This report informs the Committee of the successful bid for grant funding from the Warm Homes Fund and sets out the proposed programme of works.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report to inform the Committee of the award of £337,860 of grant funding from Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS) to support new gas central heating installations in approximately 100 Council tenanted flats and 50 privately owned leasehold flats currently heated by older, less efficient and more expensive electric storage heaters.

The report stated that AWS was a Community Interest Group set up in 2008 by the National Grid with the aim of addressing some of the issues caused by increasing energy prices and the growth of Fuel Poverty in the UK.  AWS established a £150m Warm Homes Fund designed to support local authorities, registered social landlords and other organisations in reducing fuel poverty amongst some of the most deprived neighbourhoods.  

The report explained that in February 2018 the Council had submitted a bid for £377,860 of grant funding and in November 2018 AWS had confirmed an award for the full amount.  The award had been accepted by the Head of Housing and Neighbourhoods in consultation with the Head of Finance and the Lead Councillor for Housing.  The Warm Homes Fund grant would be matched by £300,000 from other sources, including £40,000 grant funding already offered by Yes Energy Solutions and up to £180,000 from SGN (the gas network provider for South East England).  The balance of funding would come from the 2019/20 Housing Revenue Account heating upgrade budget.

The report stated that the funding would be used towards the connection and installation of new efficient gas central heating systems with digital thermostatic controls in 100 Council tenanted flats and 50 privately owned leasehold flats – at no cost to either the tenant or home owner.  These systems were easier to use, cheaper, and more flexible than the electric storage heaters they would replace, allowing residents to programme the systems to meet their needs rather than wait for heaters to charge and then release their heat at set times.

In determining the selection of properties that were to be included in the project, the Housing Service would seek to maximise the grant that each property attracted targeting those properties which were least energy efficient and would target properties in areas of greatest deprivation. Specifically, the financial contribution from SGN was maximised where there was no live gas connection currently in place.  The final schedule and basis of targeting properties would be agreed with the Head of Service and Lead Councillor for Housing.

Resolved –

That the award of £337,860 grant funding from the Warm Homes Fund to help tackle fuel poverty by connecting and installing new gas central heating systems in approximately 100 Council tenanted flats and 50 privately owned flats or houses across Reading, be noted.