Agenda item

Note:              Councillor P. Swift left the Council Chamber at 6.35pm

The Committee heard from the Healthy and Accessible Homes Team Leader who explained that the Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) had submitted an expression of interest to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for Government funding through Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG) on behalf of the Central and South Lincolnshire Consortium comprising of West Lindsey, North Kesteven, City of Lincoln and South Kesteven Councils. Confirmation of the exact amount of funding was awaited, however details would be shared in due course.

It was intended that funding secured from DESNZ would be used to carry out a range of improvements on homes owned by low-income families in the district, making them warmer, reducing energy bills, and improving the quality of citizens’ lives. A decision was required to accept the grant award once received, and sanction return of the grant funding agreement from the S151 Officer. This approval would enable delivery of the scheme to start immediately, with installations commencing as soon as contracts were in place, and release spend from the administration allocation which would fund the Energy Efficiency Project Officer post hosted by the Council.

Members of the Committee sought confirmation that the funding of the Officer post came from the administration fees within the scheme and did not become the sole responsibility of West Lindsey District Council. This was confirmed to be the case, there were no on-costs to the Council.

Note:              Councillor I. Fleetwood declared a personal interest and left the Chamber at 6.41pm

A Member of the Committee requested that the mapping information was shared once available, to which Officers confirmed this would be done. In supporting the scheme, it was highlighted how it tied in with other initiatives in place, for example through the Wellbeing Lincs service, and it was encouraged that information and awareness be shared as widely as possible.

Note:              Councillor T. Bridgwood declared a personal interest and left the Chamber at 6.45pm

During the course of the discussion, concerns were raised regarding the eligibility criteria, with some Members feeling they were too restrictive. It was, however, noted that the ongoing success of the scheme would provide evidence with which to lobby government for an extension of the scheme and therefore a widening of the criteria.

Attention was drawn to a typing error within the report, with Members seeking clarification that the figures shown were in need of correction. This was confirmed to be the case, with the correct figures having been provided.

Having been proposed and seconded, and with no further comments, the Chairman took the vote and it was

            RESOLVED that

a)    the award of funding, once received for Warm Homes Local Grant from Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH), be accepted, and the signing of the grant funding agreement by Section 151 Officer, for return to MNZH, be authorised; and

b)    a new capital scheme be created in the Capital Programme and a capital and revenue budget be created for the WHLG once funding agreement has been signed.

Note:              Councillors T. Bridgwood, I. Fleetwood and P. Swift rejoined the meeting at 6.47pm