Issue - meetings

Purpose of the Report

To update Executive on the City of Lincoln Council Delivery Profile for the Local Authority Delivery element of the Green Homes Grant scheme and to seek approval for the inclusion of funding in the General Investment Programme.

Decision

(1)         That the Green Homes Grant Delivery Profile proposed scheme roll-out, between July 2021 – December 2021 be noted.

(2)         That £479,600 be included in the General Investment Programme, to be fully funded by external grant.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for Decision

In October 2020, the Government had launched £2 billion of funding support through the Green Homes Grant, which consisted of two grant programmes: the voucher scheme, open to all householders to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; and the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme.

The LAD scheme aimed to support low income households in the least energy efficient homes, as defined in Government guidance. LAD Phase 2 was being administered by the Midlands Energy Hub, on behalf of the Government. In March 2021 the Midlands Energy Hub awarded the City of Lincoln Council £479,600 of capital funding, to deliver an energy efficiency 'retrofit' scheme to a minimum of 25 low income private and social households, in fuel poverty. The allocation had been calculated to reflect the number and proportion of eligible properties within the City of Lincoln.

The Council’s Housing Strategy identified that there were approximately 5,000 households in fuel property in Lincoln, in accordance with the low income high cost definition of fuel poverty.  On 3 March 2021 Executive approved the receipt of the award by the Midlands Energy Hub, and had submitted a delivery profile by the deadline of 24 May 2021.

The Executive was advised that the scheme would be compliant with the subsidy regime (formerly state aid).  Furthermore, it was noted that the company EON was being used as part of the Midlands Energy Hub, and an additional advantage was that it was a well known organisation for the Council’s customers and this provided a level of assurance for them.