Issue - items at meetings - Housing action towards Carbon Neutral 2030

RESOVLED: That Housing Committee:

2.1 Notes the content of the report

2.2 Approves the draft Housing Revenue Account Carbon Neutral Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 in Appendix 1

2.3 Agrees that a detailed costed retrofit plan, that includes revising Energy Performance Certificate targets for Council homes in line with the commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, be brought to Housing Committee in October / November 2021, in time for this to inform the budget setting process for 2022/23.

2.4 Commits to identifying resources from the Housing Revenue Account needed for reduction in carbon emissions from council homes to assist in achieving a carbon neutral city by 2030 and notes that Housing Revenue Account reserves towards this are being built up as part of the budget-setting process, subject to approval by Policy & Resources Committee.

128.1  Miles Davidson introduced the report to the committee.

128.2  Councillor Fowler was informed that the solar panel pilot schemes are still ongoing, even after Brexit. They cover three sites on communal roofs, the benefits are being explored. The Shine project will finish at the end of February 2021. An Energy Advice officer has been recruited. The schemes will be ongoing; however, these are stalled at the moment due to the pandemic. The anecdotal evidence for air source heat pump house installations is good and it is hoped to roll this out to more homes. It was noted that air source heat pumps can have different results from house to house.

128.3  Councillor Atkinson was informed that residents can register on the Solar Together Sussex website to be considered for solar panels. Partner organisations and a mail-out have also informed residents of the scheme. Brighton and Hove have the highest number of registrations with 1,183, with some 221 accepting the given quotes. Following surveys, 18.5% have accepted, which relates to a 3% above average pick-up.

128.4  Councillor Hugh-Jones was informed that gas boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps eventually. The improvements will be difficult to see as the results will differ from property to property.

          Debate

128.5  Councillor Hugh-Jones considered the Shine project to be positive and noted that in Eastbourne a refit of a 1950s block of flats with air heat source heat pump system had been successful. The councillor welcomed the budget and noted that the Solar Together Sussex had nudged homeowners into change.

128.6  Councillor Osborne considered the report to be good and acknowledged the position in the city. The councillor considered the stimulation of the supply chain to be good with Brighton and Hove City Council acting as catalyst for the private sector where Green growth was needed. It was noted that the removal of gas boilers would be a challenge, which would require a lot of community engagement.

128.7  The Chair put the recommendations to a vote and they were agreed by unanimously.

RESOVLED: That Housing Committee:

2.1 Notes the content of the report

2.2 Approves the draft Housing Revenue Account Carbon Neutral Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 in Appendix 1

2.3 Agrees that a detailed costed retrofit plan, that includes revising Energy Performance Certificate targets for Council homes in line with the commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, be brought to Housing Committee in October / November 2021, in time for this to inform the budget setting process for 2022/23.

2.4 Commits to identifying resources from the Housing Revenue Account needed for reduction in carbon emissions from council homes to assist in achieving a carbon neutral city by 2030 and notes that Housing Revenue Account reserves towards this are being built up as part of the budget-setting process, subject to approval by Policy & Resources Committee.