Agenda item

a)    Joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services.

b)    Presentation by Cliff Duff, Housing and Regeneration Project Manager, Regeneration and Local Services

The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services that provided members with details of projects and schemes available in the county to tackle fuel poverty (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Members received a presentation from the Housing and Regeneration Project Manager that focused on the following:-

• Who are the fuel poor
• National and local context
• Map of fuel poverty in County Durham
• Delivery and monitoring
• Fuel poverty programmes
• County Durham Warm Homes Campaign
• Central Heating Fund
• Managing Money Better
• New for 2017/18

The Chairman referred to the fuel poverty map and sought clarification if the fuel poverty in rural areas had changed under the new fuel poverty calculations.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager advised Members that under the new calculations the number of properties in fuel poverty had decreased but rural areas had remained the same as properties in these areas use more expensive fuels.

Councillor Jopling referred to properties that had previously never had central heating and asked once the heating system had been installed do we provide support in relation to understanding heating bills and budgeting to pay the resulting bill.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that when a new boiler was installed under the scheme, NARA would attend the property to deliver training on how to use the system, this would then be followed up with a further two call backs and a help line for advice and support. British Gas would be the default energy supplier for a period of 28 days with a free home visit as part of the Managing Money Better (MMB) scheme providing the opportunity for the user to switch to an alternative supplier.

Councillor Hall referred to other local authorities providing the opportunity for local users to purchase energy cheaper via setting up their own municipal energy company and sought clarification as to whether this was something Durham County Council had considered.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that this may be something that they will look at in the future. However, Livin was currently in the process of looking at offering ESCO in 2018/19 the contract to supply energy to its properties when they become vacant. It is possible that if this project is successful then it would be extended for use by other housing providers in the county.

Councillor Gardner referred to tenants in short term private rented properties who tended to be the most in debt with energy companies and asked was there anything that the authority could do to support these tenants.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that they worked with private landlords and provided them with details of grants that were available to the private sector. If tenants in the property were on benefits they may be eligible for a grant which would benefit both the tenant and landlord. Managing Money Better scheme was also available to tenants in the private housing sector providing advice on fuel debt and switching energy supplier. It was highlighted that the MMB team can also help to get fuel debt written off.

Councillor Clare referred to the £6.5 million awarded to the Local Authority partnership l via the Central Heating Fund and commented that only £1.8 million had been spent in County Durham and asked the Officer to explain what had happened to the remaining £4.7m in funding. He also asked if the Managing Money Better Scheme only offered tariff advice or were they able to advise tenants on various grants available.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that the £6.5 million was shared between the nine local authorities in the Warm Up North project and that Durham County Council’s share was £1.8m. He continued that reaching residents was a challenge for the service but all £1.8m had been spent. In relation to the Managing Money Better scheme this was managed by the Housing Solutions Service as is the Warm Homes Campaign which provides the opportunity for the Managing Money Better when carrying out home visits to provide advice and support in relation to tariffs and also various grants available via the Warm Homes Campaign.

Councillor Hall referred to it often being difficult to get individuals to accept that a service or product is free and asked if the service had targeted relevant areas of the county with leaflets. He continued by suggesting that members could help promote the various grants and support available if copies of the relevant leaflets were placed in members lockers. The Officer responded that the service did promote the various schemes and that he would be happy to supply members with copies of the relevant leaflets.

The Chairman asked if they used partners such as job centre plus to promote the various schemes. The Officer advised that he thought the service did use JCP however he would check and respond to the member. He continued that the service uses 900 separate local community to promote the Warm Homes Campaign and suggested that if members were aware of any further venues that they contact him directly and any further venues could be added to the mailing list.

Mr Kinch indicated that he lived in a rural area which was unable to get gas so he used oil which he had to order on mass. He continued that the oil companies will not deliver unless the order is above a certain amount with a minimum order costing £500 which had to be paid on order. This meant that he was unable to spread the payments via a direct debit throughout the year and he wondered whether there were any arrangements in the County to bulk buy and thereby reduce the cost.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that Community Action Northumberland is an organisation that bulk buy oil to help members get the lowest possible prices for oil via the OilCAN scheme and he continued that the scheme had been promoted via the Warm Homes Campaign however it could be further promoted via the Durham County News.

Councillor Clare asked if Managing Money Better was facilitated by Durham County Council or was it contracted out.

The Housing and Regeneration Project Manager responded that Prince Bishops Community Bank were employed by Durham County Council. The Council promote the scheme and it is managed by the Housing Solutions Service however it is a member of staff from the Prince Bishops Community Bank who undertake the home visit.

The Chairman thanked the Officer for a very informative presentation.

Resolved: (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That a further progress report be included in the work programme for 2018/19.