Agenda item

Members received an update from the Cabinet Member for Environment and on the main outcomes of the Home Energy Upgrade Scheme project to upgrade eligible private properties in the district with energy efficiency measures.

The UK had some of the oldest housing stock in Europe and this had been recognised by South Kesteven District Council to upgrade the housing stock to make the houses more energy efficient and reduce heat loss to make them safe, suitable and comfortable for their inhabitants.

In February 2021 the Government published its latest fuel poverty strategy and following its publication the Sustainable Warmth Competition for local authorities was launched for local authorities bringing together two distinct fuel poverty funding schemes: Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 (LAD3) and Home Upgrade Grant Phase 1 (HUG1).  The funding offered to local authorities was to support households living in energy inefficient homes to support low carbon heating upgrades.  The report updated the Committee on the main outcomes of the scheme, the Home Energy upgrade scheme.  To maximise the outputs of the scheme South Kesteven District Council worked in partnership with North Kesteven, West Lindsey and the City of Lincoln to deliver the project and get best value for money, as the Central and South Lincolnshire Consortium. 

At the close of the scheme within South Kesteven a total of 49 properties were upgraded with one or more energy efficient measures.

Following the scheme an opportunity was identified to provide some more specific and tailored support to Lincolnshire residents around home energy efficiency and successful bid was submitted.

Further funding via the next round of the Home Upgrade Grant scheme (HUG2) had been secured and would be delivered on the same consortium basis with West Lindsey being the lead authority.

The Sustainability and Climate Change Officer stated that the report was for information only and that the promotion of on-going schemes to residents by Members would be welcomed.

A discussion on the report content followed with questions/comments being made about the following:

·       The decision to only go to E, F & G EPC rated properties not D which had meant that funding had been returned as it had not been used, could this not have been used for D properties?

·       It was noted that one of the challenges of the scheme was finding E, F & G EPC rated properties. Band D properties were currently the national average and the aspiration was to increase these properties to a band C by 2030 nationwide.  Finding properties E, F & G was difficult.  The terms and policy of the scheme was set by the Government; the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as it was now known.  The Council delivered the scheme according to the terms set.  The terms had been changed for the LAD element and the HUG element regarding band D properties and through LAD3 more band D properties had been delivered. The focus had been on properties which had the most need which were E, F & G EPC rated properties.

·       It was confirmed that HUG1 funding was closed but HUG2 was currently being delivered which targeted low income properties which were did not have gas central heating. 

·       The Council had a role in delivering ECO4 funding which was available for properties with gas heating and was branded under the Home Energy Upgrade Scheme.

·       Solar Panels could be part of an upgrade scheme but each property had to undergo a survey to find the most efficient energy upgrade for that property.

·       It was noted that funding for the ECO4 scheme was not allocated directly to a local authority, it came from energy companies, the small part that the Council played was in respect of verifying the eligibility of some residents.

·       Listed properties remained difficult to upgrade, for example consent was always required for solar panels to be added.

The Sustainability and Climate Change Officer stated that she was happy to circulate information to the Committee after the meeting on the funding available and where to access it.

Members noted the report.

Ø Action

That the Committee be circulated with information on the current funding available in respect of accessing home energy upgrades.