•The meeting commenced at 10am with a briefing session from Philip Doidge of Housing Renewal Services Ltd on the Decent Homes Standard. This part of the meeting was attended by a range of interested individuals with a proportion staying for the sub group meeting which followed it. Philips presentation is available for download from the DSEN website on the Domestic Energy & Health home page at www.dsen.org.uk/index/sub-groups/domestic.htm or, if you have specific queries, Philip can be contacted on 01752 365723 or emailed at philip.doidge@tiscali.co.uk
•The meeting was also attended by David Jones from Energywatch who talked to attendees about some of the services Energywatch provide. This is summarised below:
-Energywatch are the gas & electric consumer council / watchdog
-Deal with customer complaints in relation to fuel suppliers
-Run a priority service scheme where special services are available including: free gas safety check, meter moves, alternative heating and cooking provision in the event of loss of service (gas), 4 weeks notice of planned service interruption (electricity) or personal call in the event of unplanned service interruption and a password scheme to prevent bogus callers.
-Anyone over 60, on benefits or suffering with a disability is eligible to be placed on the priority service register (PSR).
For more details on this contact David Jones on (number) or email (email)
Some questions to David raised the following clarifications:
-gas safety check does not replace the landlords safety check
-condemned appliances should result in signposting & advice not disconnection
-individuals do not have to be on benefits and the criteria is not as strict as for EEC funding, just have to be over 60 or long term illness or income related benefits.
To download a PDF leaflet about the PSR go to the DSEN DE&H homepage at www.dsen.org.uk/index/sub-groups/domestic.htm or visit their website at www.energywatch.org.uk
Sub Group Meeting Commenced
1. Minutes of last meeting
Were approved
2. Matters Arising
Karen Farnworth is no longer EAGA representative for Devon. Claire Bircham is now sole contact for all Warm Front / EAGA matters.
3. Steering Group Feedback – Graham Horler
A large part of the most recent Steering Group meeting on 18 May was taken up with discussion of the DSEN Strategy.
TN has been working on a draft strategy document, which is now entitled a “Carbon Reduction Analysis” The analysis looks at what it would take to make a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 figures by 2010, and makes recommendations for priority actions to achieve this. The outcome of the analysis, in order of priority, is as follows:
•Businesses energy reduction and efficiency
•Domestic energy reduction and efficiency
•Large scale renewable energy
•Zero Carbon development
•Transport
The analysis also identified three major cross cutting initiatives:
•Funding solutions
•Skills and capacity building
•Leadership / Coordination, Communication
DSEN will be the main delivery agent for the new strategy therefore it is likely there will be some changes to the structure and function of DSEN over the coming year. This analysis is out for consultation at the moment and DSEN partners will be consulted in due to course to establish future direction.
4. HECA Update – Dick Scott
The last meeting of the Devon HECA group on May 9th 2007, included discussion around the Devon Sustainable Energy Strategy. Discussion moved on to consider the potential for a Devon wide RE scheme utilising EEC funding, and debate how this would work in practice. All the Devon LA’s have been invited to join DARE and the HECA officers are planning a meeting with Paul Baker, Managing Director of DARE, at the next HECA meeting.
The group also discussed Warm Zones and how data from BRE could be used to identify pockets of depravation and fuel poverty. Also discussed was the Climate Change Bill, in particular the creation of a Climate Change Commission and the effect such a group would have on Local Authority activities on climate change.
East Devon Council are working with the Carbon Trust to identify their own carbon footprint, and will be expanding this work to look at carbon reduction in the wider community. Teignbridge are planning on setting up a climate change section under environmental health. Plymouth reported excellent results from working with the Carbon Trust, in particular through raising awareness of councillors and lead officers.
The group also discussed WarmFront excesses, DSEN and potential radio activites.
5. EEAC Update – Graham Horler
The Devon EEAC has a dramatically increased target from EST for this year, equating to around 19,000 tonnes of carbon saved through verbal advice and installation compared to17000 in 2006 - 07. The projected achievements for the first quarter are 125% of target.
EST are looking to restructure the EEAC network and the plan is for one Sustainable Energy Centre (SEC) for the whole South West with satellite offices based in each county. A consultation on this is due to come out soon and will be made available to DSEN members.
Plymouth City Council are working with EST on a marketing pilot involving jointly branded and produced materials. EST will be identifying different marketing messages for different areas of Plymouth.
GH and one of the energy advisors from the EEAC will be on Gemini FM on June 28th discussing grants and assistance available to householders in Exeter, including Warm Front, Warm Up Exeter, PLEA Exeter and the Priority Service Register.
6. AW Update – Graham Horler for Martin Eibl
The Devon Affordable Warmth Strategy is being updated and is close to completion. The relaunch is planned for September and DSEN members will be advised of the date. The new document will be available for download from the DSEN website.
Keith Williams, Graham Horler and Martin Eibl will be having quarterly meetings and will be examining some auditable outputs from the Devon Affordable Warmth Officer so the Local Authorities will be better able to see what they are getting for their support of the post.
The affordable warmth newsletter has been delayed due to IT problems.
7. AOB
RS – has discovered that the gas safety check performed by engineers does not tell the householder if their appliance is efficient or not, even though the equipment they use for the safety check is capable of checking efficiency too.
Action: GH to investigate
JV – has worked with Martin Eibl and has been successful in a bid to the Housing Corporations IGP grant to get RSL maintenance staff thorough the City and Guilds in Energy Awareness training across the South West. There is likely to be a launch event and DSEN members will be kept informed.
NB - talked about the benefits of installing RE at new build rather than retrofit.
MH –discussed Affordable Warmth in RSL’s. Discussed an NEA paper which stated a property with a SAP of 70+ was ‘fuel poverty proof’. This is difficult to assume because the other variable relating to fuel poverty is income and cannot be controlled. ECC, BPS and BRE are using census data and the English House Condition Survey to analyse what type of people live in what property.
The group discussed ESCOs and how these would work for RSL’s.
Action: GH to contact NB and arrange a speaker to talk to the group about ESCOs and district heating schemes at a future meeting.
DJ – As well as working for energywatch David is also a local councillor in Christchurch and is the chair of the planning committee. They are considering producing some supplementary planning guidance relating to renewable energy installations in new build and he would like to ask DSEN members for any examples of best practice or examples of supplementary planning guidance that are already in place. Please email any info to cllr.djones@christchurch.gov.uk or call 07789 842149.
DONM
2nd October 2007
Larkbeare House, Exeter
** Next meeting will include a full presentation from David Jones about the future of Energywatch and speakers on RE / biomass **
