Grant scheme was ongoing.  The results of a heat imaging project would be available in June 2009 and would provide information to target areas more effectively.

Members suggested that the scheme be publicised through the Council’s Climate Change website.

RESOLVED that

1)                 applications be invited from house owners in the Borough aged 60 or over, living in a Council Tax band A to D property and not in full time employment or in receipt of benefits, to have loft and / or cavity wall insulation installed in their homes free of charge;

2)                 applications be invited from accredited private landlords in the Borough, owning tenanted properties in a Council Tax band A to D, to have loft and / or cavity wall insulation installed free of charge; and

3)                 applications be invited from the owners of pre-1919 houses in the Town Centre area to apply for lifetime loans, to enable their homes to be adequately insulated and heated, on a non-means tested basis covering 50% of the cost of the work.