Decision details

(Minute 84)

The report of the Assistant Director Environment was submitted, updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to home energy conservation and work being conducted on procuring an Energy Company Obligation (ECO) provider.

Members were advised that, in order to monitor progress against these targets, the Government required all local authorities in England to produce a Home Energy Conservation report by 1  March 2013, setting out the energy conservation measures that each authority considered practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvement in energy use savings.

Members were updated on the Green Deal position and that the ECO is an obligation placed upon the seven largest energy companies requiring them to fund energy efficiency measures, and was funded through charges on all energy bills. A partnership had been formed with Local Authorities in Devon and invitation to tender for procuring an Energy Company Obligation Delivery Partner for Devon and Torbay had been advertised. The procurement process was being undertaken by Devon County Council on behalf of the partnership. The aim was to have an ECO Delivery Partner in place by 21October 2013.

Members discussed the low take up of the Green Deal nationally, but that by working with other Local Authorities in Devon on ECO, it was hoped that a better deal could be achieved for Exeter residents.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 3 September 2013 and the comments of Members were noted.

Executive resolved that:-

(1)           the contents of the Home Energy Conservation Report be noted; and

(2)        the procurement route, as set out in the report, that is the Council select a partner for Energy Company Obligation delivery and co-ordinate delivery in partnership with that company, including marketing support, be agreed.