Minutes:
In introducing the Motion, Councillor Neve referred to the poor energy efficiency of homes in the UK which were amongst the worst in Europe and were in desperate need of upgrade.
Motion: Moved by Councillor Neve and seconded by Councillor Hogg
“Millions of families across the UK are struggling with steeply rising energy prices.
Too many children and adults are living in damp, draughty and cold homes, amongst the worst in Europe, due to decades of underinvestment and poor insulation.
Housing is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the country, making up around 14% of total UK emissions.
There is no path to net zero without upgrading our homes.
To meet the government’s own climate targets, we need to retrofit at least 19 million homes by 2030 a make all our housing low energy and zero carbon by 2050. To meet North Somerset’s target of net zero by 2030 the rate of change must be even faster.
This critical step on the path to net zero is a huge opportunity to improve peoples’ lives, finances and health and create thousands of good jobs across the country.
In October 2021 the Government released a Heat and Building Strategy, laying out the plans to cut energy demand and carbon emissions from homes and buildings, yet the financial offer was far less than promised in their manifesto. Under the Government’s plans we would barely scratch the surface in the time we have to avoid climate catastrophe.
Council resolves to:
Call on the UK government to implement a Great Homes Upgrade
Write to Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and COP 26 President Alok Sharma highlighting the need to retrofit at least 19 million homes by 2030 to stay on track with their legal commitments and calling for the finance from the Treasury to unlock this.
Sign up to the Great Homes Upgrade campaign as a supporting organisation
Set up a local retrofit task force to help gather the evidence base, skills and expertise to kick start the process in this area. The work of the task force should include:
• A needs audit of local housing, identifying architypes and appropriate retrofit interventions.
• Skills audit, identifying required skills and jobs.
• Partnership development with training providers and local enterprises that can deliver interventions.
• Partnership working with social housing providers and neighbouring authorities and other landlords
• Establishing a one stop portal for homeowners to access advice and guidance on retrofit.
Share best practice and stories of retrofit success with the Great Homes Upgrade campaign and with the Local Government Association.
Write to neighbouring authorities asking them to join the campaign.”
Seven members signified their support for a debate on the Motion.
Councillor Neve spoke in support of his Motion. In debating the Motion reference was made to the proposal to set up a local retrofit task force and queries were raised as to whether there was current capacity to deliver this. Whilst there was full support for the proposals in principle, it was recognised that implementation would need to be subject to further discussions with the appropriate Director and Finance colleagues around capacity and resourcing. Members referred to the urgency of the current situation and the need to take measures to resolve these issues now. It was suggested that setting up a working group to address this may be the best way forward, and reference was made to the ongoing problems of ensuring current housebuilding met the required energy standards.
Councillor Neve and Councillor Hogg, as mover and seconder of the Motion, agreed to take on board the amendment for the proposals to be subject to further discussions with officers around capacity to deliver the proposals.
Following further debate it was
Resolved: that, subject to further discussions with the appropriate Director and Finance colleagues around capacity to deliver the proposals, the Motion as set out in full above be approved and adopted.