Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/166

Contact: Sarah Gilbert, Climate Action Team Leader Tel: 07867 467797

Report by Assistant Director Strategic Infrastructure & Planning (CA9).

Oxfordshire has applied to central government for a grant of £3.37M  from the Sustainable Warmth Fund. This money will provide energy-saving home retrofit measures for those most in need and unable to pay. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)                endorse the submission of a funding bid to support retrofit of homes in fuel poverty within Oxfordshire under the Sustainable Warmth Fund (SWF).

(b)                delegate authority to the Corporate Director Environment and Place in consultation with S151 Officer and Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment to review and conclude legal agreements should the application be successful.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet considered a report which informed Members that OCC had applied to central Government for a grant of £3.37m from the Sustainable Warmth Fund. This money would provide energy-saving home retrofit measures for those most in need and unable to pay. 

This initiative was in support of the Council’s strategic priorities on climate action and healthy place shaping, as well as national commitments to a green recovery. If successful, the project would deliver home energy efficiency retrofits to 310 households living in energy inefficient properties and fuel poverty.

Both Councillors Duncan Enright and Glynis Phillips spoke on this report and Councillor Phillips expressed her disappointment at the Government’s commitment to this agenda given that in Oxfordshire there are 4,000 properties which require this work, however, if successful there would only be funding for 310 houses. National Government were urged to invest even more into SWF.

RESOLVED: Cabinet,

(a)                Endorsed the submission of a funding bid to support retrofit of homes in fuel poverty within Oxfordshire under the Sustainable Warmth Fund (SWF).

(b)               Approved that delegated authority to the Corporate Director Environment and Place in consultation with S151 Officer and Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment to review and conclude legal agreements should the application be successful.