Agenda item

(a)       That the introduction of new Energy Efficiency loan product, to help deliver gas infill in communities across Flintshire, as outlined in the report, be supported;

(b)       That delegated authority to the Head of Housing to operate the Energy Efficiency loan scheme be supported;

(c)        That the introduction of the Welsh Government Property Improvement Loan initiative be supported with the final terms and conditions of the scheme to be delegated to the Chief Officer for Community & Enterprise and Chief Officer for People & Resources; and

(d)       That the additional clauses to be added to the Empty Homes assistance, relating to the minimum period of rental, being two years for a loan and five years for a grant and that the owner must consent to the property being managed by the Council’s chosen social lettings agency be supported. 

The Head of Housing introduced a report to introduce the proposed revisions to the Private Sector Renewal and Improvement Policy, along with the rationale for these revisions and to seek support for the changes proposed. 

            She detailed the background to the report and explained that the current Private Sector Renewal and Improvement Policy were approved in 2012.  The report covered three areas of change which she detailed.  Flintshire County Council already had a scheme in place for property appreciation loans which was a long term programme but the Welsh Government (WG) scheme required repayment within a fifteen year period.  The Head of Housing added that the scheme could provide additional opportunities for homeowners to improve homes. 

            The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager commented on the energy efficiency aspects of the scheme and of the anticipated loans to private homeowners for gas infill and said that it was in the Council’s interest to provide assistance to homeowners.  It was proposed that two loan types be made available, one with a nominal interest rate at up to 2% for customers in receipt of a means tested benefit or spending more than 10% of their disposable income on fuel, and the other loan with a low interest rate of 6.25% which would cover the cost of administering the loan.

            In response to a query from Councillors Rosetta Dolphin and George Hardcastle about whether the rate would be altered during the period of the loan, the Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager said that even though a customer’s circumstances might change, it would not be possible to vary the terms of the loan once it was in place.  A charge would also be requested against the property in case of default of loan repayments and modelling work on the loan schemes had been undertaken to ensure its financial viability.  The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager added that there was a need to ensure that robust affordability tests were undertaken which would include a customer’s income, savings and any regular repayments that they had to make.  Work would be undertaken with a local Credit Union to establish which rate of interest was appropriate for each applicant. 

            Councillor Ian Dunbar spoke of recommendations from the Audit Committee to tighten up on empty homes and the Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager explained that the rights of the Council hold nominations rights in terms of lettings had not previously been adequately reflected in the policy document. 

            Councillor Paul Shotton highlighted paragraph 3.06 where it was reported that an annual fuel bill saving per household of £774 in Aston and Mostyn could be achievable as a result of the connection to gas using support from Flintshire County Council.  This saving would contribute to the cost of the loan repayments and would allow the householders to heat their homes more comfortably.  Councillor Shotton also referred to paragraph 3.21 where it was reported that the Council was expected to receive £0.250m in year 1, £0.500m in year 2 and potentially a further £0.250m in year 3 in the form of funding from the WG for a Property Improvement Loan Scheme.  The Head of Housing explained that this was because year 1 would only be for a period of six months, with year 2 being a full year and year 3 being used for ‘mop up’ claims.  On the issue of why Aston and Mostyn had been chosen as the areas to focus the gas infill schemes in, the Head of Housing advised that this was because of the significant number of council owned rental properties in these areas which would enable the Council to give the utility companies a large level of commitment in terms of gas connections.  The loan scheme could be used to allow gas connection to private homes which had previously not been connectedto the gas main and was an exciting project.  However, she added that there could still be rural areas where the costs would be prohibitive. 

            Councillor Kevin Jones welcomed the initiatives but, in referring to the two rates of interest for the loans scheme, felt that more people would be eligible for the lower rate of interest.  In response to a query from Councillor Jones about whether a cost for administering the loan would be added to the proposed 2% nominal interest loan, the Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager advised that this would be covered by the Utility Company funding, not by those qualifying for the 6.25% loan.  Councillor Matt Wright welcomed the steps taken by Flintshire County Council to work with the energy companies to allow provision of gas to rural areas and asked when it was envisaged that the scheme would be rolled out to other areas.  The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager responded that a number of other areas had been explored and where it was economically viable, it was hoped that the scheme would be rolled out over the next two to three years. 

                        Councillor Dolphin said that the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee had been advised of a scheme in South Wales where residents could achieve lower bills by switching to a new supplier as a group.  The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager explained that there were benefits to collective switching and that it could be considered in the future.  The Head of Housing added that there would be a need to undertake this with a number of other local authorities to get a critical mass and there was a need to look at how this could be addressed.  In response to a question from Councillor George Hardcastle about who would be responsible for the costs of converting homes from oil heating to gas heating, the Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager said that the purpose of the loan was to provide heating to the property and through critical mass the Council had been able to secure a deal which included a 25% reduction in costs for homeowners.  Councillor Nancy Matthews said that the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee had been expecting an update on the outcome of the energy switching scheme pilot undertaken in Cardiff.  The Head of Housing confirmed that she would check whether the results were available. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the introduction of new Energy Efficiency loan product, to help deliver gas infill in communities across Flintshire, as outlined in the report, be supported;

(b)       That delegated authority to the Head of Housing to operate the Energy Efficiency loan scheme be supported;

(c)        That the introduction of the Welsh Government Property Improvement Loan initiative be supported with the final terms and conditions of the scheme to be delegated to the Chief Officer for Community & Enterprise and Chief Officer for People & Resources; and

(d)       That the additional clauses to be added to the Empty Homes assistance, relating to the minimum period of rental, being two years for a loan and five years for a grant and that the owner must consent to the property being managed by the Council’s chosen social lettings agency be supported.