To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection, together with the Damp Strategy and the Thermal Comfort Strategy.
Minutes:
The Committee received and considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection. (Copy filed with signed minutes)
It was noted that Powys has the highest provision of “off gas” properties in Wales and the UK. In the various strategies the Council is seeking to do more than the WHQS standard. However, if a tenant does not work undertaken then they are not forced to have it undertaken, and the Council will then seek to undertake the required work when the property becomes a void. Alternatively, the Council will seek ways of being able to undertake the work but reduce the impact on the tenant whilst the work is being undertaken.
It is difficult to get an energy rating for some properties and there are issues with “off gas” properties. The Council is reviewing whether gas provision can be extended, but this is dependent on energy providers, or whether there are other means of achieving an energy rating. In relation to dampness a whole building approach is undertaken linked to heating.
With regard to Thermal comfort the aim is to have a SAP rating of 65 or more, but the Council is always seeking to improve on this. The Committee was advised that some heating such as LPG and air source heating could reduce energy ratings for properties and discussions were ongoing with the organisation controlling energy rating to try to remedy this situation. There was a need to establish criteria for dealing with requests for changes in heating systems especially where heating systems had been changed previously. There was also a need for a medical request policy so that decisions on medical grounds could be justified and met certain criteria.
Question: Does the Council have properties with LPG tanks and does the Council assist tenants buy LPG in bulk. |
Response: This was raised by Councillor Huw Williams in Council and the Council is looking into this. |
Question: The Council has spent £47million on upgrading its properties and there are 5000 in the housing stock. The best way to deal with fuel poverty is to extend the mains network. As these are national infrastructure issues can they be taken up with Welsh Government? |
Response: At the Welsh Local Authority WHQS management meeting it was suggested that there was a need to undertake discussions with the utility companies in order to reduce the carbon footprint.
The Portfolio Holder for Housing was asked to take up this issue with the Minister at Welsh Government and to make representations to Welsh Government. |
Question: Local energy co-operatives and energy production in clubs – this is not included in the strategy. This is also about keeping energy production local. Different ways of reducing tenants’ energy consumption should also be included in the strategy. |
Response: Local energy co-operatives and energy clubs would be included in the strategy. Councillor Jackie Charlton would provide information to officers on existing schemes. |
Question: Does the Council have access to current and previous complaints made so that patterns can be identified? |
Response: Yes, this information is available to Housing. Work is also being undertaken with HOWPS about the recording of complaint data to improve the data captured. Part of that project is also around the referral process of issues such as fuel poverty from HOWPS to the Council. |
Question: Did the Council record issues of dampness in properties in the past? |
Response: Yes. |
Question: With regard to flooding, there is no mention of some areas where flooding had occurred in the summary report. |
Response: This would be reviewed. |
Question: A Member suggested that tenants should contact the main service centre rather than contacting individual housing officers as there were instances where matters were not dealt with. |
Response: The strategy was about clarifying the approach moving forward. In addition there was need for a more robust reporting system. |
Question: Mains gas may not always be the best way forward. In rural areas other systems such as ground source heat pumps could be considered. There is a need to look at other options for heating. |
Response: Ground source and air source hybrid systems are being considered which can be added to the strategy. |
Councillor Heulwen Hulme left the meeting 1.03 p.m.
Recommendations to the Cabinet:
· The Council should investigate how it can assist tenants in the bulk buying of fuel such as oil and LPG.
· That the Portfolio Holder for Housing make representations to the Minister and welsh Government to bring pressure on utility companies to extend energy networks to reduce fuel poverty in Wales.
· That local energy co-operatives and local energy production be included in the strategy.
· That other energy systems such as ground source heating and air source hybrid systems be included in the strategy.
Supporting documents: