Councils commended as local homes feel the benefit of £1.2m energy campaign

Two Norfolk councils have won powerful support for their £1.2m home energy efficiency campaign, which has helped improve the lives of hundreds of residents, including the elderly and vulnerable.

The successful partnership of Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council on their home energy strategy has directly tackled fuel poverty by offering access to good value deals on insulation and other home energy conservation measures.

This has helped cut heat loss from homes, lowered energy bills for families and individuals and more generally improved energy conservation, with all the positive knock-on effects concerning climate change.

The two councils' campaign has directly improved over 6,500 homes across both districts.

Now following annual progress reports submitted for both councils by officers of the Energy Team at Broadland, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has commended both councils for their joint work praising their "substantial progress".

In a letter, the DEFRA team stated:

"It is clear from the progress reports of both Councils that there is close co-operation with colleagues managing other programmes within your authorities. The number of initiatives you have underway and planned with external partners is encouraging.

"We would like to commend both authorities on the progress of their Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) strategies, and would congratulate all concerned for contributing to the substantial progress achieved so far."

Councillor Derek Blake, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and the Built Environment at South Norfolk Council said:

“As we said earlier this year, when we were reviewing the success of the project, this has been a fantastic example of co-operation on all fronts!

“I would urge all of our residents to take up the ongoing options that are available in continuing to access grants enabling them to insulate their homes. Winter is rapidly approaching and it would be wonderful if we could reproduce our previous performance with a major surge in new applications.”

Councillor Roger Foulger, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Environmental Services at Broadland District Council said:

“This is yet another powerful example of how joint working between two local councils has directly benefited local people. The letter praised us for our well structured strategy and that we have recognised the need to develop partnerships and attract finance from all available sources.

“The work of the Energy Team in providing HECA services for both Broadland and South Norfolk is just one very good example of the benefits of partnership working, showing how both local authorities fully recognise that clear benefits for our residents can be achieved by pooling resources and working in close co-operation with a minimum of bureaucracy.

“Both councils are committed to the continuation of the Energy Team working arrangement.”

Andy Jarvis, Head of Environmental Services at Broadland District Council said:

“This is very pleasing feedback from DEFRA and I can say that this is not the first time that DEFRA has seen fit to commend the work of the Energy Team for both Councils.

"Plus, earlier this year, the Government sponsored Warm Front team announced that thanks to the co-operative efforts of the Energy Team with them, over £1.2 million of government funding had been expended in Broadland and South Norfolk in 2006/07 on making local homes more energy efficient and as a result bringing many residents out of fuel poverty.

"This was the highest level of funding in the county last year."

As part of its future development activity, the Energy Team intends to liaise with Home Inspection Pack Inspectors to arrange the promotion of the Energy Team's wide range of advisory skills and knowledge and thus increase even further the level of home energy conservation measures.

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