Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services

RESOLVED THAT:

-       the £3.688 million grant offered by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under Warm Homes:Social Housing Fund Wave 3 is accepted.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency introduced the report, welcoming the award of £3.688million which would help bring the council significantly closer to its target of all social housing achieving EPC Level C or above by 2030.  He said the ongoing process has multiple benefits, including reduction in heat and energy demand, energy costs for residents, and CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. The improved properties will also be more beneficial to residents health, and move the council closer to its Net Zero goal. He encouraged Cabinet Members to approve the recommendation, which will bequeath a significant and positive legacy beyond the lifetime of CBC.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services said we often forget about the impact a grant such as this will have on tenants, their homes, their children and their ability to live better lives. Helping to achieve Net Zero is good, but caring for our tenants is at the core of everything we do as a housing authority.

Members made the following points:

-       the council has a long history of helping and supporting tenants, from introducing the Decent Homes Standard to investing to improve the tenant experience.  As a critical, forward-thinking council, we take advantage of government announcements such as this; thanks to the Cabinet Members for bringing this forward;

-       the council has been successful in bidding for this government funding, formerly known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and, knowing the benefits of good, energy-efficient homes, it is brilliant that we are on track to have all homes Level C and above.

RESOLVED THAT:

-       the £3.688 million grant offered by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under Warm Homes:Social Housing Fund Wave 3 is accepted.