Issue - meetings

RESOLVED that 1) the Warm Homes Local Grant Fund of £1.2m be formally accepted,

2) the Service Level Agreement with Bassetlaw District Council is extended to enable them to deliver the scheme on behalf of Bolsover District Council.

Executive considered a report, presented by Councillor Phil Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing, which provided information in relation to the Warm Homes Local Grant.  The report also sought Members’ approval to accept the grant funding of £1.2m to enable substantial improvements to the energy efficiency of resident’s homes across the District.

The Warm Homes Local Grant was a Government fund which allowed local authorities to work with eligible residents to install energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon measures to homes across the District.  The scheme aimed to deliver both energy costs and carbon savings for eligible households and would cover all fuel types.

To be eligible for the scheme, residents would need to be a homeowner or private sector landlord whose property had an Energy Performance Certificate of D or below.

There were three qualifying pathways that a household could take:

·       gross household income under £36,000 or

·       in receipt of a specified means tested benefit or route 2 of Energy Company Obligation flex or

·       live in an Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) area 1-2. These households would automatically qualify for the scheme.

It was anticipated that there would be considerable interest from property owners, whether owner occupiers or private landlords, and the Council would need to be prepared and manage expectations whilst seeking to help as many residents live in a warmer home.

It was proposed that Bassetlaw District Council would deliver the project on behalf of the Council under the current Service Level Agreement between the two authorities.

Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders

RESOLVED that: 1) the Warm Homes Local Grant Fund of £1.2m be accepted,

2)    the Service Level Agreement with Bassetlaw District Council be extended to enable them to deliver the scheme on behalf of Bolsover District Council.

Reasons for Recommendation

By accepting the grant, the Council was meeting its corporate ambitions of working towards net zero and would be supporting low income and vulnerable households in improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

The Council could refuse to accept the grant, but this was not considered an option.  The Council could look to deliver the project in-house, however, additional resource over and above the allocated admin and ancillary allowance would be required, and so outsourcing to Bassetlaw was the preferred option.