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RESOLVED: Cabinet delegated
authority to the Director of Communities and Opportunities to
procure a delivery partner for the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme
using a Dynamic Purchasing System or Framework and to negotiate and
award a contract to the preferred partner.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:
1.    
The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme will give
eligible residents living in eligible properties access to home
energy improvement grant funding
2.    
Improving the energy efficiency of homes in West
Northamptonshire will help reduce fuel poverty; being able to
maintain a warm home has been shown to have associated health
benefits
3.    
The DPS and framework offer the opportunity to run,
a limited compliant procurement that would save time and resources.
This would ensure the delivery phase of the scheme can begin in
September as programmed.
4.    
The delivery of home energy grant funding forms part
of the Governments Devolution white paper. This will be implemented
beginning with a transition period that enables areas to build
capacity and capability and demonstrate a strong track record of
retrofit delivery. Once this capacity, capability, and track record
is established, funding will transition to becoming part of the
areas’ Integrated Settlements. This procurement will allow
WNC to have a delivery partner in place, gain experience and be in
a position to continue home energy improvements when funding
becomes part of the integrated settlements.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
 
1.    
Decide not to deliver the Warm Homes: Local Grant
scheme to residents and decline the allocated grant
funding
2.    
Procure a delivery partner to identify suitable
properties, take residents through the application process,
recommend the most effective energy saving measures, manage
installation and final quality checks. A member of the
sustainability will act as contract manager for this
arrangement.
3.    
WNC directly recruits suitable and sufficient
resources to directly deliver all aspects of the grant funding
scheme. Managing the promotion, application process, recommending
suitable measures, installation and contractor management would
require a significant increase in resources and carry additional
risks for the council.