- Catherine Homer, Public Health Specialist, and a representative from National Energy Action to present
Minutes:
Catherine Homer, Public Health Specialist, and Kath McDaid, National Energy Action, gave the following powerpoint presentation:-
Winter Warmth – Preparation for Winter
Project Aims
- HWB members understand that strategic objectives are being delivered at community level via formal process mechanisms
- Delivering the Fuel Poverty Priority
- Community Involvement Officers and other key front line professionals understanding and knowledge of the causes and solutions to cold, damp homes is improved, resulting in signposting and one-to-one support
- Key strategic players aware of fuel poverty agenda and linkages to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy
What happened?
- Facilitate meeting including HWB Elected Members and Council Officers – focus localities of Brampton Bierlow, Wentworth and Harley
- Fuel Poverty briefing for Councillors and interested parties
- Discrete training
- 2 workshops
- Community events
- Feedback to Health and Wellbeing Board
What people said
- “impression that people buying own homes are wealthy but not the case as people tell me that they are struggling”
- “large areas of the Ward are made up of picturesque countryside however rural fuel poverty is a blight on many resident’s lives”
- “we can’t stop now – we have to keep it rolling, this project has been worthwhile because Fuel Poverty is a taboo subject, it is not recognised in general and now people are talking about it”
- “recognition needed that these areas are not classed as deprived but have high levels of fuel poverty – different problems associated with both properties and residents”
- “dealing with fuel poverty must rank highly in the prevention and early intervention aspects of our joint activities recognising the effects on all age ranges, young families and the elderly”
Unintended Outcomes
- Many of the services and officers engaged in the project have formed networks aside from their own areas of speciality
- Elected and Parish Councillors have together discussed sustaining the momentum within their local areas
- Stronger effective links with the Fitzwilliam Wentworth estate
- Developed a network who are “Green Deal ready”
- Synergy with existing pots of funding and projects
Recommendations for the Health and Wellbeing Board
- Recognition that fuel poverty is not just linked to general poverty in terms of low income but is more complex and has issuing consequences in terms of ill health and common mental disorders
- To recognise that perceived ‘affluence’ does not preclude people living in cold homes
- Use Ward Councillors and Parish Councillors to emphasise the very negative effects of fuel poverty and recognise the value of this local intelligence in utilising existing networks
- Continue to recognise and uphold the status of fuel poverty as a priority area for action
- Capitalise on the interest shown by health partners for fuel poverty by utilising intelligence networks
- Energy policy is in a statue of hiatus currently with many low income, fuel poor households having no access to grants or support; Health and Wellbeing Board to consider future investment to ‘plug’ such gaps in provision
Discussion ensued on the presentation with the following issues raised/clarified:-
· Rotherham was 1 of the very few Health and Wellbeing Boards to have Fuel Poverty within their Health and Wellbeing Strategy
· Rotherham was a long way ahead of other authorities with their work on Fuel Poverty
· The current 8 projects were writing their reports for submission to the Department of Energy and Climate Change
· The Citizens Advice Bureau was running an energy project through some general practices where the practice managers had expressed an interest. The CCG would be happy to work with the project and attempt to get more practices to participate
· Fuel poverty did not just apply to the elderly
· Fitted in with Making Every Contact Count and ensuring all front line staff/volunteers were aware
· The next performance monitoring report would be an opportunity to reflect on the recommendations and consider how to keep the momentum on the initiative
Catherine and Kath were thanked for their presentation.
Resolved:- (1) That the presentation be noted.
(2) That the Parish Council Liaison Officer be contacted with a view to giving a presentation to the Parish Council Network meeting.