Agenda and minutes

Agreed:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th October, 2009,  be accepted as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

Paul Maplethorpe, Affordable Warmth and Sustainable Energy Co-ordinator re:- Proposals to encourage householders to install energy efficiency measures.

Paul Maplethorpe, Affordable Warmth & Sustainable Energy Co-ordinator, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation which provided an update to the Group on future proposals to encourage householders to install energy efficiency measures, and NI 187 – Fuel Poverty and comments from the Utility companies.

 

The following points were highlighted:-

 

•         Availability of the Intelliplug

 

•         Warm Front:-  number of applications for full central heating; replacement boilers, cavity wall and loft insulation; total spend last 3 years; noting renewables to come on stream.

 

•         Save N Warm scheme:- discounted scheme for insulation: Loft installations 780 jobs = £390,000 provided buy CERT and £97,000 provided by customer contribution;  Cavity wall insulation 1560 jobs = £156,000 provided by CERT and £46,488 provided buy customer contribution.  Spend last 5 years.

 

•         SYHARP Housing and Regeneration Partnership:  Full heating system as required 45 installed jobs = £162,488.16.  3 year scheme to present.

 

•         Social Housing:-  Lofts filled 13,000 = £3055, 000 provided buy CERT 8 years program to date;  Cavity’s filled = 15042. £4,512,600.00 provided by CERT 8 years program to date; 22. External cladding £1,060.00 per property = £23,320 provided buy CERT to present;  Heating Ground source heating  £4,000 per installation  = £12,000 provided buy CERT.

 

The Panel was asked to note that Warm Fronts contract ends 2016 and CERT contract ends 2012.  Also the Government is not taking forward the domestic CERT carbon trading funding scheme.

 

•         Pay as You Save:-  PAYS is a new way to pay for whole-house energy retrofits that will deliver the greenhouse gas reductions that are necessary for the UK to meet its 2050 targets.   Over a quarter of the UK’s green house gas emissions come from existing housing stock.  The government’s target of reducing these emissions by 80% by 2050, successfully tackling carbon emissions from existing housing stock will be critical.

 

Future Proposals:- 

 

(i)                 Boiler Scrappage Scheme 

(ii)               Pay As You Save a mechanism to pay for whole-house energy efficiency retrofits; The concept is based on spreading the cost of refurbishment for a property over a substantial period of time; Repayment charge is linked to the property not the person.  Get £400 off a new A-rated boiler, when you scrap your old, inefficient G-rated boiler.  Vouchers will be sent out before 18th January 2010.  

 

The Models:-

 

Local Authority:  the local authority would cover the upfront capital cost of measures (with support from the government capital funds) and agree a repayment schedule (for example based on projected bill savings) to be paid via the Council billing systems. 

 

Energy Supplier/ District Network Operator (DNO):  the energy supplier or DNO would cover the upfront capital cost of measures (with support from the government capital funds) with repayment made via energy supplier energy bills.

 

Registered Social Landlord (RSL): the RSL would cover the upfront cost of measures (with support from the government capital funds) with repayments made via the service charge on the property or other identified routes.

 

An independent financial institution:  a group of partners may include  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Steve Dobson, Research and Statistics Officer, to report.

Steve Dobson, Research and Statistics Officer, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation relating to analysis of Axicom Market Research Data (Sept) 2009.

 

The Public Sector – Environmental Summary Report contained statistics for Rotherham compared with the UK in relation to:-

 

(i)         Environmental Efforts:-

 

-                      Re-cycling

-                      Using less energy at home

-                      Buy local produce

-                      Environmentally friendly projects

-                      Using car less – walk or cycle whenever possible

-                      Growing own vegetables

-                      Making own compost

 

(ii)               Attitude to Global Warming:-

 

-                      Concerned and taking steps to reduce energy use

-                      Concerned but not taking any action

-                      Concerned but feel it is Government’s responsibility]

-                      Don’t believe in global warming

-                      No response

 

The statistics when plotted on to graphs and maps illustrated:-

 

% who recycle

% who use less energy at home

% who drive a car a little less

% who buy locally grown produce

% who use environmentally friendly products

% who walk or cycle whenever they can

% who grown own vegetables

% who make own compost

% concerned but taking no action

 

The resulting main points were:-

 

Rotherham performs well on:

   Recycling                                                  74.6%  (GB 69.3%)

   Home composting                                  23.2%  (GB 20.9%)

 

Rotherham performs less well on:

   Drive car a little less                               25.9%  (GB 28.2%)

   Walk or cycle whenever you can        34.0%  (GB 39.1%)

   Buy locally grown produce                  25.4%  (GB 30.5%)

 

Correlation with IMD:-

 

Reasonable or significant correlation:-

   Use environmentally friendly products  

   Buy locally grown produce

   Drive car a little less

   Make your own compost

  

Less significant or no correlation:-

   Recycling

   Use less energy at home

   Walk or cycle whenever you can

   Grow your own vegetables

 

Members present commented on:-

 

-                      The very clear correlation between IMD and those factors

-                      What the Council could do to start to change this situation

-                      Allotment usage and waiting lists

-                      Allotment holders not living in the area and therefore travel to site by car

-                      Large numbers of terraced house with no garden in which to grow own food

-                      Cultural differences

-                      Perception of personal safety if walking

-                      Current trend of building apartments

-                      Availability of this information on the Council website

-                      The need for similar information relating to businesses

-                      Further efforts by the Council to encourage business to improve their recycling performance

-                      Importance of continued education and awareness raising

-                      Increase sale of seeds to grow own vegetables

-                      Impact of the Ministry of Food

-                      Fly tipping and fines

-                      Location of recycling centres and the need for more locally based facilities

 

Agreed:  That Steve be thanked for his informative presentation.

 

David Wilde, Local Agenda 21 Community Worker.

David Wilde, Local Action 21 Community Worker, spoke to the submitted report highlighting the following:-

 

•         Continued awareness raising focussed on climate change and biodiversity.

 

•         Completion of a successful food project at Coleridge Primary – locally produced food/reduction in food miles/composting/fair trade.  Funding was being sought to continue this project.   It was suggested that an approach be made to Asda.

 

•         Continued work on Green Check with various schools

 

•         Promotion of Green Check with the Dearne Valley Education Partnership and Green Heart

 

•         Eco/carbon footprinting sessions at Dearne Valley College

 

•         LA21/Green Check presentation to Rotherham Sustainability Partnership

 

•         Representation at Sheffield EcoSchools conference

 

•         Rotherham Environment Form meeting focussed on Dearne Valley Eco-Vision

 

•         RESDP meetings focussing on increased involvement from Children & Young People’s Services with Sustainable Schools

 

•         Re-established link with VAR

 

•         Continued to represent Rotherham at the Yorkshire & Humber Sustainable Schools Co-ordination Group

 

Planned work included:-

 

•         Further work on the Green Check programme to take into secondary schools

•         Progress potential for Social Cohesion work in the context of LA 21 and Sustainable Schools

 

It was mentioned that Swinton Comprehensive School was interested in taking over the ABLE project and David reported that he continued to work closely with Sue Budby, Principal Officer for Re-integration, on Aquaponics and composting to complement that project.

 

Agreed:  That David be thanked for his informative report.

David Rhodes, Property Environmental Manager, to report.

David Rhodes, Environmental Property Manager, reported on the following:-

 

•         EMAS:-  continued work with Directorate project groups to carry out internal audits;  expansion to include Green Check schools

•         Display Energy Certificates:-  a current list was circulated;  should be complete by March 2010.  There had been no enquiries from the public about DEC’s

•         NI 185 and 194:-  performance to be reported in July 2010.

•         Carbon Reduction Commitment – Energy Efficiency Scheme:- mandatory carbon trading scheme that will start April 2010;  CRC working group set up

•         Carbon Budgets:-  a scheme based on Kirkless’ was being reviewed by Rotherham and a Student from Sheffield University with a view to future implementation

•         Energy Awareness Training:-  programme of training sessions had been attended by 250+;  sessions would continue monthly for the next 6 months as a trial

•         Engaging the 3^rd Sector:-  this RIEP funded programme was in progress until July 2010

•         Sustainable Procurement Policy:- working group now set up to develop and implement the policy

•         Carbon Calculator:-  had been developed for South Yorkshire; this would be sent to Members and marketed to all schools

•         Photovoltaic panels:-  on going project to fit at schools but no capital money

 

Agreed:  That David be thanked for his informative update.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, to report.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, report that a summary of recent information from Government would be distributed with the minutes.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, to report.

Emma Bridge, Policy Officer, reported on the above programme and the South Yorkshire Climate Change Network.

 

Receipt of funding for the sub-region for awareness raising events aimed at key decision makers.

 

1^st Event – Monday, 25^th January, 2010 at the RBT Innovation Centre for senior officers from across the 4 local authorities.  The event would be opened by Councillor Wyatt on behalf of Councillor Smith and include speakers from Local Government Yorkshire and the Humber and Government Office, together with a video link to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.  Teachers and pupils from Abbey Special School would also be involved and officers from Sheffield and Rotherham Councils would share their experiences.

 

2^nd Event – planned for Match – would concentrate on adaptations and climate change and would be hosted in Doncaster

 

3^rd Event – planned for June – would be hosted in Barnsley – looking at community emissions.

 

It was also reported that the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel was looking to hold a special session for Members.

Friday, 5^th March, 2010 at 10.30 a.m. – Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting be held on FRIDAY, 5^TH MARCH, 2010 at 10.30 a.m. – Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, ROTHERHAM.