Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Report Title
18 October 2011
Fuel Poverty Update Report
Are there background papers?
Yes
x
No
Exempt
Yes
x
No
Key Decision?
Yes
x
No
If Key Decision is it on the Forward Plan?
Yes
x
No
Decision for Full Council?
Yes
x
No
Reason for Exemption?
Ward(s) affected?
All
Responsible Cabinet Member name
Keith Johnson
Contact Officer
Karen Hill
E-mail address
Karen.hill@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Telephone number
01263 516183
Are there Non Electronic Appendices?
Yes
x
No
List of Background Papers
File Location:
PLEASE REFER TO SECTION 7 OF THE GUIDANCE NOTES FOR TEMPLATES
Implications / Risks:
Have you identified & explained within the report the
implications of the options available to members?
Yes
x
None
Yes
x
None
(Implications should include financial, legal and links to the
Council’s existing policies and strategies)
Have you highlighted the Risks to the Council?
Financial Implications and Risks to the Council
should have their own separate headings. It is not
acceptable to simply state that financial implications or
risks have been alluded to in the main body of the report.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
18 October 2011
Have you considered Sustainability issues in relation to
this report?
Yes
x
None
Yes
x
None
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Management Team
Yes
x
Not apt
Relevant Strategic Director
Yes
x
Not apt
The Chief Executive
Yes
x
Not apt
Sustainability should have its own separate heading. It
is not acceptable to simply state that Sustainability has
been alluded to in the main body of the report.
Have you considered Equality and Diversity issues in
relation to this report?
Equality and Diversity should have its own separate
heading. It is not acceptable to simply state that Equality
and Diversity has been alluded to in the main body of the
report.
This report has been subject to the following processes:
Consultations with:
Cabinet Member
n/a
Local Member
n/a
S151 Officer
n/a
Monitoring Officer
n/a
Democratic Services Manager
n/a
Communications Manager
n/a
Other Head(s) of Service:
n/a
Others:
n/a
Please confirm this report has been signed off by:
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
18 October 2011
Agenda Item No______13_______
Fuel Poverty Update Report
Summary:
Conclusions:
A report on Fuel Poverty was presented to Overview and Scrutiny
Committee in March 2011. Members requested an update report
in October 2011
The Stay Warm and Cosy initiative was launched in
March 2011. To date 135 households have been visited
and a survey of their properties completed. Bespoke
advice has been given to these households which
identifies how they can improve the energy efficiency of
their home.
The Housing Services Team will continue to offer this
service whilst resources allow.
Recommendations:
To support the continuation of the Stay Warm and Cosy initiative
Cabinet member(s):
Ward(s) affected:
All
All
Contact Officer, telephone number,
and e-mail:
1.0
Introduction
1.1
A report on Fuel Poverty was presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee in
March 2011. The Council was due to launch the Stay Warm and Cosy initiative
later that month and Members requested that an update report be provided in
October 2011.
2.0 Background
2.1 The effect of fuel poverty on health is well recognised with poor housing identified
as a key factor in health inequality. It is now widely accepted that energy efficiency
improvements can lead to positive gains in health and wellbeing by making homes
warm and heating affordable.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
18 October 2011
2.2 Rates of fuel poverty are greater for households occupying dwellings with a low
SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating compared to households in
dwellings with a higher SAP rating.
2.3 The average SAP rating for properties in North Norfolk is 59 which compares to
the national average of 51. Approximately 5% of dwellings in North Norfolk had a
SAP rating of 30 or below compared to 9% nationally.
3.0 Stay Warm and Cosy
3.1 The Stay Warm and Cosy initiative was launched in March 2011. It was due to be
a joint initiative between the Housing Services Team and the Sustainability Team
with additional support being provided by the Environmental Health Team once the
initiative had been established. Due to staffing shortages in the Sustainability
Team the initiative was launched as planned but thus far has been delivered solely
by the Housing Services Team.
3.2 Letters have been sent to households in the following Wards;
Cromer
Fakenham
Holt
North Walsham
Sheringham
Walsingham
Wensum
and the town of Stalham.
3.3 The letter invites the householder to have a free energy efficiency survey of their
home which calculates the SAP rating and which identifies measures that can be
taken by the householder to improve the energy efficiency of their home thus
increasing the SAP rating and reducing fuel costs.
3.4 The letters have in the first instance been sent to households in receipt of Welfare
Benefits with mailing lists being provided by the Council’s Benefits Team. The
service will in time be extended to all residents.
3.5 In addition the Housing Services Team has offered the service to households who
it has visited in the normal course of its work including to Disabled Facilities Grant
applicants, tenants who have contacted the Team regarding the condition of their
property and who are being assessed under the Housing, Health and Safety
Rating System and Houses in Multiple Occupation resulting from complaints or
programmed inspections.
3.6 135 surveys have been undertaken to date with a further 8 due to be undertaken.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
18 October 2011
3.7 The response rate has been low but the service has been very well received by
those who have had the survey undertaken and we have received enquiries from
some households who have heard of the service by recommendation.
3.8 A number of officers from the Housing Services Team attended the Council’s
Green Build event and although this only resulted in a small number of referrals for
the initiative there was a great deal of interest in energy efficiency and a large
number of residents who are not economically vulnerable seem to be investing in
energy efficiency measures.
3.9 The Housing Service has as a result of its attendance at Green Build received a
request from a Parish Council to support a community open event which its is
holding to respond to energy efficiency being identified as a priority in its Parish
Plan.
4.0 Officers from the Housing Service recently attended an open event at the
Mundesley Medical Practice and promoted the initiative along with other services
delivered by the team.
4.1 The Housing Service will further promote the scheme through stakeholders
including Members, Town and Parish Councils, County Council, Medical Practices
and the voluntary sector.
4.2 An article will be drafted to be included in the next edition of the Council’s
magazine Outlook.
4.3 Officers can give general energy efficiency advice along with details of current
initiatives which either deliver energy efficiency measures free of charge to eligible
applicants or subsidised / low cost measures to those not eligible including through
Warmfront and energy companies through CERT (Carbon Emmission Reduction
Target) obligations. Officers can also give advice on other measures including
renewable products and Feed in Tariff but these are not generally options for
those on Welfare Benefits.
4.4 The focus of the advice will need to change with the imminent introduction of the
Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation which will eventually replace
Warmfront and CERT schemes.
4.5 The Council does not itself give grants for property improvements or specifically
energy efficiency measures and has not done so for approximately 4 years.
5.0 Conclusion
5.1 The Stay Warm and Cosy initiative was launched in March 2011. To date 135
households have been visited and a survey of their properties completed. Bespoke
advice has been given to these households which identifies how they can improve
the energy efficiency of their home.
5.2 The Housing Services Team will continue to offer this service whilst resources
allow.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
6.0 Recommendation
6.1 To support the continuation of the Stay Warm and Cosy initiative
18 October 2011