Minutes:
David Haygarth introduced himself as the Council’s new Climate Action Manager. Members were provided with an outline of how the post sits within the Council’s structure noting the cross departmental nature of the role.
A presentation was delivered to Members with a focus on housing energy and the activities being undertaken to reduce carbon emissions within the Council’s housing stock. By way of outlining the policy environment for housing and carbon emissions, key strategies and policy drivers were highlighted including the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change 2007 and the Climate Change Strategy 2009/12. In January 2020, the London Borough of Hillingdon declared a climate emergency which led to the impending development of a Climate Action Strategy; Members noted how the strategy was still at the drafting stage but would be coming before Cabinet in March 2021.
Giving an overview of fuel poverty across London, it was highlighted that as of 2018, Hillingdon had the ninth lowest proportion of households deemed to be fuel poor out of the 33 London Boroughs (including City of London). Further to this, Hillingdon had lower fuel poverty levels than all neighbouring boroughs and from 2010 to 2018, the proportion of fuel poor households had decreased from 11.2% to 10.1%. It was also highlighted that carbon emissions from Council operations had reduced by a total of 42% over the past decade. Members were informed that the concept of fuel poverty applied to where the fuel bill for a household exceeds 10% of the household’s disposable income.
Key objectives of the new Climate Action Strategy would include: enabling residents, businesses and schools to reduce their own carbon emissions, becoming carbon neutral across the Council’s services by 2030 and achieving 100% clean energy across the Council’s services by 2030.
It was noted that the Council had a level of influence over the housing emissions with regard to freeholders and private sector rented properties, including Social Care settings such as sheltered homes and care homes. The Council had more direct control over housing emissions within Housing Revenue Account properties and in the design of new build developments in the Borough through Planning means. The Committee heard how £3,862k of Housing Revenue Account grant funding was allocated for thermal efficiency works such as boiler upgrades, double glazing and insulation.
In relation to the reduction of the Council’s operational emissions, officers were examining methods of reducing demand in municipal buildings such as the Civic Centre, schools and social care facilities. Work had been done to improve the efficiency specifications of the Council’s fleet vehicles and where possible, there was an intention to upgrade to hybrid or electric vehicles.
The Committee were encouraged to hear that for the first time, 100% of the Council’s electrical supplies were from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy. To mitigate residual carbon emissions from space heating and hot water heating, officers were developing carbon offsetting initiatives such as tree planting, green space management and renewable power projects.
Members queried what impact the impending Future Homes Standard, and the subsequent proposed banning of fossil fuel burning boilers from 2025, may have on the objectives of the Council’s Climate Action Strategy. Officers confirmed that any impending changes to the nationwide picture would be factored into the strategy and highlighted the zero-carbon commitment coming through in the new 2021 London Plan.
The Committee queried whether the Council, when letting its housing stock, adhered to the minimum energy efficiency standard, which related to EPC ratings for private rented accommodation. It was noted that the £3.8m of HRA funding was targeted at raising the EPC rating of properties currently with an ‘E’, ‘F’ or ‘G’ rating, this showed a clear intent to lift the SAP rating of the Council’s HRA housing stock. Members also requested to see a breakdown of how many households were within each EPC rating in the Borough.
With regard to limits in social housing, Members asked what incentives could be brought to private let landlords to bring the energy efficiency of their properties up to standard. It was acknowledged by officers that was a perennial challenge with the private sector and enforcing or asking them to make improvements to energy infrastructure as the tenants are the ones usually paying the energy bills. It was suggested that Environmental Health may have a clearer idea of enforcement options if properties were deemed sub-standard; it was also stressed that communication of insulation incentives to private landlords, which were often free of charge, was of the utmost importance and the Council needed to be proactive in engaging with landlords. Members highlighted that private sector landlords were required to keep an EPC rating of ‘E’ or above.
The Committee commended officers on the impressive work being undertaken and were encouraged to start seeing the tangible effects of the declaration of a climate emergency in 2020.
RESOLVED That the Social Care, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee:
1) Noted and commented on the officer’s report; and
2) Requested a more detailed report on the matter be brought to the Committee at an appropriate juncture.