Decision details

1.     To accept the grant funding of £2.2m which shall be used to contribute to the overall costs of improving 187 of Cheltenham Borough Council’s council dwellings, as detailed in Section 4 below, and

2.    To agree to CBC entering into a Consortium Agreement with Stroud District Council.

Under the Government’s £3.8bn Decarbonisation fund, the Department Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) released a competition for £800m grant funding through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1.

The Gloucestershire Housing and Communities Partnership submitted a consortium bid under the SHDF Wave 2.1 competition to retrofit homes to make them warmer, more energy efficient and to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in line with government targets. The bid was submitted by Stroud District Council as the Lead Authority and included proposals for improvement works to a number of properties owned by Stroud District Council, Two Rivers Housing Association, Gloucester City Homes and Cheltenham Borough Council.

The bid has now been successful, and the funding will support carbon reduction measures to 187 Cheltenham Borough Council rented and leasehold homes in line with proposals currently being developed by Cheltenham Borough Homes on behalf of the Council. The works comprise ‘fabric first’ works to 175 rented and leasehold homes to make them more energy efficient and reduce energy demand and the installation of air source heat pump heating systems to 12 rented homes, alongside some fabric measures to make them more energy efficient. The estimated cost to deliver the proposed works is £6m, with grant funding in the region of £2.2m with the remainder £3.8m being funded by the HRA. Budgetary provision for this has already been made and received key decision approval within the HRA capital budget for 2023/24.

In order for Cheltenham Borough Council to accept this grant, it will be required to enter into a Consortium Agreement with Stroud District Council. The grant monies will be claimed and distributed to the respective partners by SDC.

Not to accept the grant funding.  This would deny CBC the opportunity of reducing the financial costs on the HRA with SHDF Wave 2.1 funding contributing towards the cost of planned carbon reduction works.

Cabinet members for Climate Emergency and for Housing are supporting of CBC accepting this grant funding and entering into a Consortium Agreement with Stroud.

Councillor Alisha Lewis – Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency

Councillor Victoria Atherstone – Cabinet Member for Housing