Issue - decisions

(i)             to agree no action on the Notice of Motion; and

(ii)            to request that a Service Update be issued which would incorporate information from partner agencies in relation to domestic abuse and women’s refuges.   

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the Notice of Motion.

The Committee resolved:-

in terms of Standing Order 34.1, this matter was referred to the Council for consideration.

That this 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 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.

8.              notes that the Council currently have a number of ongoing cavity and external wall insulation schemes to address the energy needs of Council tenants; and

9.              agrees 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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)              to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to assess the viability of installing collection points at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s), and if appropriate instruct the installation of collection points;

(ii)             to approve the promotion of the “Podback” Coffee Pod recycling scheme to inform householders and the general public about the scheme and provide further information about coffee pod recycling; and

(iii)            to agree that officers continue to engage with Podback and allow the necessary time to consider and plan for the future waste service challenges and requirements that this may impact on and to better understand the carbon impact of this service.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that a Service Update be provided to members, to provide details on how to minimise the effect of any future outages at Balnagask Energy Centre, and to include information on how to mitigate the additional heating costs incurred by residents using alternative costly heating options during the outage period.