Issue - meetings

- report by Dave Cherry, Housing Solutions Officer

Dave Cherry, Housing Solutions Officer, presented a report identifying the works and qualifications applicable to existing thermal comfort grant aid and set out the amendment necessary to the Council’s Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy in order to accommodate a new scheme for providing additional thermal comfort.

The report also identified a need to provide additional delegated powers to the Head of Service to allow officer approval of energy efficiency grants in accordance with the new scheme operated under the South Yorkshire Housing and Regeneration Partnership Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme (administered by Doncaster MBC on behalf of Sheffield CC).

Qualifying homes were those below the thermal comfort level and occupied by vulnerable home owners over the age of 18 years who were in receipt of a recognised benefit.  The grant was 100% of approved works for qualifying persons unless other source of public funding was available:-

-              Grant could be for funding a shortfall between the cost of a Warm Front Grant Scheme and the amount of money available through that scheme;

-              Full central heating where no central heating existed and included for cost of changing from solid fuel to gas;

-              Replacement boilers, where boilers were beyond economical repair providing that they were over 20 years old including any necessary work to radiators and

-              Cavity wall and loft insulation.

The grant money was paid direct to the contractor who would be on an approved list, one of which was Rotherham based.

The amendment of the existing Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy was necessary in order that the defined vulnerable households could benefit from the new scheme i.e. additional money is available, the age limit was brought down to 18 years and there was no restriction of Council Tax banding.

It was reported that Minute No. B171 of the Cabinet meeting held on 30^th November, 2005 was adopted by the Council meeting held on 18^th January, 2006 relating to the delegation of powers (Minute No. A65 refers).

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.