Minutes:
Councillor John McClurey moved the following motion:
This Council calls on the Chief Executive to explore the option of setting up an
energy price comparison service for Gateshead residents.
Councillor Martin Gannon moved the following amendment:
Delete all after “The Council” and insert …
We welcome the campaign (Report from The Cabinet, Council Agenda, 23rd May 2019, Item 8, page 108) which is being developed and will be launched shortly to tackle fuel poverty and to encourage and support all Gateshead residents to switch their energy supplier to access cheaper tariffs and reduce household energy bills.
We recognise that there are 11,600 fuel poor households in Gateshead, that’s 12.8% of all households. This increases to 32% of residents over 65.
In the UK almost 60% of households are on the most expensive standard variable tariffs. Almost a quarter of all UK households (23%) have never switched supplier.
Recent figures from Ofgem show the average saving to a household switching their energy supplier is an average £308.22.
In response, a borough wide fuel poverty campaign for Gateshead is being developed. The campaign will be a collaborative initiative, using resources and expertise from the public and voluntary sector. It will focus on helping residents obtain reduced fuel bills via switching, energy efficiency, debt advice and income maximisation.
Initially a pilot, the approach will include training in fuel poverty awareness and the switching process to front line employees of the Council and its partners who have direct contact with residents to allow them to promote the campaign, encourage residents to switch and provide advice and support around switching and saving money. This training will be delivered by National Energy Action (NEA) which is a national fuel poverty charity.
The campaign will aim to help all residents in the borough. The most vulnerable residents, for example, those with fuel debt or other complex circumstances, will be supported with specialist fuel poverty advice delivered by partners from the voluntary sector. This will be an extremely important element of the campaign.
The campaign will also help promote and refer residents into both LEAP (Local Energy Assistance Programme) and ECHO (Emergency Central Heating Offer) which are launching via a partnership with AgilityEco in Gateshead early in June and will be available to households that meet the eligibility criteria.
On the amendment being put it was declared to be carried. The amendment was put as the substantive motion and duly carried.
COUNCIL RESOLVED -
This Council recognises the considerable work already undertaken by the Council and its partners to tackle poverty and inequality in Gateshead through the Poverty Board.
We welcome the campaign (Report from The Cabinet, Council Agenda, 23rd May 2019, Item 8, page 108) which is being developed and will be launched shortly to tackle fuel poverty and to encourage and support all Gateshead residents to switch their energy supplier to access cheaper tariffs and reduce household energy bills.
We recognise that there are 11,600 fuel poor households in Gateshead, that’s 12.8% of all households. This increases to 32% of residents over 65.
In the UK almost 60% of households are on the most expensive standard variable tariffs. Almost a quarter of all UK households (23%) have never switched supplier.
Recent figures from Ofgem show the average saving to a household switching their energy supplier is an average £308.22.
In response, a borough wide fuel poverty campaign for Gateshead is being developed. The campaign will be a collaborative initiative, using resources and expertise from the public and voluntary sector. It will focus on helping residents obtain reduced fuel bills via switching, energy efficiency, debt advice and income maximisation.
Initially a pilot, the approach will include training in fuel poverty awareness and the switching process to front line employees of the Council and its partners who have direct contact with residents to allow them to promote the campaign, encourage residents to switch and provide advice and support around switching and saving money. This training will be delivered by National Energy Action (NEA) which is a national fuel poverty charity.
The campaign will aim to help all residents in the borough. The most vulnerable residents, for example, those with fuel debt or other complex circumstances, will be supported with specialist fuel poverty advice delivered by partners from the voluntary sector. This will be an extremely important element of the campaign.
The campaign will also help promote and refer residents into both LEAP (Local Energy Assistance Programme) and ECHO (Emergency Central Heating Offer) which are launching via a partnership with AgilityEco in Gateshead early in June and will be available to households that meet the eligibility criteria.