Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andy McGuinness and Ellie Plater.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive a presentation from Officers on the work the Council has undertaken towards retrofitting decarbonisation works to the authorities housing stock and on the scale of work and central government funding required to complete the task and a briefing paper on private homes retrofit and decarbonisation.

The Chair introduced the item by highlighting the purpose of the session, which was to provide an overview of the ongoing retrofit work being carried out by the Council on its housing stock. The Chair emphasised the dual benefits of this work, noting that it contributed to reducing carbon emissions while simultaneously lowering tenants' heating bills and improving the overall quality of housing. This was described as a “win-win” approach, beneficial both environmentally and financially for residents.

The discussion followed a recent site visit attended by the Chair, Councillors Woods and Gordon, and Council Officers, where they viewed renovated flat blocks in Bedwell. The Chair praised the extent and quality of the improvements and expressed hope that similar work could be continued, subject to identifying further funding opportunities. The retrofitted flats were presented as a strong example of what could be achieved in providing high-quality council housing.

The Chair advised that the evening’s presentation would outline progress made to date on the retrofit programme and expressed the intention that the Committee’s discussion would lead to constructive recommendations to support this ongoing work.

The Chair informed the Committee that Councillor Hollywell was in attendance in her capacity as Portfolio Holder for Housing and Housing Development, and Councillor Speller was also in attendance in his capacity as Portfolio Holder for Environment and Performance.

The Chair invited officers to begin the presentation.

Officers delivered a presentation outlining the Council’s work on improving the energy efficiency of its housing stock as part of its decarbonisation strategy. The presentation was structured around key topics as outlined below:

Energy Efficiency Goals:

Target: The Council aimed to achieve EPC Band C for all social homes by 2030. This was in line with the government's expected consultation on requiring all social homes to reach EPC Band C by 2030.

Current Status: While a significant proportion of the Council’s properties were already EPC Band C or above, over 2,000 homes were still rated EPC Band D or lower. These homes were the primary focus of current and future retrofit work.

Average SAP Rating: The average SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating across the housing stock stood at 69, which was slightly above the estimated UK average of 66.

Annual Carbon Emissions: The total annual carbon emissions from the housing stock were approximately 20,733 tonnes.

Data Management:

Systems Used: The Council employed Sava Intelligent Energy, integrated with the Keystone asset management system, to manage and model energy performance data.

Data Collection: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were gathered routinely through stock condition surveys and at the point of re-letting properties. Where EPCs were unavailable, data from completed improvement works, such as installations of new boilers, windows, and doors, was used to estimate energy performance.

Retrofit Strategy:

Approach: The Council followed a fabric-first approach, prioritising improvements such as loft and wall insulation, upgraded ventilation, and installation of efficient windows and doors. Floor insulation was not currently pursued due to its disruptive nature and cost-inefficiency in achieving EPC Band C.

Rationale: Improving the building  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part II Business.