Agenda item

The Director of Housing submits a report updating the Commission on the work the Housing Division is doing to respond to the climate emergency.

Members will be requested to note the contents of the report.

The Head of Service presented the report to update the commission on work being undertaken within the service to respond to the climate emergency. It was noted that:

·       Energy efficiency is considered in all areas of the capital programme whereby there are various programmes within the housing division.

·       The new build housing programme considers energy efficiency on a site-by-site basis but all seven sites, including Stocking Farm and the Forest Lodge Education Centre, will be developed and deliver energy performance above current building regulations.

·       Housing stock is identified across ten construction types including brick, MHC and steel amongst others. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are assessed for properties when housing stock is let or significant work undertaken. 

·       The approach to existing stock is always fabric first in accordance with government policy and focusses on solid wall properties as they are thermally inefficient. 874 solid wall properties remain to be insulated but these are the most challenging, for example terraced housing.

·       Brick cavity wall construction types have an average EPC of C and therefore have not been identified as a priority.

·       MHC properties have been identified as priority 2, and two pilot schemes have been undertaken at bungalows in New Parks and Eyres Monsell. 

·       Steel frames houses are priority 3 and mainly found in New Parks. Investigations have been undertaken with a planned specification for an improvement scheme.

·       Timber properties have an average rating of C, with the best performing in Rowlatts Hill, and therefore have not been identified as a priority.

·       All insulation is match funded with government grants whereby the division were successful in a bid as part of social housing decarbonisation 1. A further bid has recently been submitted for 2.1. The service will continue to work with energy companies too as part of energy company obligations.

·       Work is also underway by the division to explore alternatives for energy consumption post-gas.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·       The district heating network was proposed to supply new developments and buildings. The overall total cost of DH is comparable to the open market. The standing charge is higher because the network supplies less properties than national utility companies. If more properties are supplied by the network then economies of scale should result in standing charges decreasing.

·       New social homes are being built to current insulation standards and is anticipated that heat demand will therefore be less. Discussions with the sustainability team also recommended the use of district heating to supply some of the new social housing developments as decarbonisation pathway plans should make it a viable supply.

·       Government policy has only recently allowed local authorities to build new social homes and therefore whilst sites such as Southfield Newry have been vacant for some time, since identifying the site for new social homes there have not been significant delays with bringing this forward.

·       All identified sites for new social housing have their own construction programmes and some delays have been encountered with contractors going into liquidation. The service is currently out to tender to appoint new contractors to continue to deliver sites as soon as possible.

·       The timetable of retrofitting properties is dependent on government funding and associated criteria usually attached to funding for what the local authority is able to deliver.

·       All EPCs are visible on the government website. Any major works require an EPC assessment to be undertaken but the service is currently developing an energy IT module within its system to be able to record any improvement works and have live data on the EPC ratings of properties.

·       The climate emergency is a national issue but there is not a long-term or sufficient funding commitment from government nor capacity in the industry to suitably retrofit all properties. Funding usually requires local match funding which is becoming increasingly difficult with pressures on the Housing Revenue Account. It is also cyclical over short periods and companies have therefore not invested or have left the market due to the lack of certainty and stop-start schemes.
Councillor Waddington highlighted funding available through Skills Bootcamps and proposed officers liaise with the economic development team about the potential to consider training programmes for developing skills and improving capacity in the industry locally.

The Chair asked the tenant and leaseholder forum representative for comments in which he expressed concerns regarding district heating charges. It was noted that the Commission had identified issues with the figures to be charged to tenants and leaseholders at the previous meeting and that the Director for Housing note the comments when considering the appropriate energy supply for new development schemes.

The Chair highlighted that a member of the public had provided representations around the retrofitting agenda that had been shared with her and that she was aware the concerns were being addressed by officers.

AGREED:

·       The Commission noted the report.

·       Comments regarding district heating charges be noted by the Director for Housing.

·       Officers to liaise with the economic development team about Skills Bootcamps.