Purpose

To seek approval to accept a Warm Homes: Local Grant and to consider procurement options.

Decision

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

a)    Approve the receipt of up to £13 million Warm Homes: Local Grant.

b)    Approve the execution of and delegated authority to sign the Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) and its associated documents (Data Sharing Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement) in respect of the Warm Home: Local Grant to the Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with the Director of Environment and the Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment

c)    Agree that contract(s) be awarded subject to execution of the MoU by DESNZ to enable the delivery of energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating.

d)    Delegate authority for awarding the contract(s) and approval for execution to the new service provider/s to the Corporate Director of Resources, and the Director of Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment.

Reason for Decision:

The Warm Home: Local Grant bid process facilitates a higher value bid for Local Authorities who can get into contract and start delivery more quickly. The bid submitted by Wiltshire Council requests a grant value linked to a project start date of May 2025. This requires the contract for works and associated services to be in place in early May 2025.

Approval to accept the grant and to award a contract to deliver the improvements will allow for the project to launch in May 2025. This will also provide more time to deliver the energy efficiency improvements to households during the first year of the project.

Benefits associated with delivery of the project include:

•       Improving thermal comfort, health and wellbeing through better insulated and ventilated homes

•       Reducing the risk of fuel poverty by offering support to the most vulnerable households using a worst first approach to treat poorly performing houses in the most economically deprived neighbourhoods.

•       Improving the health and wellbeing outcomes for those living in cold homes which has also been shown to reduce the demand on health and social care.

•       Reducing property energy demand and the associated carbon emissions through improved insulation and low carbon heating systems?

•       Properties are adapted to reduce the risk of damp and mould and are better adapted to climate change impacts.