IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION

Venue: Ann Rhodes Community Date: Wednesday, 19th October, 2011 Centre, Bierlow Close, , Rotherham. S73 0TJ Time: 1.00 p.m.

A G E N D A

Please note the venue for this meeting: - Ann Rhodes Community Centre, Bierlow Close, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham. S73 0TJ (Map attached) - THERE WILL ALSO BE A TOUR OF THE DEMONSTRATOR PROPERTY AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

1. To determine whether the following items should be considered under the categories suggested in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended March 2006) of the Local Government Act 1972.

2. To determine any item(s) the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered later in the agenda as a matter of urgency.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission held on 7th September, 2011 (copy attached) (Pages 3 - 6)

4. Fuel Poverty Energy Conservation (Paul Maplethorpe, Affordable Warmth and Sustainable Energy Co-Ordinator, to report) (Pages 7 - 17)

• Policy Context and Background. • Fuel Poverty in Rotherham. • Information Sheet for Members.

5. Tools, Advice and Practical Measures to Conserve Heat & Energy (Presentation by Paul Mablethorpe, Affordable Warmth And Sustainable Energy Co-Ordinator)

6. Dearne Valley Eco Vision Project (Presentation by Joanne Wehrle, Dearne Valley Eco-Vision Project Manager) (briefing note attached) (Pages 18 - 21)

7. Date, time and venue for the next meeting:- WEDNESDAY, 30 th November, 2011 at 1.30 p.m. at the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham. S60 2TH

Page 1 Agenda Annex

The Anne Rhodes flat lies in the community of Brampton Beirlow Rotherham

Anne Rhodes Community Centre Bierlow Close Brampton Bierlow Rotherham () S73 0TJ

And is surrounded by bungalows whose residents use the community centre below the flat.

Care should be extended to the residents when parking.

Green dot indicates place of flat

Page 2

Paul Maplethorpe Affordable Warmth & Sustainable Energy Coordinator Asset Management Environment and Development Services Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Tel: 01709 334964

Page 3 Agenda Item 3 1E IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION - 07/09/11

IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION Wednesday, 7th September, 2011

Present: - Councillor Whysall (in the Chair); Co uncillors Andrews, Atkin, Dodson, Ellis, Falvey, Havenhand, Hodgkiss, Johnston, Middleton, Nightingale, Pickering, Read, P. A. Russell, Sims, Swift and Wright.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beaumont, Gilding, Gosling, and Co - optees Messrs. Carr, B. Walker and Jepson.

9. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

10. QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

There were no questions from members of the press and public.

11. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING OF THE IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION HELD ON 6TH JULY, 2011

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission held on 6 th July, 2011.

Resolved:- That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

12. HOUSING ADVICE AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION

The Commission considered the submitted report which provided a s ummary of the provision of housing advice and homelessness prevention activity currently offered by Key Choices. The report also set out the key challenges faced by the service, and updates Members on the Government’s proposed changes set out in the Localism Bill.

Sandra Tolley, Housing Choices Manager and Philip Syrat, Housing Options Co- ordinator provided information to the Commission on:-

• Key Choices – provision of housing advice and Choice Based Lettings – applying for housing • Housing allocation policy

A demonstration was given of the Abritras system.

A discussion took place followed by a questions and answers session covering the following:-

- Availability of other means of making a bid for a property i.e. telephone, free Internet in libraries, the Property Shop, neighbourhood offices

- What is the process was used for identifying existing rent arrears

- Reasons people would be prevented from bidding Page 4 IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION - 07/09/11 2E

- Did the limit of 3 bids in any week penalise people?

- Definition for Priority Plus noting the limitation of five areas for which to bid

- Ability of the system to record number of bids received, number of bids withdrawn and to identify demand in certain areas

- Other functions and uses of the Abritras system

- Current housing policies

- Bidding for areas in which customer has a local connection

- Role of the Housing Assessment Panel

- Problems created by adding a likely indication of entitlement date

- The Key Choices Letting Scheme Guide

- Number of people on the Register and the weekly availability of properties

Sandra Tolley, Housing Choices Manager also provided information to the Commission on:-

• Proposed changes set out in the Localism Bill and their impact • Homelessness prevention advice • Rough sleepers

A further questions and answers session ensued covering the following:-

- The contribution of this Commission into policy development arising from the Localism Bill, particularly in relation to Tenure reform, allocations and homelessness.

- Safeguards and assurances were offered in relation to the power of the Council to bring the homelessness duty to an end with offers of suitable private sector accommodation, without requiring the agreement of the person owed the duty. Concern was expressed that properties needed to be of a satisfactory standard – assurance was given by confirming that all properties were inspected prior to letting.

- Impact of changes in housing benefits in Rotherham and number of claimants likely to be affected from April 2012.

- What criteria would be used to decide whether someone was offered lifetime security of tenure

- Working with the rent guarantee organisations, landlords and environmental health (enforcement). Page 5 3E IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION - 07/09/11

- Criteria used for counting the number of people sleeping rough.

- Costs associated with the Abritras system.

- Prison visits and re-offending.

- Ability of Abritras system to monitor customers who repeatedly move between private to council housing.

Resolved:- (1) That the Select Commission undertakes a short spotlight review of the Abritras system in six months, using knowledge & intelligence gathered from Councillors’ surgeries and community contacts.

(2) That the Select Commission undertakes a review of the implications of the Localism Bill, after it is enacted, in relation to housing allocations & homelessness, benefits & tenure reform.

13. ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT (AFCC)

The Commission considered a report and presentation from Christine Majer, Policy Officer, which provided a briefing to the Commission on the progress made in the preparation of an Armed Forces Community Covenant.

The Commission was asked to consider the key challenges and service issues rising from the provision of housing advice and tenancy services for ex-service personnel and their families.

Information was provided to the Commission on:-

- The background to the proposal - The definition of the Armed Forces Covenant and its proposed content - The role of the Council in establishing its own Armed Forces Community Covenant - Existing policy and the Armed Forces in respect of housing and education - The proposed process for the establishment of the AFCC through working with partner organisations - Anticipated number of ex military personnel in Rotherham

It was pointed out that there was no budget allocation for this work other than staff time to develop the initiative. However at national level the Government had set aside £30m over 4 years, profiled at £5m for the first two years and £10m per year for the following two years.

Discussion, questions and answers session ensued covering the following:-

- risks and sacrifices and unique position of military personnel; - proposal that Rotherham should be Vanguard for the development of the AFCC; - the percentage & number of Rotherham residents currently in the armed forces; - collation of up to date figures on the number of ex AF personnel; these Page 6 IMPROVING PLACES SELECT COMMISSION - 07/09/11 4E

should be recent cases as distinct from 'long time 'ex veterans'; - Arrangements should be made for the MOD to notify Local Authorities of all AF personnel leaving the forces as this occurs; contact details need to be provided so that Local Authorities can ensure that housing and other service needs are met; - The AFCC should also include Employment and Healthcare to assist the transition of ex-military personnel and their families back into civilian life; - Members suggested that the AFCC is considered by the Health & Well Being Board; - links to the work to prevent rough sleeping.

Resolved:- That the comments of the Select Commission be reported to the Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues, and that the report on the Armed Forces Community Covenant was welcomed.

14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

The following issues were raised: -

(i) Report on the Scrutiny Review re:- Private Sector Housing

It was reported that the report was currently being completed.

(ii) Report on the Scrutiny Review of the Council’s Response to Extreme Weather

It was reported that this report would be presented to Cabinet in October.

(iii) Select Commission’s workload and agenda items

Reference was made to the above.

15. DATE, TIME AND VENUE FOR THE NEXT MEETING:-

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Commission be held on Wednesday, 19th October, 2011 as follows:-

1.00 p.m. Tour of the Brampton Demonstrator property

The Anne Rhodes flat lies in the community of Brampton Bierlow.

Address:- Anne Rhodes Community Centre, Bierlow Close, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham S73 0TJ

2.00 p.m. Select Commission Meeting at the above venue.

Page 7 Agenda Item 4

ROTHERHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL – REPORT TO MEMBERS

1. Meeting: Improving Places Select Commission

2. Date: Wednesday 19 th October 2011

3. Title: Fuel Poverty

4. Directorate: Environment and Development Services

5. Summary Fuel poverty is a serious problem and one which has grown significantly in recent years (35,000 households in according to the 2006 Fuel Poverty Indicator data). Government figures may underestimate the number of households in fuel poverty

6. Recommendations (1) Note the content of the report. (2) Assess the feasibility of forming a 'Fuel Poverty Working Group' within the LSP to deal with Fuel Poverty issues.

7. Proposals and Details Fuel poverty occurs when in order to maintain satisfactory heating (21 0C in the living room and 18 0C in other rooms) a household needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel. A combination of factors contribute to fuel poverty:  Low household income  Poor heating and thermal insulation standards to properties  High fuel costs  Under occupation, especially amongst the elderly.

Generally, it is the most vulnerable members of society who are most at risk from the effects of fuel poverty - elderly, disabled, young children or long-term illnesses. Income and fuel price rises have brought increased numbers of households into fuel poverty from groups outside the traditional focus on the elderly.

Estimates suggest that some four million households in the UK in 2009 were in fuel poverty, and thus had difficulty in keeping their homes warm at an acceptable level of cost. The highest levels of fuel poverty will be in the private sector, particularly privately rented homes, and older buildings.

Further details and data are at Appendix A 'Policy Context / Strategic Background - Fuel Poverty & Energy Conservation'.

The permanent solution to deal with fuel poverty is to ensure homes are energy efficient to the extent they are not affected by changes in income and energy prices. This is not possible using existing schemes and levels of funding. Eradicating fuel

Page 8 poverty needs the help of many organisations linked together and a chief partner should be the Health Authority.

Carefully planned action through initiatives that are targeted and funded to fill the gaps in existing schemes and projects is required. A key action is an area based coordinated programme, assessing house by house and street by street to ensure the most appropriate package of improvements is carried out and advice for each household is available. This would be undertaken to a programme designed to tackle the worst areas first, but needs to be supplemented by measures to identify and tackle particularly vulnerable households elsewhere, in need of urgent action. Additional information is at Appendix B 'Fuel Poverty & Energy Conservation Fact sheet'.

8. Finance Financing of insulation and energy efficiency is to change radically in the next year. A levy on household energy bills, expected to be £35, to pay for a new finance mechanism for insulation and renewables is being introduced. This levy will place yet another financial burden on householders.

9. Risks and Uncertainties Many of the present funding mechanisms for providing help are being removed in preparation for Green Deal. The Green Deal is the Coalition Government’s flagship policy for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Great Britain. The Green Deal will create a new financing mechanism to allow a range of energy efficiency measures, to be installed in people’s homes at no upfront cost and is expect to be available from autumn 2012.

Houses in fuel poverty are already often in debt. The future policy could add a further burden of debt to households. The scheme and therefore the Government’s success in eradicating fuel poverty will be shown through the uptake of the new financing mechanisms.

10. Policy and Performance Agenda Implications In line with the Outcomes Framework, the service provided by RMBC is linked to:  The fourth key line of assessment theme (KLA4) “Exercise of Choice and Control”. This enables tenants to have an influence on their environment while promoting significant savings that could make a difference to a household experiencing fuel poverty.  The second key line of assessment (KLA2) ‘Improved Quality of Life’. This potentially allows people to have greater control over their income and will better inform them of the energy use of the home they choose to buy or rent alleviating fuel poverty.

11. Background Papers and Consultation Consultation has been carried out with Neighbourhood and Adult Services and Economic and Development Services

Contacts Paul Maplethorpe, Affordable Warmth & Sustainable Energy Coordinator ext. 34964 [email protected]

Ian Smith, Director of Asset Management ext: 23850 [email protected]

Page 9

Appendix A.

Policy Context / Strategic Background - Fuel Poverty & Energy Conservation

There is no single cause of fuel poverty; it arises from a combination of 4 main factors. 1. Low household income 2. Poor heating and thermal insulation standards to properties 3. High fuel costs. 4. Under occupation, especially amongst the elderly population,

Generally it is the most vulnerable members of society who are at risk from the effects of fuel poverty - elderly, disabled, young children or long-term illnesses.

Cold and damp homes, which are inadequately heated and insulated, have repeatedly been linked to ill health and early deaths amongst the most vulnerable people in society.

Nationally, there are around 34,200 excess winter deaths 3,500 in Yorkshire and Humber (winter 2008-09). It is estimated that for every 1 0C that the winter temperature drops below the average, there will be an associated increase of 8,000 excess winter deaths. Over 50% of excess winter deaths are from heart disease and stroke, and a third are from respiratory diseases such as bronchitis.

Furthermore, there is a 20 per cent difference in excess winter deaths between the coldest and warmest homes. If people in hospital with respiratory problems are discharged to a cold home it is likely that they will be re-admitted to hospital within a month. It is estimated that treating cold-related illnesses cost the NHS £1 billion every year, in addition to the cost to industry through lost working days.

Item 9 - Fuel Poverty - what is the extent of this in Rotherham? Link to the wider inequalities across the Borough? Reference to the JSNA here? Local Impact of cold/extreme weather on our population? Preparing for cold winter weather

The population of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is 252,300. The district is mainly urban and covers 109 square miles.

This graph shows that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has a much higher proportion of privately rented housing than the national average.

Page 10

Rotherham Metropolitan District Council housing tenure

100.0

80.0

60.0 Rotherham UK 40.0 Percentage

20.0

0.0 Ow ner Privately rented Rented from Rented from Other occupied local authority housing association

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council household type

60 50 40 England 30 Rotherham 20 Percentage 10 0 r t e r a c e e t t h e a c h e d e r O T o n D e t a c h e d m a i s e m i - d e t / S l a t F C aravan / m obile

The graph above shows that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has a higher percentage of detached and semi-detached housing than the national average and a much lower percentage of terraced housing and flats and maisonettes.

There are 13 Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the Rotherham area, managing 3,538 properties. The council works in partnership with other RSLs in the area on referral networks for fuel poor tenants.

The average SAP figures (using SAP 2009 methodology) for English housing in 2010 were:  60 (overall)  47 (private sector; rented and owned scored similar amounts)  72 Is the average SAP for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s own housing stock of 21,000 properties; this is above the national average.

Page 11

Background – National Fuel Poverty Statistics The most recent Government figures are:

A recent report for the Rowntree Foundation (Jonathan Bradshaw et al, A minimum Income Standard for Britain, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, July 2008) sought to establish the minimum incomes needed by different household types and this has been used to suggest a new approach to assessing fuel poverty. The approach looks at income available for fuel after minimum living costs have been met. This analysis suggests that numbers in fuel poverty are underestimated. It concludes that government figures are biased towards single person households and those who own their homes outright, both groups the members of which are mainly elderly. Conversely government figures are biased against other groups, particularly larger families with small children, renting or with a mortgage. These distortions are seen to be serious and, for example, the proportion of households with dependent children in fuel poverty increases by 4 to 8 times under this definition

As the second approach does not deal with the health effects of fuel poverty, felt by the elderly in particular, it would be prudent to assume that the ‘real’ figures for fuel poverty lie somewhere between the two definitions.

Fuel Poverty Indicator figures are available nationally and at a local (SOA) level estimating the extent of fuel poverty in 2003 based on housing and income data. The proportion of households estimated to be in fuel poverty in three areas of Rotherham was as follows:

Hoober 6.02% to 7.45% Swinton 5.74% to 7.24% Wath 6.53% to 7.75%

Page 12

The age and reliability of these figures mean that it is prudent to look additionally at other indicators, known to be a reasonable proxy for fuel poverty levels, such as the energy efficiency of the housing stock, population characteristics, health statistics and levels of poverty and deprivation.

(i) Energy Efficiency and Housing

Public Sector Housing Fuel poverty is generally lower in public sector than private sector housing. As Rotherham works towards ensuring that its homes are up to Decent Homes standard and ensuring that thermal comfort levels are above these standards significant numbers of households in the three wards, which have higher than average levels of local authority housing, will benefit.

Private Sector Housing The major fuel poverty and energy efficiency challenge is in the private sector, confirmed by the Rotherham Council 2007 Private Sector Stock Condition Survey, which indicates that the worst conditions are in the private rented sector and in older (particularly pre 1919) homes.

The survey provides estimates for the area covered by the Wentworth North Area Assembly, which comprises the three Dearne Valley wards. Relevant figures for fuel poverty include:

Wentworth Rotherham North Private rented sector (as proportion of all private 10.6% 9.3% sector stock) Private sector Homes built pre 1919 20.5% 15.3% Private sector homes built pre 1964 68.4% 60.1% Private sector non decent homes 26.2% 20.7% Homes failing on thermal comfort standard 16.7% 10.2%

The area has a higher proportion of homes likely to be energy inefficient and therefore occupied by fuel poor households.

(ii) Population characteristics

The table below shows the ranking of the three wards for various groups within the population characteristics, known to suffer significantly higher levels of fuel poverty. In each case the ward with the highest proportion of this group in Rotherham will be ranked 1, the lowest 21. These rankings are based on data from the 2001 census.

Hoober Swinton Wath % of people aged 60+ 6 8 4 % of all - pensioner households 5 7 3 % of households with children AND 11 9 10 with no adult in employment % lone parent households 11 10 8 Page 13

The table indicates that the areas have high or average levels of these groups. Within the private sector housing stock the 2007 survey includes the following estimates.

Wentworth North Rotherham Single pensioner 10.9% 11.2% households Lone parent households 3.9% 3.2%

(iii) Health and Disability

The table below shows the ranking of the three wards for several health characteristics which can indicate fuel poverty.

Hoober Swinton Wath % of people stating not in good health, 11 7 4 2001 % of population long term sick or 10 8 4 disabled, 2001 Census Level of mortality from circulatory 12 14 5 disease 2004-06

The 2007 survey estimated that 27.1% of private sector households in Wentworth North had special needs i.e. included people with disabilities, compared to a Rotherham average of 22.1%. Once more in most cases the figures indicate significant levels of fuel poverty.

The level of excess winter deaths is also an indicator of fuel poverty. While figures are not available at a local level it is known that figures in excess winter deaths nationally in 2008-09 was 49% higher than in 2007-08 – 3,500 people in - due to severe weather and influenced by fuel price rises.

(iv) Unemployment

Indicators for fuel poverty include:

 Hoober, Wath and Swinton were the wards with the 8 th , 9 th and 10 th highest levels of unemployment in 2002, respectively.  DWP 2007 figures for the proportion of households on workless benefits were: Hoober 17.1%, Swinton 19.3% and Wath 18.5% (Rotherham average 17.2%).  The 2007 stock condition survey estimated 23.6% of private sector households in Wentworth North were vulnerable (in receipt of various benefits), compared to a Rotherham average of 22.3%.

(v) Deprivation and Poverty

Page 14

In 2007 levels of deprivation were calculated for the super output areas (SOAs). The key figure is the Multiple Deprivation Index, but this is broken down into a series of components, of which the most relevant to fuel poverty are deprivation due to income, employment, health and disability and child and pensioner poverty. For the 23 SOAs making up the 3 Dearne Valley wards, an initial analysis of the figures reveals that many of these 23 areas fall into the worst 30% of all areas for these measures as follows:

Number in the worst 30% nationally Multiple Deprivation Index 12 out of 23 areas Deprivation due to income 10 out of 23 areas Deprivation due to employment 16 out of 23 areas Deprivation due to health and 19 out of 23 areas disability Child Poverty 7 out of 23 areas Older Persons Poverty 9 out of 23 areas

Fuel Poverty and the EcoValley Carbon Footprint

The EcoValley project vision commits the Dearne Valley to having the lowest carbon footprint of any comparable place within the UK within ten years.

At the national level the transition to a low carbon economy could add to energy bills, potentially exacerbating fuel poverty. In general terms this will be offset by reduced energy consumption and higher energy efficiency standards, but at the household level there is a risk that vulnerable fuel poor households will be among the losers. To avoid this outcome, tackling fuel poverty through action on affordable warmth is essential. Fuel poverty has been included in the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, which has as one of its objectives protecting the most vulnerable. This commitment needs to be replicated in the Dearne Valley.

The key will be to ensure that affordable warmth initiatives are complementary to the low carbon economy by:

 Planning low carbon initiatives carefully to protect the most vulnerable  Ensuring that energy efficiency measures and energy advice tackle fuel poverty and generate carbon savings  Expanding the use of low carbon technologies to create affordable warmth  Working together to ensure that the social aspects of new technologies are integrated into projects and that adequate support is provided to vulnerable households, ensuring that they are able to use these technologies effectively to obtain full benefit.

Page 15

Conclusions

Fuel poverty is a serious problem and one which has grown significantly in recent years. Government figures may underestimate the number of households in fuel poverty.

The permanent solution is energy efficient homes, improved to the extent that where possible they are fuel poverty proof, against changes in income and energy prices. This may not be possible using existing schemes and levels of funding.

Income and fuel price factors have brought increased numbers of households into fuel poverty from groups outside the traditional focus on the elderly.

Within the overall picture the highest levels of fuel poverty will be in the private sector stock particularly privately rented homes, and older homes.

Eradicating fuel poverty needs the help of many organisations linked together and a chief partner should be the Health Authority.

This will require carefully planned action through initiatives that are targeted and funded to fill the gaps in existing schemes and projects. An area based coordinated programme, house by house and street by street to ensure the most appropriate package of improvements and advice for each household would be the key action. This would be undertaken to a programme designed to tackle the worst areas first, but needs to be supplemented by measures to identify and tackle particularly vulnerable households elsewhere, in need of urgent action. It should be Rotherham’s goal to work to promote energy efficiency services to tackle the heating and insulation problems of low-income households.

Two main areas of work in Rotherham have been the Keeping Warm at home in later life (KWILLT) looking at why people do not take up the offer of grants and assistance for insulation and heating.

The second piece of work Funded by EAGA charitable trust has been to look at renewable technologies and there effectiveness in retrofit programs.

Power point Presentation.

Members Discussion & Questions

Page 16

Appendix B

Fuel Poverty & Energy Conservation Fact sheet Places Select Commission Meeting 19 th October 2011

Warm Front Scheme To qualify for Warm Front a person must:  live in their own home or rent privately  the property must have a SAP rating of 55 or under (this will be assessed at the beginning of the Technical Survey) A householder or their spouse must be in receipt of one of the following:  Pension Credit - Guaranteed Credit or Savings Credit  Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and have any of the following: o Has parental responsibility for a child under 5 who ordinarily resides with that person; o Child Tax Credit (which must include a disability or severe disability element for a child or young person); o Disabled Child Premium; o Disability Premium (enhanced disability or severe disability element premium); o Pensioner Premium (higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium)  Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which includes a work related activity or support component and have any of the following: o Has parental responsibility for a child under 5 who ordinarily resides with that person; o Child Tax Credit (which must include a disability or severe disability element for a child or young person); o Disabled Child Premium; o Disability Premium (enhanced disability or severe disability element premium); o Pensioner Premium (higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium)

A householder that is entitled to the Cold Weather Payment should qualify for Warm Front if their property also has a SAP rating of 55 or under

Warm Front contact details. Freephone 0800 316 2814 On line: www.warmfront.co.uk

Page 17

Pay Insulation Scheme Two schemes available Borough wide. 1. SIG management, Miller Paterson £99 for cavity insulation and £149 for loft insulation. To assess the scheme leave address post code and phone number with Mr Paul Maplethorpe 334964. 2. Energy Saving Trust £49 cavity wall and £149 loft insulation - this is selected areas only

For free insulation scheme you must be over 70 or in receipt of qualifying benefits (longer list than above, too long to list here).

There are no other heating or insulation schemes available until The Green Deal starts. Utility Companies has short term offers on insulation until April 2012.

Warm Home Discount Scheme came into operation on 1 April 2011. The scheme mandates domestic energy suppliers to provide approximately £1.13 billion of direct and indirect support arrangements to fuel poor customers over four years. The WHD scheme is divided into four different elements:  Core Group: This category is to match the details of recipients of certain elements of Pension Credit against suppliers’ customer databases. Those vulnerable customers matched will receive an automatic annual rebate of at least £120, rising to £140 by the end of the scheme.  Broader Group: Suppliers will be required to provide an annual rebate to a wider group of customers who are fuel poor or at risk of fuel poverty.  Legacy Spend: Suppliers have the option to continue to offer discounted/social tariffs to the types of vulnerable customers who have benefited from these under the Voluntary Agreement.  Industry Initiatives: Suppliers can also choose to provide support through Industry Initiatives. If customers would like further information on their supplier’s proposals for this support, they are advised to contact their supplier directly.

The Feed-In Tariffs 1 A generation tariff payment, which is based on the total electricity generated and the energy type with a tariff paid per kWh renewable energy generated. 2 An export tariff payment, which is for any energy exports made when generating more than you use at 3.1p/kWh 3 Lower bills energy bills.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a new Government-backed measure being introduced in 2012 to domestic customers to make it worth while to produce renewable heat and earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of heat you produce. For the average household using 15,000 kWh of heat a year, the RHI could provide £1,400 a year if solar thermal panels and a biomass boiler were installed. Biomass fuel costs could be as much as £575 per year. Page 18 Agenda Item 6

Dearne Valley Eco-Vision

Briefing for Places Commission for fuel poverty review

October 2011

Background

The Dearne Valley Eco-Vision aims to transform the area into an exemplar of best practice in low carbon living and green technologies. Our ambition is for the Dearne to develop a reputation as an eco-pioneer, as a result of its extensive and innovative approach to finding solutions to the problems of climate change. The Eco -Vision will recognise the importance of the natural habitats and wildlife of the valley and its value in the sustained economic and social regeneration of the region. The local communities will be engaged and active in finding new ways to reduce their carbon emissions and will reap the economic rewards from saving on fuel bills to securing positions in the new jobs created in the Dearne Valley in leading environmental technologies.

The Eco-Vision is a collaborative project between the three local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham and key organisations operating in the Dearne Valley. The Eco-Vision team sits within the Sheffield City Region Executive Team as the Dearne Valley was identified as a priority geographical area by the Sheffield City Region Forum. With the emergence of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) the Dearne Valley is highlighted in its prospectus to Government as an area for future development and the low carbon sector is identified as a key sector for helping the economy of the City Region to grow.

Development and delivery of the Eco-Vision is overseen by the Dearne Valley Special Board which is chaired by local MP John Healey and includes the Leaders and Chief Executives of the local authorities. A series of task groups operate underneath the Dearne Valley Special Board (see attached diagram). This includes the Dearne Valley Ward Members Forum which meets quarterly and reports directly into the Dearne Valley Special Board.

Priority themes

The Eco-Vision is a long term, 20-30 year project. The focus of activity in the first phase (1-5 years) of the project is based around three specific priorities:

• Community and Housing - enhancing the energy efficiency of homes and buildings and considering renewables where appropriate; and increasing understanding and eco-know how of residents to help them to make more informed decisions.

 The economy – helping existing businesses to become more energy and resource efficient to save energy and money; and attract new green technology Page 19

businesses to the Dearne Valley, developing local supply chains to help deliver the Eco-Vision.

 The environment – reconnecting people to their local environment and offering an active leisure and tourism package which will help to contribute towards the local economy.

Achievements

Green Doctor energy assessors have visited almost 500 homes across the Dearne Valley to give energy efficiency advice, funded from Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP);

Community home energy efficiency advice and information event planned for Autumn in Rotherham Dearne using RIEP funding;

Retrofit for the Future pilot involving housing refurbishments of 6 properties in Brampton funded by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board;

Demonstrator property in Brampton Bierlow opened to showcase energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, funded from CLG Eco-Development budget. Drop in sessions to be held every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Pre arranged group visits also available;

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) bid for funding being prepared by the partners to carry out eco-improvements to 230 hard to treat properties across the Dearne Valley.

Volunteer Community Champions recruited to help spread the message about the Eco-Vision, including what people can do to save energy and money in the home;

Funding secured from RIEP for the Dearne Valley Eco-Schools project to engage young people and instil an environmental and sustainability ethos across the 42 schools in the Dearne Valley;

CLG Eco-development funding secured to look at feasibility of introducing higher design standards for new development as part of the Local Development Framework process;

Dearne Valley Business Forum established to liaise with the 1,500 local businesses across the Dearne Valley and help them to maximise the opportunities offered by the Eco-Vision;

Funding secured from RIEP to encourage more people and businesses to get involved via the community champions group and the Dearne Valley Business Forum. The funding will also help to establish a dedicated Dearne Valley Eco-Vision Page 20

website and develop promotional tools to engage with the communities of the Dearne Valley.

Funding

The value of the Eco-Vision partnership is in working together to achieve a more co- ordinated and consistent approach across the whole of the Dearne Valley, hence maximising the benefits for communities. The aim is to make best use of existing funding being spent in the Dearne Valley and ensure that this is in line with the aspirations of the Eco-Vision. Where possible the Dearne Valley partners work together to bid for external sources of funding for individual projects. The Dearne Valley Eco-Vision team works to bring together the various partners and co-ordinate activity across the different organisations, providing support and assistance to facilitate greater joined up working.

To date we have been successful in securing funding for various projects as outlined above; from the department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Technology Strategy Board and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership. A bid for ERDF funding is also currently being developed to carry out energy efficiency upgrades on properties in the Dearne Valley.

Further external funding opportunities are being explored. Such applications often require a partnership approach and for match funding to be available towards the total cost of the project. The nature of competitive funding bids means that it is not possible to guarantee funding for projects and if funding is secured it is only time limited. This means that if the project is not self sustaining by the end of the funding period, activities will stop.

The Dearne Valley Eco-Vision team was established in July 2009 with funding from the ERDF technical assistance programme for South Yorkshire. Match funding for this was received from the three local authorities, the Homes and Communities Agency and Yorkshire Forward. This funding came to an end in March 2011 and a further bid for ERDF technical assistance monies is currently being considered which would provide funding for the Eco-Vision team through to June 2013. If this funding cannot be secured the future of the Eco-Vision team is in doubt.

Further information

Joanne Wehrle, Dearne Valley Eco-Vision Project Manager Tel: 0114 263 5681 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/dearne-valley-eco-vision Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @DVEcoVision Page 21

Dearne Valley Eco-Vision – Meetings Structure - September 2011

Dearne Valley Special Board

Dearne Valley Dearne Valley Ecological Audit Members Forum Panel

Dearne Valley Executive Group

Communications & Engagement Group Dearne Valley Eco-Vision Team Team Eco-Vision Valley Dearne

Community Theme Economy Theme Environment Theme Task Group Task Group Task Group