Issue - meetings

The Chair presented the Review of the Council’s Energy Policy (the ‘Policy’) for Local Housing to the Committee, praising the Scrutiny Officer for the fine work.

The Committee had agreed to review the Policy as part of the 2023/24 Work Programme to ensure the Council had a clear energy efficiency Policy and the District had long-term energy resilience across all housing stock.

The Policy would be presented to the Executive on 29th July 2024.

Key issues identified included the following:

·       Restrictions placed on energy related grants;

·       Current impact of energy costs on the cost-of-living crisis and long-term health impact of cold homes;

·       National changes in expected Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings; and,

·       Potential to generate income via Dragonfly Development Ltd. offering energy improvements to private sector.

The Chair stated most of the recommendations would likely be accepted and developed, though recommendation 4 was likely the Committee formulating Council policy more than fulfilling its role as Scrutiny; this recommendation would likely be developed by the recently recruited Climate Officer in the future.

The Chair noted the establishment of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for all new build property within 3 months was the main aim of the Committee’s work.

The Chair referred the Committee to Page 49 of the report and where stakeholders were listed.  Thanks were expressed for the Portfolio Holder for the Environment and the Scrutiny Officer in particular.  A Member added the Scrutiny Officer had done very well collating the Committee’s thoughts into one document.

A Member noted the report would prove highly useful in the future and help identify and support any/all opportunities moving forwards.  The work accomplished had been marvellous.

Moved by Councillor Mark Hinman and seconded by Councillor Carol Wood

RESOLVED that; 1) the Council establish a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for all new build property within 3 months.  Upon completion of the Housing Stock Condition Survey (estimated April 2025), the Council must establish a strategy for improving energy efficiency within Council Housing Stock;

2)     that the Council publishes information regarding grants and energy efficiency on the Council website;

3)     That the Council continues to feature educational articles in Intouch magazine and Bolsover TV on energy efficiency grants for homes;

4)     that following the Council’s appointment of the new Climate Officer, opportunities be investigated for realistic ways that the Council and Dragonfly Development Ltd. can work together to offer energy improvements to the owner-occupier sector and to assess whether a pragmatic package can be put together to achieve this; and,

5)     that the Council consolidates all existing policies, strategies and plans regarding EV charging stations for Bolsover District into one clear document/web page article dedicated to the topic of the Council’s approach to EV charging points.