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Introduction
GH welcomed everyone to the meeting and round the table introductions were made.
Apologies
Minutes of Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed. One amendment was required to include the attendance of Janet Ventre. The minutes were then agreed to be an accurate representation of the discussions.
Matters Arising
(1.5) ME reported the development of the Simple “factsheet” was ongoing.
(1.6) PS reported that research carried out by her last year identified no inclusion of EE in LDPs’ and that it is a Regional Health Strategic decision about how much health professionals can be involved with additional referral work. There was some discussion on how the Single Assessment Process (SAP) is helping to identify those in cold homes. This is being used widely by other partners and includes reference to energy efficiency grants. For example, KK, Care Direct, reported that SAP used by Social Services and also that all front-line calls for Adult Services refer cold homes to EEAC. MG reported that SAP used for all new tenants. SAP will also include questions on health and lifestyle. IP from Care & Repair, Mid-Devon reported referrals. JH referred to a freephone number appearing on a leaflet produced by Teignbridge PCT.
Action: JH to send this form to Martin as concern was raised about too many freephone numbers for residents.
Action: ME to find out if the number related to the Retail Home Heat Help line.
(2.1) ME pointed out that the next NEA forum will target the health sector
Emergency Heating: There was much discussion about this and agreed that it would be useful to build up a data base on what is available in Devon and where.
(2:4) Waiting times for Warm Front grants: KS reported that for insulation is 46 days, and for heating, 59 days and these are constantly being reviewed and by June 06 will be reduced to 30 and 50 respectively. Asked if referrals are increasing or decreasing, KS reported an increase and that they are now about 10,000 a month. GH asked about the unable to pay. KS reported that Warm Front is developing a form to streamline the process. It is going to be necessary for a ‘top-up ‘ fund to always be available and that the form will be sent out to a range of partners, LA’s, benevolent funders’ energy charity trusts, etc. KS also referred to the Chancellor’s announcement of am extra £250m for Warm Front and an extra £300 for pensioners towards Central Heating. KS will let us know more details at a later date.
Feedback from DSEN Steering Group Meeting on 2nd September
GH reported that this had been one of the best meetings to date with some useful decisions made. The main discussion was around the conference. Graham explained that the draft ideas for the conference had been decided through consultation with the sub groups and a teleconference between the chairs. For a full draft of the conference please see attached document. Hopefully good lift sharing and other sustainable transport arrangements will be made, given the location, Roadford Lake Dam. The tour round the Dam is subject to the lifting of current public access restrictions.
Action: Any suggestions/amendments to the conference draft to be forwarded to Jo as soon as possible.
ME asked that we should get a really good speaker. It was suggested that perhaps David Gale, from Gale and Snowden, the architects behind the Oak Meadow Sustainable housing development at South Molton, would be a good choice. KW & PS have both heard him speak and recommended him.
Action: Graham to invite DG.
6. Website
It was announced that the DSEN website is now live and can be found at www.dsen.org.uk. There is a page for this sub group which already has links to pages for DAWS and the Devon HECA group on it.
ACTION: Jo to add links and pages for PAWS and the AW task force.
ACTION: Any other suggestions of articles, links or documents for the site to be sent directly to Jo.
Minutes of previous meetings will also be uploaded onto the site but with initials rather than names to comply with data protection law. We must remain aware that the website is in the public domain therefore sensitive information should not be placed on the site.
The decision was made to include peoples email contacts on the minutes when they are sent out, but not when added to website.
ACTION: any group members who were not present here and who object to emails being distributed with the minutes, please contact JO.
7. Affordable Warmth Updates:
Martin Eibl – Devon Affordable Warmth Officer:
ME reported on The Affordable Warmth Action Day 2005, held at the Plymouth Guildhall on December 2nd. It was attended by 45 people; 2 MP’s, 1 councillor, a group of tenants from Mid Devon and representatives from health, housing associations and LA’s and the event was reported by the Evening Herald. The event saw the launch of the Affordable Warmth Task Force, an initiative to encourage attendees to buddy up with another person, to set an ambitious task which will accelerate the delivery of warm homes in Devon, and to support each other through the delivery of the task. Once the task is complete, task cards are signed by the buddy and sent back to Martin or Jo and all are put in a draw to win some great prizes, including free loft and cavity wall insulation, places on a training course and a voucher for a meal for two. Entries close on April 1st 2006 and anyone wishing to join in should contact Martin or Jo. For full details and list of prizes please see attached document. Other outcomes of the day included a review of the current action plan through workshop sessions. This group will play a large part in forming a new action plan for 2006.
ACTION: Jo to send out revised draft of the action plan for future discussion.
It was also suggested that the DSEN sub group action plan and the Devon Affordable Warmth Strategy and Action Plan, and possible also the Plymouth Affordable Warmth Action Plan, could be amalgamated into one document so that the DSEN DE&H sub group takes ownership of the AW action plan. A suggestion was made that a small group of people from this group could be tasked with reviewing these documents and seeing if a merge is possible. Volunteers for this group were identified and are as follows:
Martin Eibl
Katy Kerley
Keith Williams
ACTION: ME to organise a meeting of this group to scrutinise the action plans.
Colin Anderson – Plymouth HECA officer:
Plymouth are developing a new home energy strategy to replace the HECA strategy which will be published in 2006. The new survey will require much more detail e.g: LA’s will need to know the number of residents in fuel poverty, those at risk, SAP under 40 etc.
Colin also talked about the energy survey report in which 10,000 households in Plymouth were surveyed for fuel poverty and energy efficiency. The results of this survey will be published on the DSEN website as an example of a good framework which could be also put on some maps.
Results of the survey show pre payment and non dual fuel customers are worst off. This energy survey not only highlights problem areas or demographics but also supplies evidence to funders that help is needed. It will also identify the fuel rich.
8. Prioritisation Exercise:
The group spent 10 minutes filling in priority and achievability on their action plan. Graham explained this would be used to identify one or two actions to be put forward to a potential source of funding as part of a quick win.
9. News and Events:
Energy Efficiency Summit – The Loop Centre, Exeter, 9th January
SW Fuel Poverty Forum – 23rd February (venue TBC)
Warm Front Stakeholder Roadshow – Plymouth, 27th February
Quality Renewal Group? - Plymouth
Wind Save Event – January
ESCO’s
For full details of these and other forthcoming events please see the events pages on the DSEN website (www.dsen.org.uk)
10. AOB
KS mentioned a grants leaflet from the EEAC is still to be finished.
PR said that at the last meeting it was agreed that a HECA update would go on this agenda but it didn’t appear. It was agreed this should take place at this point.
HECA update – Phil Roberts
The last HECA meeting was September 30th. Four main points came out of this meeting;
The Devon HECA group agreed to coordinate their meeting with DSEN
HECA returns – due to the variety of ways of gathering data for this some of the figures reported may be anomalous. GH agreed it is important to standardise the data collection to avoid this in future.
ACTION: GH & KW to arrange a meeting to discuss this.
Solar power was discussed, especially the proliferation of ‘cowboys’ and those with inflated prices. CA suggested a solar club for Devon.
N.B. Solar traders who are Clear Skies approved should have been audited for price and quality of workmanship.
4. The Local Authorities SLA’s with DEEAC need to be more measurable
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 7th March
Northcott house
Exeter University
10.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
ACTION: JO to circulate dates of all future meetings
UPDATE: Dates of future meetings are available on the sub group page of the DSEN website.
