Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No 86 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 January 2022 the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that as part of a competitive bidding process co-ordinated through the Combined Authority, Sefton Council had been awarded £3,374,297 of grant funding to retrofit 307 poorly insulated homes for low income Sefton residents; and that the funding had come from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of the government’s post Covid-19 response and supporting the UK Net Zero Carbon by 2050 target.

The report also sought approval to accept this funding to ensure that Sefton could benefit from almost £3.4 million, 100% grant funding. Spending this funding was time critical to ensure residents received the benefits and that no proportion of the funding was returned due to slippage in delivery. The programme was due to be delivered between January 2022 and 31 March 2023.

Due to the level of the grant funding, authority to accept the funding as well as secure permission to procure and award works was required from Council.

The funding was a continuation of the Green Homes Grant (GHG) Local Delivery Scheme (LAD) phase 2 but had been renamed as Sustainable Warmth. 

It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Fairclough

and

RESOLVED:

That a supplementary capital estimate of £2.89m fully funded by grant funding in respect of the Sustainable Warmth initiative be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that as part of a competitive bidding process co-ordinated through the Combined Authority, Sefton Council had been awarded £3,374,297 of grant funding to retrofit 307 poorly insulated homes for low income Sefton residents; and that the funding had come from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of the government’s post Covid-19 response and supporting the UK Net Zero Carbon by 2050 target.

The report also sought approval to accept this funding to ensure that Sefton could benefit from almost £3.4 million, 100% grant funding. Spending this funding was time critical to ensure residents received the benefits and that no proportion of the funding was returned due to slippage in delivery. The programme was due to be delivered between January 2022 and 31 March 2023.

Due to the level of the grant funding, authority to accept the funding as well as secure permission to procure and award works was required from Council.

The funding was a continuation of the Green Homes Grant (GHG) Local Delivery Scheme (LAD) phase 2 but had been renamed as Sustainable Warmth. 

Decision Made:     

Reasons for the Decisions:

If this funding is not accepted, residents will not receive the investment required to improve their home, which is designed to reduce fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions, support local jobs and improve the communities where these homes exist.

The £3,374,297 funding allocation is 100% grant and does not require any match funding from the Council and there is no risk of clawback of the funding if fully utilised.

Delegated responsibility has been requested to help to streamline the governance of the project whilst maintaining full accountability. Any funding that is not utilised within the timeframe of the scheme (end date 31 March 2023) may be reallocated to other Local Authorities that are able to undertake the works in a timely manner.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86