Agenda item

Affordable Warmth Strategy

Meeting of Health Policy and Performance Board, Tuesday, 8th March, 2011 6.30 p.m. (Item 59.)

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Adults and Community which introduced the recently developed Affordable Warmth Strategy set out in Appendix 1 to the report. The strategy described the causes and consequences of and solutions to fuel poverty and related these specifically to the impact on people in Halton.

The Board was advised that fuel poverty was a problem that affected approximately 600,000 households in the North West and 4,900 (12.2%) of households in Halton. Although this figure is lower than the national average of 13.2 per cent it still represented a substantial number of households. Fuel poverty was a problem that had become worse in recent years due to the rise in fuel prices and given the current financial climate it was likely to become an even greater issue for a wider number of households.

The Board was further advised that households in fuel poverty, many of which included vulnerable people, were unable to heat their homes adequately in order to maintain comfort and health. Living in cold homes could lead to an increase in cold related illnesses, affecting quality of life, increasing the risk of hospitalisation and/or dependence on informal carers or care services.

The report advised that since 2000 Halton had directed significant resources towards improving the energy efficiency of private sector housing through the Energy Zone Scheme which had provided cavity wall and loft insulation to homeowners at significantly reduced costs. Additionally, in recognition of the health inequalities prevalent in the Borough the HEARTH programme had been launched in 2005 to install adequate heating in the homes of people with heart and respiratory conditions. Complementing the HEARTH programme, npower Health through Warmth (HtW) operated in Halton as part of the Merseyside HtW programme.

In addition, it was reported that many residents eligible residents of Halton had accessed the government Warm Front Scheme which also provided more efficient heating systems and insulation measures. However, it was likely to come to an end in the next 2 years and be replaced by a new Green Deal which was designed to off set the upfront cost of installing energy efficiency measures through households paying back as they made energy savings on their utility bills. The utility companies had also been tasked in recent years with providing funding to make dwellings more energy efficient and demonstrating the carbon savings they had made to the Government through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).

It was also reported that the key aims of the Affordable Warmth Strategy were to:

· Raise awareness and understanding of fuel poverty;

· Establish effective referral systems amongst agencies;

· Improve the housing stock so it is affordably warm;

· Maximise incomes and improve access to affordable fuel; and

· Ensure coordination and monitoring of the strategy.

Each aim had a corresponding list of associated actions contained in the Action Plan.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

· It was noted that on cold days many older people visit the library and it was suggested that the publicity campaign incorporate the library;

· It was noted that a saving could be made by changing energy providers and having a duel bill. It was suggested that the Council could consider establishing a list of the best energy providers in the country, highlighting deals etc which could be published to make people in the Borough aware of their options. It was also noted that ex armed services people could access information via the British Legion;

· It was noted that it was unlikely there would be any subsidised double glazing schemes available because of the cost implications and the considerable time it would take to pay the money back;

· It was noted that many subsidised schemes were subject to an individual being on specific benefits and it was highlighted that many people were unaware that they were entitled to some benefits resulting in billions of benefits being unclaimed. The importance of raising people’s awareness of benefits was also noted;

· It was acknowledged that there were problems with private landlords whose properties were not up to standard. The Council, it was reported had an accreditation scheme for private landlords but this was on a voluntary basis. However, if it was found that a property was meeting the required standard the Enforcement Officer could take appropriate action.