Decision details

The Warm Homes: Local Grant, a government funded scheme in England aimed to improve the energy efficiency of homes and reduce fuel poverty for low-income households was part of the broader Warm Homes Plan, which aimed to upgrade 5 million homes within the next 5 years and support the transition to net zero by 2050. 

The Borough Council had provisionally been awarded £1.5m of the Warm Homes: Local Grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of fuel poor homes in its district and help to deliver a wider net zero programme. 

Due regard was given to the financial and value for money considerations and the assessment of risk detailed in the report.  Members were advised of the scheme constraint that Administration and Ancillary (A&A) cost of delivery must not exceed 15% of the capital spend.  This presented a high financial and reputational risk to the Council which could not be fully mitigated.

Consideration had been given options for delivery of the project, however the financial modelling schemes at Annex 1 and 2 to the reports showed that the scheme was not financially viable.

On the grounds of significant financial and reputational risk in delivering the scheme, Cllr Coffin proposed, seconded by Cllr Boughton and Cabinet

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the Warm Homes: Local Grant funding be declined on the basis that the reputational and financial risk to the Council was too high; and

(2)        the Government be advised that although the Council wished to deliver these improvements in residents’ homes across the borough, the scheme set up and constraints made it too high a risk to accept the funding.