Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions

Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services  Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors J Gibson-Watt, P Pritchard and J Wilkinson.

2.

Minutes of Previous Meetings pdf icon PDF 227 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) held as follows as a correct record:

13 January, 2020.

29 January, 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the previous meetings held as follows as correct records:

·         13 January 2020

·         29 January, 2020

3.

Declaration of Party Whips

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

 

(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

4.

Disclosures of Interest

Any disclose of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

The Committee received a disclosure of a personal but not prejudicial interest from County Councillor J Pugh in relation to Item 5 (Declaration of a Revised Powys ECO Flex Statement of Intent) as he was a private landlord.

5.

Declaration of a Revised Powys ECO Flex 'Statement of Intent' pdf icon PDF 602 KB

To undertake a pre-decision scrutiny of the Declaration of a Revised Powys ECO Flex ‘Statement of Intent'.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the report of the Portfolio Holders for Economic Development, Housing and Regulatory Services and Finance, Countryside and Transport.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Housing and Regulatory Services reminded the Committee that the previous scheme had led to criticisms of the Council and the new scheme sought to address those issues by using Warm Wales and the aim of using local businesses with the correct accreditation. There was also the overarching aim of trying to bring a number of Powys residents out of fuel poverty.

 

The Head of Housing and Community Development advised the Committee that the Council's only involvement in the scheme was to publish the Statement of Intent. Revised guidance had been received from Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The new scheme would mean that the operation of the scheme would be externalised to Warm Wales who had experience of running similar previously. The criticisms from the Powys Plumbing Group on the previous scheme were that the local supply chain was not being used, there was no financial income cap on applicants and that applications should be assessed externally. These were all accommodated in the revised scheme. It was also clarified that the new scheme was not targetting boiler replacement but to provide better insulation in properties. There were opportunities for local businesses to work with or become eco agents.

 

Question / Comment: What were the key learning points from the previous scheme?

Response: Engagement with Powys Plumbing Group revealed a desire for externalised independent assessments of applications, a financial cap for applicant's income as well as encourage the use of the local supply chain.

 

In addition, the SWAP report made a number of recommendations including:

·         Fit for purpose vetting scheme – Warm Wales would determine who were the eligible applicants;

·         A robust record keeping process – Warm Wales would maintain records and the Council would undertake checks / audit;

·         Selection of contractors – Housing Service had been working with the Council's Procurement Service. Warm Wales would be involved in "meet the buyer events" so that they could meet local contractors and inform those interested of criteria required to work on the scheme.

 

Question / Comment: Paragraph 2.1 of the report – do these costs include VAT?

Response: Yes.

 

Question / Comment: Does the new scheme not include funding for boilers?

Response: The scheme is targeted at insulation work. There is far less money for boiler repairs or replacement. The former scheme had been targeted at replacing oil boilers. The scheme does consider other forms of heating to replace oil boilers such as ground source or air source heating, but oil boilers are unlikely to attract funding, considering that we are one year into the scheme. Consequently, funding is likely to be exhausted.

 

Question / Comment: Can you clarify the Council's involvement and define what the Council is responsible for?

Response: The Council's role is to issue a declaration confirming an applicant's eligibility and only the Council can do this. Warm Wales  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Appointments to Working Groups

To appoint Members to the following Working Groups:

6.1

Mid Wales Growth Deal Joint Working Group

To appoint 3 members of the Committee to the Joint Working Group relating to the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following Members be appointed to the Mid Wales Growth Deal Working Group:

 

County Councillors J Pugh, M Dorrance and D Evans.

 

6.2

Car Parking Review Working Group

To appoint 5 members to the Car Parking Review Working Group.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following Members be appointed to the Car Parking Review Working Group:

 

County Councillors I McIntosh, G Jones, M Dorrance, J Pugh and K Curry.

 

7.

Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 122 KB

To receive a copy of the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme and to make any suggestions for items to be added or deleted for consideration by the Co-ordinating Committee.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme.