Decision details

Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Warm & Well Partnership Renewal

Decision Maker: Housing Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Significant decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The current Warm

Decisions:

The Housing Renewal Manager introduced the report and explained the partnership had been in place since 2001. She stated that the main reason for this was to try to address the problems around fuel poverty and by working as a partnership, it created a stronger position for the Councils to secure bids. She explained that the Committee was being asked to approve the contract extension for an extra 2 years for the warm and well scheme. She further explained the reason behind this was due to the better care funding only being guaranteed for a further 2 years. She informed the Committee the bid for the sustainable warmth competition had been submitted and the decision for this had since been delayed however the report would state otherwise as the decision was expected in October. She further explained if the bid was successful, any gas heating works would not be an acceptable use of the funding.

 

Councillor Green questioned whether SDC could support the funding for the warm and well scheme should the better care funding not be continued. The Housing Renewal Manager confirmed she would hope that to be the case should the funding be removed however, funding for the better care project came directly from central government and although not impossible it was unlikely this funding would be cut. 

 

Councillor Housden requested a breakdown of the costs and asked if this could be delivered in house. The Housing Renewal Manager explained the following Councils within the partnership each provided different amounts in order to pay for the telephone advice line, technical staff etc.

  • Each of the 6 District Councils within Gloucestershire provide £20,000
  • South Gloucestershire provide £30,000 because they are a unitary authority.
  • Gloucestershire County Council provide £60,000.

 

Councillor Miles questioned if park homes would continue to be prioritised. The Housing Renewal Manager confirmed this was not the case with this particular bid, they would still be able to address some park homes however, they would be looking at the wider property market.

 

In response to Councillor Patrick, the Housing Renewal Manager explained due to treasury rules, public funding had to be awarded through a bidding process.

 

Councillor Housden asked whether there were any plans to tie this in with the current retrofit work. The Housing Renewal Manager explained this particular bid is for private sector properties or private sector landlords.

 

Councillor Baker proposed and Councillor Schoemaker seconded.

 

After being put to a vote, the Motion was Carried.

 

RESOLVED

a)    To continue to provide advice and support to those in fuel poverty in the district by renewing the Councils membership of the Warm & Well Partnership for up to a further 5 years; and

b)    To provide Core funding to support the partnership of   £20,000 per annum from the Better Care Fund Disabled Facilities Grant wider social care budget; and

c)    To approve the extension of the Warm & Well delivery contract for a further 2 years; and

d)    To approve as the lead authority, the submission and acceptance of the bid for £5.2 million to the Sustainable Warmth Competition for the energy efficiency improvements to the homes of those in fuel poverty cross Gloucestershire & South Gloucestershire under the Warm & Well Scheme; and

e)    To authorise the Chief Executive to undertake all action as necessary to ensure the delivery of the Sustainable Warmth project, including, in consultation with the Borough Solicitor, the entering into of any legal arrangements or other documentation; and

f)     If successful recommend to Council, the addition of the Sustainable Warmth Bid to Stroud District Council’s capital programme.

 

Report author: Maria Hickman

Publication date: 29/11/2021

Date of decision: 02/11/2021

Decided at meeting: 02/11/2021 - Housing Committee

Accompanying Documents: