Agenda item

Sefton Council to encourage the use of new lower-carbon emitting boilers on New Build Properties 

It was moved by Councillor Irving, seconded by Councillor Bennett that:                                                                                

At the last full Sefton Council meeting held on the 15^TH July 2021 the leader of the council, Cllr Ian Maher moved agenda item 8, ‘Climate Emergency Annual Report’ for approval by the full council.    This was unanimously agreed, however, I asked Councillor Maher a question on this agenda Item, Reference 2.8 Domestic Housing Retrofit.    I was informed that this was an ERDF funded project targeting 245 homes which are the most inefficient homes of the poorest residents.  Housing Associations would be retrofitting the selected homes in Sefton with innovative and traditional carbon reduction interventions, such as external wall insulation, floor insulation and electric heating.   The outputs from this work will help to reduce carbon emissions across the borough.   Sadly, though, as Cllr Maher pointed out, this grant will not be available next year as the Government will not contribute to it.       However, the Government has stated that from 2025 it will be banning all new build homes from fitting Gas and Oil-fired boilers.

In light of what is being planned by the Government with regards Gas and Oil Boilers in new build properties and taking into account what the United Nations Scientific Advisors have said in issuing a ‘Red Warning’ about climate change, especially about carbon emissions getting to a critical point in the earth’s climate.  I ask that this council who I know supports climate change initiative’s and are very concerned on how it will affect its residents to support.

Council Resolution:

That this Council takes seriously the ‘Red Alert’ warning from the United Nations about Climate Change and more specifically Carbon Emissions.  It acknowledges the Government’s Plan to introduce a ban on all Gas and Oil Boilers being fitted in new build house from 2025.   It also acknowledges that under the current Planning System and Building Regulations, there are no powers available to the Council that could be applied to prevent housebuilders from designing their schemes to include gas/oil fired boilers.  In view of this, this Council sees no sense in approving new house builds with oil and gas boilers being fitted currently to houses that will only be available from late 2023, if approved now.  It will also save new home owners, especially first-time affordable home owners, the cost of changing over to new boilers in years ahead.  This Council agrees that it will encourage all new houses and those with outline planning permission in Sefton Council’s area to be fitted with a new lower-carbon emitting boiler.  

Am amendment was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Veidman that:

the following words be included after the words “15^th July 2021” of the first sentence “,I,”.

the following words of the 2^nd and 3^rd sentence be deleted “Cllr Ian Maher” “, however,

the word “was” be inserted after the word ”I” of the third sentence;

the words “Councillor Maher” be deleted from the fourth sentence;

the words “, and responded” be included after the word “Housing Retrofit” and the words “I was informed” of the fifth sentence be deleted;

the words “I also” be included after the word “though,” of the tenth sentence;

the words “I ask that” be deleted from the fourth sentence of the second paragraph  and the words “is asked” be included after the word “Council” of the fifth sentence, second paragraph and the words “who I know supports climate change initiative’s and are very concerned on how it will affect its residents” be deleted  with the words “the following” being included after the word “support”.  

That the following words be deleted from the fifth sentence of the Council Resolution “and Building Regulations”: and

That all of the words following the words “this Council” of the first sentence, 2^nd paragraph be replaced with the words “resolves to write to the Secretary of State asking that councils be given the powers to ensure that developers have to fit low carbon heating systems into new homes and further provide grants to local authorities to facilitate the retrofit of low carbon systems into existing homes”.

Following a debate on the amendment it was unanimously:

RESOLVED:           That:

At the last full Sefton Council meeting held on the 15^th July 2021, I, the Leader of the Council, moved agenda item 8, ‘Climate Emergency Annual Report’ for approval by the full council.  This was unanimously agreed. I was asked a question on this agenda Item, Reference 2.8 Domestic Housing Retrofit, and responded that this was an ERDF funded project targeting 245 homes which are the most inefficient homes of the poorest residents. Housing Associations would be retrofitting the selected homes in Sefton with innovative and traditional carbon reduction interventions, such as external wall insulation, floor insulation and electric heating.  The outputs from this work will help to reduce carbon emissions across the borough. Sadly, though, I also pointed out, this grant will not be available next year as the Government will not contribute to it.  However, the Government has stated that from 2025 it will be banning all new build homes from fitting gas and oil-fired boilers.

In light of what is being planned by the Government with regards gas and oil boilers in new build properties, and taking into account what the United Nations Scientific Advisors have said in issuing a ‘Red Warning’ about climate change, especially about carbon emissions getting to a critical point in the earth’s climate, this Council is asked to support the following.

Council Resolution:

That this Council takes seriously the ‘Red Alert’ warning from the United Nations about Climate Change and more specifically Carbon Emissions. It acknowledges the Government’s Plan to introduce a ban on all gas and oil boilers being fitted in new build house from 2025.   It also acknowledges that under the current Planning System, there are no powers available to the Council that could be applied to prevent housebuilders from designing their schemes to include gas/oil fired boilers. 

In view of this, this Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State asking that Councils be given the powers to ensure that developers have to fit low carbon heating systems into new homes and further provide grants to local authorities to facilitate the retrofit of low carbon systems into existing homes.