Agenda item

The Committee had before it a notice of motion from Councillor Bonsell in the following terms:-

that the Committee –

1.     notes that fuel poverty is a serious problem for people in their homes across Aberdeen, particularly during this winter but forecast to continue in future years;

2.     notes that the effects of climate change are increasingly being felt in all communities in the city, but especially in the most vulnerable;

3.     agrees that the most effective route out of fuel poverty is reducing the need for energy consumption, which is also part of the transition to a low carbon economy, the fundamental means of addressing climate change.;

4.     notes that the widespread installation of good quality insulation in homes, to the current best standards, will reduce energy consumption and offer the prospect of decent living-wage jobs, open to local people within Aberdeen’s communities;

5.     notes that granite-built houses with solid walls and no cavities are a characteristic of Aberdeen;

6.     recalls the long history of Aberdeen City Council in tackling fuel poverty, for example, through partnering with SCARF, Aberdeen Heat & Power, and the new Energy from Waste project;

7.     agrees that we should look to maximise the benefits of public spending by integrating the work on fuel poverty, climate change and employability where possible;

8.     instructs the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to engage with appropriate social enterprises to explore the setting up, and also examine options for the in-house delivery, of a scheme to fit external wall insulation to homes with solid walls under the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS:ABS) and to report back to the appropriate committee; and

9.     instructs the Chief Officer – Commercial and Procurement to report back to the appropriate committee, not later than July 2023, on options that the Council may have under its trading powers for the production, distribution and installation of insulation in Council and non-Council properties, the benefits to employment and the local circular economy, the potential for reduction in fuel poverty for occupiers of Council houses and other properties, and the level of capital and revenue investment required for different options. 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that fuel poverty is a serious problem for people in their homes across Aberdeen, particularly during this winter but forecast to continue in future years;

(ii)            to note that the effects of climate change are increasingly being felt in all communities in the city, but especially in the most vulnerable;

(iii)          to agree that the most effective route out of fuel poverty is reducing the need for energy consumption, which is also part of the transition to a low carbon economy, the fundamental means of addressing climate change;

(iv)          to note that the widespread installation of good quality insulation in homes, to the current best standards, will reduce energy consumption and offer the prospect of decent living-wage jobs, open to local people within Aberdeen’s communities;

(v)           to note that granite-built houses with solid walls and no cavities are a characteristic of Aberdeen;

(vi)          to recall the long history of Aberdeen City Council in tackling fuel poverty, for example, through partnering with SCARF, Aberdeen Heat & Power, and the new Energy from Waste project;

(vii)         to agree that Aberdeen City Council should look to maximise the benefits of public spending by integrating the work on fuel poverty, climate change and employability where possible.

(viii)       to note that the Council currently have a number of ongoing cavity and external wall insulation schemes to address the energy needs of Council tenants; and

(ix)          to agree that the Council continue to work with the Scottish Government to deliver Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area Based Scheme, working with private owners to progress external wall insulation and other home efficiency measures