Issue - decisions

The MCS Foundation is offering organisations the opportunity to bid for grant funding. They are looking to fund retrofit-related projects as defined as supporting energy efficiency or renewable generation measures to domestic buildings (including improving uptake). This is in line with their objective to make every UK home carbon free. Grants of up to £50,000 are available through a competitive bidding process.

This decision is to agree to CBC to lead and submit a consortium bid (with other district councils within Gloucestershire) for grant funding from the MCS Foundation.

The proposal: Future Fit Homes Heat Pump Roadshow

Domestic (Total events: 12 over a 12-month period)

As an extension of the very successful Future Fit Homes Cheltenham retrofit project, and as a direct result of positive feedback to ‘test and learn’ heat pump demos in Cheltenham in March 2025, this proposal focusses on taking an air source heat pump out to communities across
Gloucestershire (this is a fully operational heat pump with working radiators, hot water cylinder and buffer tank giving people an opportunity to experience the sound, size and heat type for themselves). The events revolve around the value of show and tell, seeking to debunk the myths and position heat pumps (and wider associated renewables) as a highly viable low-carbon option to gas and oil boilers.

Green Skills (Total events: 6 over a 12-month period (bi-monthly))

To make best use of the mobile rig and trainer’s time, in some locations we propose to extend the demos to Career Hub (and hopefully trade) locations for staff-only training sessions. We will provide careers advisers with a tailored 45-minute overview of heat pumps and the countywide opportunities available for heating engineers. Our aim is to engage and enthuse those who have a frontline opportunity to influence others; an audience who we believe has been overlooked in terms of their importance to communicating the benefits of Green Skills.

CBC will be lead applicant, and funds recipient, on the MCS bid, and will host the officer responsible for leading the project work. Funding will cover an additional 9 months off CBC officer time (REO officer or externally recruited) to lead the project. CBC match funding is for staff time in-kind and has been reviewed by relevant Teams. Three of the other district councils and the county council, supported by the CLG Climate Change Coordinator are also providing staff time in kind. In addition, GCC are providing match funding of £5,000.