Agenda item

Report of Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

The Committee received a report to be updated on fuel poverty and the implementation of the fuel poverty action plan.

The National Energy Action (NEA) estimate there are currently 6.5 million households in poverty, unable to afford to heat their homes to the temperature needed to keep warm and healthy. This figure of 6.5 million significantly exceeds their previous prediction, which in October 2021 was 4.5 million.

The government uses the Low-Income Low Energy Efficiency definition to consider if a household to be fuel poverty. This means three important elements are used to determine if a household is fuel poor: household income, household energy requirements and fuel.

The fuel gap is used to provide additional income to bring a household to the point of not being fuel poor.

The most recent data available is from 2019 however, we estimate this will be much larger in 2024. The data tells us living in urban areas are most likely to be in fuel poverty whilst rural households have the largest poverty gap.

It is estimated that Gateshead has in excess of 12,000 fuel poor households, this is a conservative estimate and one we believe will continue to rise year on year. In response to this Gateshead Council created a Health and Wellbeing Implementation Plan within which there is a commitment to “develop local support and food networks to reduce food and fuel poverty.”

Gateshead Council have developed a fuel poverty action plan which has been supported from Council reserves. The priorities in the action plan and next steps are;

·         Information gathering and sharing.

·         Signals and targeting of groups most at risk.

·         Improving energy efficiency.

·         Income maximisation and reducing fuel costs.

·         Ensuring adequate fuel/energy advice and support is readily accessible to residents.

·         Campaigning for policy change.

The Committee discussed in detail how their residents can gain advice and information for their energy bills. The Council’s website has information on for support and guidance, residents can also speak to Citizen Advice who can advise on different grants available and refer them to the Green Doctor. The Green Doctor will visit the resident’s home and assess how energy efficient it is, they can then advise based on the assessment.

The Green Doctor is current receiving over 600 referrals which is more than average and are looking to bring another service to accommodate the level of referrals.

The Committee were notified in the cold weather damp and mould will grow in homes. In winter residents will naturally coverup the drafts in their homes, however this reduces the air circulation with damp and mould increasing. If residents are struggling with damp and mould, there is a household fund available through the Council that residents can be referred to. There is no guarantee the household fund will continue; the team are working hard to keep the fund going as it will have a detrimental impact on the region.

The Committee also queried standing charges, are you still charged if the heating is not used?  The Committee were informed standing charges are charged daily even if the heating is not being used, this is a common question amongst the public, but it is also a common issue that has significant financial implications to residents.

The Committee raised issues on the quality of the current housing stock, and how much in repairs were required to make homes suitable and more economically efficient. There are ongoing discussions to identify all houses in that need work to make more efficient, there is also ongoing conversations within the private sector, as a Council we can look to join these projects up.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The Committee gave their opinions on the proposed next steps.

(ii)          The Committee noted the year long prohibition.

(iii)         The Committee noted the DWP Household Support Fund.