The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report presenting a paper “Low Carbon Homes – Key Issues and Challenges” which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The paper summarised current activity and proposals to reduce emissions from the Council’s housing stock, highlighted the scale and nature of the challenges associated with meeting the ‘net zero by 2030’ target for housing; and proposed development of two Low Carbon Housing Action Plans (one for RBC housing stock and one for the private sector) as part of the Council’s response to these challenges.

The report stated that domestic energy use contributed to circa 40% of Reading’s carbon footprint and explained that most housing in Reading did not meet the standards required to meet both local and nation “net zero” standards, although the Council’s own housing did perform significantly better than the national average.  Local policies were in place to ensure that new housing did not add unduly to Reading’s carbon footprint but the biggest challenges were around retrofitting both public and private housing stock, fuel poverty and uncertainty around future Government funding streams.

The report proposed that officers draw up two low carbon action plans, one each for the private sector and RBC housing stock, to provide a detailed roadmap for the future, including the need to resource this area to achieve the targets.  The final actions plans would be submitted to the Committee for approval by March 2022.

Resolved:

(1)      That the significance of housing in delivering the ambition of a net zero carbon Reading by 2030, and the significant challenges associated with delivering this ambition set out in the paper at Appendix 1 be noted;

(2)      That the need to realign priorities and resources in the short and medium term to more effectively address the challenge of housing retrofit in Reading, and the steps being taken in this regard as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted;

(3)      That Low Carbon Action Plans be developed for (i) RBC housing stock and (ii) private sector housing as proposed in Appendix 1 to the report be supported and submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 10 March 2022.