Decision details

Date of Decision:

17^th March 2025

Title:

Warmer Homes Local Grant

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2025/26 Cabinet Report, Nov 2025. Recommendation 1: “Approve the proposed 2024-25 Base Case Option C for the HRA Business Plan.” Paragraph 1.3 referenced the relevant grant funding bid.

Housing Capital Programme 2025-29 Cabinet Report, Mar 2025. Recommendations 1 and 2 approve the four year outline and 2025/26 detailed capital programme. Paragraph 2.9 referenced the relevant grant funding.

Decision:

To agree to accept £8.8m of grant funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver energy efficiency improvements to Council properties following a successful funding bid.

To agree to match fund the grant funding with Housing Revenue Account capital funding utilising the decarbonisation budget already agreed by Cabinet.

Reasons for the Decision:

To fund energy efficiency works to a significant number of Council tenants which will help the Council to meet EPC C and net zero targets. The Council must accept the funding offered by 28^th March 2025.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Refuse the grant from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. This would be a financial loss of £8.8m to the Council and therefore it is not recommended that the grant is refused. The funding is required to achieve the statutory requirement to improve all council housing to EPC C by 2030.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

N/A.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

·       RMBC Warmer Homes Grant Funding Application

·       Grant Application Authorisation Form

·       RMBC Grant Allocation Letter

·       Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2025/26 Cabinet Report, Nov 2024

·       Housing Capital Programme 2025-29 Cabinet Report, Mar 2025