Agenda item

To receive a report from the Environment Team Leader on the Action on Energy Scheme.

(Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Member for Environment, was in attendance for this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Environment Team Leader (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which provided an update on progress with the delivery of the Action on Energy scheme within the District. In introducing the report, Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Member for Environment, reported on the award of £7.8 million of grant funding to the whole of Cambridgeshire from the Government’s Green Deal Communities Fund. The funding would be distributed on a first come first served basis across Cambridgeshire.

The Environment Team Leader advised Members that the Action on Energy scheme was launched in November 2013 and had been designed to provide residents with a trusted local authority backed way of obtaining home energy efficiency improvements. Whilst the funding would predominantly be used to help residents meet the costs of installing solid wall insulation, a proportion would be used to encourage property owners to make energy efficiency improvements within the private rented sector. Members’ attention was then drawn to the terms of the Government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, which offered residents a cashback incentive to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. They were advised that the Council had also received £26,000 of revenue funding to offset the cost of Officers distributing the funding and a further allocation of £10,000 for the St Ives Green House to showcase Green Deal products and technologies. Having regard to the latter, the Executive Member for Environment reported that the Council intended to dispose of the two properties by the end of the financial year.

In response to a question by a Member, it was confirmed that publicity for the scheme would be targeted at qualifying households, which predominately existed within the fen area of the District. A further question was asked about whether there was sufficient take up by businesses of training of installers. To date, 18 companies had achieved accreditation and more were in the pipeline. It was then confirmed that any works undertaken by an accredited installer would be guaranteed for 25 years. In the event that a company ceased trading within the guarantee period, responsibility for the works would rest with the Government. An alternative accredited provider would undertake any remedial works. The Council would have no liability.

Having noted that a trial scheme to insulate park homes was currently being undertaken in St Neots, the Panel requested that the findings of the scheme were reported Members in the future. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the work of the Council’s Environment Team in delivering Action on Energy to ensure maximum benefit from the scheme for the residents of Huntingdonshire be noted;

(b)  that the award of significant grant funding of £7.8 million from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Green Deal Communities Fund to enhance the offer to householders be welcomed; and

(c)  that the positive revenue implications of the scheme including an anticipated revenue income for the Council of £10,000 per annum from measures installed and a further £26,000 during the current financial year to offset the cost of Officer time spent managing and implementing the Green Deal Communities Fund grant in the District be acknowledged.