Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Healthy and Accessible Homes Team Leader regarding the Warm Homes Local Grant. It was explained that Midlands Net Zero Hub had secured funding via the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero for Government funding through Warm Homes Local Grant on behalf of Midlands Councils. This included the Central and South Lincolnshire Consortium comprising of West Lindsey, North Kesteven, City of Lincoln and South Kesteven Councils.

An allocation of £5,027,000 had been allocated to the consortium to deliver the new grant initiatives under the Warm Homes Local Grant scheme. Funding secured from the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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 residents’ lives.

It was highlighted that a decision was required to accept the grant award, 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.

The Chairman invited the Interim Head of Paid Service to comment, who highlighted the profile and confidence given to the Healthy and Accessible Homes Team Leader and her team by the consortium. The Chairman echoed the comments and noted it was excellent to see the council as the lead Local Authority, requesting for the commendation to be recorded.

Members of the Committee expressed their support for the scheme, however it was enquired as to whether there was scope to lobby government for more to be done regarding low-income families living in poor quality rented accommodation, with no ability to access the funding for improvements. It was recognised to be a national issue, with rural localities struggling in comparison with urban areas. Members were encouraged to consider using the District Councils Network as a lobbying avenue to government. On further discussion, it was proposed and seconded that there be a third recommendation relating to further lobbying, and on being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that an additional recommendation be added to read “Members approve that a request be taken forward to make representation to the District Councils Network to lobby government regarding the access to grant funding.”

It was highlighted that the team provided first class support and trusted information, with Members encouraged to share the details of the team in order to maximise the communities involved with the scheme.

With no further comments, and repeated thanks to the team involved, the printed recommendations, and the additional as detailed above, were duly proposed and seconded. On taking the vote it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the award of £5,027,000 funding on behalf of Central and South Lincolnshire Consortium for the Warm Homes Local Grant from Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) be accepted, and signing of the grant funding agreement by Section 151 Officer be authorised, for return to Midlands Net Zero Hub; and

b)    the creation of a new capital scheme in the Capital Programme be approved, and a capital and revenue budget be created for the Warm Homes Local Grant once funding agreement has been signed; and

c)    a request be taken forward to make representation to the District Councils Network to lobby government regarding the access to grant funding.