NWRC(2) (p3b) NORTH WALES REGIONAL COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 NWRC(2) (p3b) NORTH WALES REGIONAL COMMITTEE Date: 6 October 2006 Time: Venue: Amlwch War Memorial Institute, Market Street, Amlwch, Anglesey, LL68 9ET. Title: A Strategic Approach to Tackling Fuel Poverty in Gwynedd.

2 A Strategic Approach to Reducing Fuel Poverty in Gwynedd Adrian Roberts Housing Performance Management Officer, Care Directorate, Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

3 Gwynedd Background 117,000 population 59,000 households 9,000 Public Sector 50,000 Private Sector 90% Owner Occupied 10% Private Rented 60% have solid walls Only 49.2% have access to mains gas 44% of Gwynedd households earn less than 10,000 per annum 38.6% of Gwynedd households suffer from Fuel Poverty (Stock Condition Survey 2003)

4 2003 Time for Action! A competition to design an Energy Efficiency Mascot for Gwynedd Housing, Health & Education The Energy Efficiency Link Conference Numerous partnerships created as a result of the Conference e.g. Bus advertising campaign in association with EAGA & the Welsh Assembly Government; distribution of 56,000 energy saving lightbulbs in partnership with British Gas.

5 2004 Private Sector Here to Help Pilot Project First of it s kind in Britain! Partnership with British Gas Targeting 1799 private households in 5 villages in the Nantlle Valley Access achieved in 63% of households 450 energy saving measures installed in 347 properties 315 Referrals to charity partners including Scope, RNIB, Gingerbread and Help the Aged Of those who agreed to a Benefits Health Check, over half were eligible for new or additional benefits- worth an average of per week Primary schools invited to take part in a competition to design posters depicting energy saving measures.

6 2005 Building on the previous year s success Public Sector Following the success of the Private Sector project, it was agreed to run a Public Sector Here to Help Scheme Resulting in 643 properties receiving cavity wall insulation, 264 receiving loft insulation and 57 hot water tanks being insulated 245 cases were referred to charity partners for additional services Awaiting the results of Benefit Health Checks

7 2005 Building on the previous year s success (continued) Private Sector Housing Following the success of the Pilot Scheme, both the Council and British Gas were eager to roll out the Scheme across Gwynedd Gwynedd has 71 Council Wards research led to prioritisation of Wards Added to the original Scheme, by involving local organisations where possible Improve Housing, Improve Health the Energy Efficiency Link Conference Here to Help Scheme launched in three Wards in Bangor in December 2005 Resulting in 130 Cavity Wall Insulation installations, 191 Lofts being insulated, and 7 hot water tank jackets being fitted

8 Public Sector 2006 Time to gather momentum! A new Here to Help contract to target over 650 Council houses Currently discussing the possibility of Pilot Ground Source Heat Pump project Private Sector By the end of August 2006 the Here to Help scheme had been launched in 6 Wards. As a result, 600 properties will receive Cavity Wall Insulation, 1141 Lofts will be insulated and 73 hot water tank jackets will be fitted. These six Wards, coupled with the three Bangor Wards resulted in 849 cases being referred to charity partners for additional services The Scheme has just been launched in 3 Wards in Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Trawsfynydd Ward A local partnership has been formed with the Pension Service and Citizen s Advice Bureau to simplify the Benefit Health Check process.

9 HEES a HEES+ Schemes Gwynedd Council have a very good record of spending the Assembly s money! A successful protocol has been developed between the Council and EAGA We are eager to take advantage of the additional money which has been made available to target people over 60 years old We need to encourage people over 80 years old to take advantage of HEES+, especially given the proposed relaxation of the eligibility criteria.

10 An Affordable Warmth Action Plan for Gwynedd Stems from a letter received from the Assembly in 2005 An opportunity to bring numerous local organisations together and work in partnership to reduce localised fuel poverty We hope to launch the Plan in November Themes 1. Utilising Partnership Working for Affordable Warmth 2. Increasing Awareness, Education and Training about Affordable Warmth 3. Improving Heating/Insulation Standards of Housing 4. Increasing Incomes and Reducing Fuel Costs The key message Together, we can make a difference!

11 Thank you, Adrian Roberts, Housing Performance Management Officer, Housing Policy & Performance Unit, Cyngor Gwynedd Council