·         This report sets out five programmes of work to support the promotion of home energy efficiency

·         This would give the Council the ability to gain Eco grants and offer home efficiency grants to households in the area

·         Domestic energy usage accounted for a huge amount of Carbon emissions in the region of 138,000 tonnes per annum and this programme would further support the Council’s ambition of becoming Carbon Neutral

·         The Carbon Action Team had scrutinised the Home Energy Efficiency report and requested that three comments be brought to the attention of the Committee, firstly the opportunity to maximise the introduction of renewables by offering less carbon intense forms of heating, secondly to maximise using local supply chains and thirdly for the Officers to keep an eye on any unintended consequences of this programme.  The housing market was currently very fragile, therefore, any detrimental actions arising as a result of the Council’s activities would be kept under review

·         Would like the three comments to be addition recommendations put forward to the Committee

·         Assurance was given that rural housing pockets would be offered the services and interventions being delivered to make their homes energy efficient

·         There are challenges to removing gas boilers and fitting heat pumps but that a programme of retro fitting would be undertaken shortly in conjunction with 361 Energy

(i)            that the five point programme be adopted as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the Officers report,

(ii)          that the cross sector framework to address fuel poverty as set out in Appendix A be noted,

(iii)         the opportunity to use renewables was maximised

(iv)         the use of local supply chains, and

(v)          any detrimental outcomes as a result of the Council’s programme be scrutinised