Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to

declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which he might have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which he had in the business on the agenda. No additional interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is at 5.00 pm on Friday 19 May 2017.

Members of the public may register to speak on an item on the agenda or an issue within the Executive Member’s remit.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that

includes any registered public speakers, who have given their

permission. This broadcast can be viewed at

http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors

and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This

includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone

wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting

should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are

at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of

Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a

manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all

those present. It can be viewed at:

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides background information about the Government’s proposal to give the Council the ability to set local criteria for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding.

Resolved:

(i)           That the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) transition period that allowed Local Authorities to set criteria to fuel poor households, and households which were vulnerable to cold, to qualify for funding towards the cost of certain energy efficiency improvements to their homes be noted.

(ii)          That the Statement of Intent be approved.

(iii)        That the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety be delegated to make miner adjustments to the Statement of Intent, in order to facilitate responses to revised priorities and/or funding opportunities.

Reason:   In order to optimise the opportunity for private sector households in York to access the national ECO funding scheme the Council must publish a Statement of Intent for the flexible eligibility element of the funding. Without this residents would be eligible only under the national criteria without any reference to local needs or priorities.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided background information about the Government’s proposal to give the Council the ability to set local criteria for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding.

Officers stated that the concept for this funding remained the same, but that the criteria for who would qualify had changed. The removal of geographical qualification would allow the focus of funding to expand. They also explained that energy suppliers now have the ability to deliver up to 10% of their ECO obligation through locally set criteria, which would sit alongside the National scheme. The areas which CYC considered priority areas for action were listed in Appendix 1 of the report. The Executive Member questioned Officers as to whether these would be the only areas funded, to which they confirmed that they were merely areas considered as having the most households at highest risk of fuel poverty.

The Executive Member noted that by adopting this criteria the Council would be in a position to attract funding to help fuel poor residents. He also thanked Officers for their work on the Statement of Intent.

Resolved:

(i)           That the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) transition period that allowed Local Authorities to set criteria to fuel poor households, and households which were vulnerable to cold, to qualify for funding towards the cost of certain energy efficiency improvements to their homes be noted.

(ii)          That the Statement of Intent be approved.

(iii)        That the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety be delegated to make miner adjustments to the Statement of Intent, in order to facilitate responses to revised priorities and/or funding opportunities.

Reason:   In order to optimise the opportunity for private sector households in York to access the national ECO funding scheme the Council must publish a Statement of Intent for the flexible eligibility element of the funding. Without this residents would be eligible only under the national criteria without any reference to local needs or priorities.