Agenda item

To consider the draft final report of the former Housing Scrutiny Board, delivering their research and findings regarding approaches Local Authorities might take to reducing carbon emissions in York’s public and private sector housing.

Consideration was given to the draft final report of the former Housing Scrutiny Board which presented their research and findings regarding approaches Local Authorities might take in reducing carbon emissions in York’s public and private sector housing. The Sub-Committee were recommended to agree the report and subject to amendments, its submission to Scrutiny Management Committee, in line with their decision to complete outstanding scrutiny topics as a matter or urgency.

Reference was made to the lack of Member commitment to the report following Cllr Jamieson-Ball, as the Scrutiny Boards Chair’s appointment as Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion. It was felt that there was a case for this topic to be converted into an Ad Hoc Scrutiny Committee to enable full consideration to be given by Members and Officers to finalising the report.

Members also considered a list of proposed amendments to the report, made by Cllr Hill, which had been emailed to Members detailing a series of short term actions which could be taken to help in the reduction of carbon emissions. Details were also circulated, at the meeting, of the Green Parties Alternative Energy Report in particular charts showing selected carbon reduction options that were not included in current Government policies, plans or programmes.

Consideration was given to the principals and major points in the draft report prior to further consideration by an informal drafting meeting of former Board members and an examination of the implications by Officers.

RESOLVED:  (i) That the Scrutiny Management Committee be requested to agree an extension of time for the completion of the Housing topic Reducing Carbon Emissions in York’s Housing as it was not considered feasible to finalise the report without further work and a full examination of the implications by Officers, for submission to SMC on 25 September 2006.

                        (ii) That subject to the following amendments and alterations the draft final report of the Housing Scrutiny Board be circulated to Members and Officers by email prior to an informal meeting of the Board on Friday 4 August at 4.15pm to complete the redraft of the report.

a.At the redrafting stage the wording of the report be simplified, in plain English and particularly technical information contained in an annex, footnote or bibliography to the document to make it accessible to everyone;

b.Recommendation 2 in the summary of recommendations the removal of the more than and less than symbols () and their replacement with text.

c.Recommendation 5 in the summary of recommendations the replacement of the words “funded housing” with “local authority stock” in the second line.

d.The inclusion of the following text before paragraph 14  “Nationally, our reaction to the threat of climate change has not been very effective:

·      It has long been the Government’s policy to reduce greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2010. We are now emitting only 7.5% less than in 1990.

·      Carbon dioxide emissions rose by 1.5% in 2004, and figures released this year showed that carbon dioxide emissions are continuing to rise.” 

                      e. A note including in the report explaining that paragraphs 20 – 32 relating to Fuel Poverty, Thermal Comfort and CO² Reduction are included at this point in the report as this is national strategy.

             f. The drafting group to review the content of paragraph 21.

             g. Paragraphs 24 – 27 to be rephrased to include the evidence without endorsement.

             h. The addition to Recommendation 3. of “The City of York Council to research the best in relation to energy efficiency in properties, where appropriate, in relation to York’s circumstances and policies”.

i.                    The drafting group to examine the possibility of including the following text prior to paragraphs 37/38

“Figures available showing the take-up of grants for home insulation over the five years from 2000-05 show that York has performed worse than any other significant urban area in the whole of Yorkshire.

figures from EAGA Partnership

The Warm Front grant is provided to homeowners to pay for measures to improve insulation, such as draught proofing, and increase energy efficiency. Figures from the EAGA partnership show that fewer than 2.4% of homes in York had benefited from a Warm Front grant for energy insulation, lower than in any other urban district or principal local authority in Yorkshire. The 2.4% here compares to 8% in Kirklees and a lofty 15% in Bradford. Proportionally, more residents in Scarborough and Selby are benefiting than in York. If we were getting our fair share nearly twice as many households would benefit.  If we were doing as well as the best some six times as many households would benefit.

There are serious problems with homes being poorly insulated – wasting energy and wasting money.  The Government is throwing money at this problem.  But in York we are not taking up these funds.  It is the Council’s role to reduce emissions and energy consumption by promoting grants like Warm Front. We should take the Government’s grant money and give it to those most in need of it.”

              j. That consideration be given to tasking an Officer to identify the most appropriate methods for York to increase grant take up and to raise awareness of energy efficiency to meet the needs of York residents which may involve the Councils Member Champion for Energy Efficiency.  

             k. Need for the report to present a balance between both EAAC and EAGA to enable residents to gain maximum benefit from all appropriate agencies.

             l. To look at the possibility of providing a diagram showing the relationship between the agencies.

             m. Paragraph 51 to be punctuated and rephrased.

             n. Further consideration and examination to be made of all the key findings of the Scrutiny Bodies research for possible addition to the report and recommendations.

             o. Inclusion in the report of details of City of York Council grants for insulation for residents and landlords of older properties.

                                     REASON: To facilitate completion of the former Housing Scrutiny Board’s outstanding work.