Fuel Poverty Report 2001

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 From 1 April 2001 the Department of the Environment, Transport and the regions (DETR) has introduced a new requirement for energy conservation authorities to report on their policies, strategies and achievement to help reduce fuel poverty in their communities. This is the first report prepared by SABC for submission with the 5^th annual Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) progress report.

1.2 This report has been produced in consultation with officers from the Housing and Environment strategy section, the local energy efficiency advice centre and other interested groups committed to this aim.

2. DEFINITION OF FUEL POVERTY

2.1 People who suffer from fuel poverty are those who cannot afford to heat their homes to an adequate comfort level. These households are likely to be on low income and live in poorly insulated homes with either expensive or inadequate heating sources. In order to keep warm they need to spend 10% or more of their disposable income on fuel. Fuel poverty leads to poor health, especially in the aged, very young and the disabled. Each winter there are over 300 excess deaths within Shropshire compared to the average mortality rate for the rest of the year due mainly to exacerbating pre existing cardiovascular and respiratory disease and it is now acknowledged that cold homes are the major domestic health hazard. It is also a significant contributor to social exclusion, whilst children in such an environment can suffer from poor health which reduces their educational chances.

3. HOUSEHOLDS AT RISK IN SHREWSBURY AND ATCHAM

3.1 The West Midlands which includes Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has been declared as the second worst area in the country for fuel poverty. The 1996 English House Condition Survey estimated that 54% of households in homes that are the least energy efficient (SAP < 20), suffer from ill health. Almost 75% of fuel poor households live in the private sector, with the private rented sector having the highest proportion of residents at risk. The private sector house condition survey carried out in Shrewsbury and Atcham in May 2000 found 3413 properties which had a SAP rating of less than 20 (<20). These properties are generally of pre 1945 construction, occupied by the vulnerable groups and mainly, though not exclusively located in the more deprived wards of North Shrewsbury. (Marchaven 2000)

3.2 Shrewsbury and Atcham has one of the lowest average weekly earnings in the West Midlands. Significantly lower than national averages.

3.3 North Shrewsbury (Castlefields and Ditherington, Harlescott, Sundorne, Underdale and Monkmoor) is an area characterised by high levels of deprivation with high unemployment and consequently statistically significantly high rates of premature mortality and long term illness.

3.4 An accepted indicator of deprivation is the Townsend scores, which uses four of the variables from the 1991 census. The Townsend scores have been standardised to the West Midlands region. The average ward in the region, therefore, will have a score of 0. The more positive the score, the more deprived the ward. See Table 1.

TABLE 1 - 1991 CENSUS SOCIAL DEPRIVATION VARIABLES

Ward Name	1	2	3	4	Townsend Score
Castlefields & Ditherington	10.7%	43.4%	39.3%	2.2%	+3.6
Harlescott	9.7%	35.3%	47.1%	3.2%	+4.1
Monkmoor	6.5%	28.4%	29.2%	1.0%	-0.1
Sundorne	7.7%	34.2%	39.2%	1.5%	+1.9
Underdale	9.1%	40.5%	42.4%	2.0%	+3.2
Shropshire	7.2%	24.5%	30.8%	1.5%

Source 1991 Census - West Midlands Regional Health Authority

1 % economically active residents (aged 15 - 59/64) who are unemployed

2 % households which do not possess a car

3 % households which are not owner occupied

4 % households with more than one person per room

3.5% There is a particularly high proportion of pensioners living alone in Castlefields and Ditherington and Underdale and within the two wards of Castlefields and Ditherington and Harlescott a high rate of illness amongst the elderly. (<>See Table 2).

TABLE 2 - LONG TERM LIMITING ILLNESS

Ward Name	Total Population	Long term limiting illness (LTLI) Number	Long term limiting illness (LTLI) %	LTLI Ratio
Castlefields & Ditherington	5459	765	14.0%	121.2
Harlescott	5707	661	11.6%	120.3
Monkmoor	6277	761	12.1%	100.6
Sundorne	5201	668	12.8%	114.1
Underdale	5077	709	14.0%	112.1

A long term limiting illness ration of 100 is equal to the national average.

4. OUR COMMITMENT TO TACKLE FUEL POVERTY

4.1 The Home Energy Conservation Report submitted in 1996 to the Secretary of State outlined the Councils intention to tackle fuel poverty in Shrewsbury and Atcham and recognised the fundamental need to establish strong links with the specialised agencies working closely with the fuel poor, as well as other agencies and sections within the Council, who have a valuable input towards this aim.

4.2 The Council is very aware of the links between its social exclusion work, anti-poverty strategy, environmental policy and local agenda 21 issues, which are embodied in the Community Strategy working draft, which was produced in August 2001. The Council earlier this year reorganised and created a new Housing and Environment Strategy section, which has responsibility for all these ts to create a more, streamlined, co-ordinated and coherent approach to this issue.

4.3 The aim to increase energy efficiency, eliminate fuel poverty and develop renewal energy production and land use is a principal aim within the emerging Shrewsbury and Atcham Community Strategy.

4.4 Promoting energy efficiency is one of the Council’s core objectives within the 2001/2002 Performance and Improvement Plan. This is followed through into the Council’s Housing Strategy and expanded, committing the Authority within this core policy framework document to develop a fuel poverty strategy. The development of a strategy also features in the Housing Best Value 5 year Improvement Plan.

4.5 Aim 9 of the 1999 - 2004 Corporate Plan sets the aim of addressing the housing needs and condition of the stock including by offering improvement grants and energy efficiency advice.

5. EXISTING MEASURES TO TACKLE FUEL POVERTY

5.1 PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING

In December 2000 the Council adopted as part of its commitment to energy efficiency, to incorporate the following measures into all Local Authority grant schedules, where no grant was available through HEES and resources permit: -

i) loft insulation;

ii) hot water cylinder jackets;

iii) cavity wall insulation;

iv) energy efficient space heating systems as part of a package of other grant aidable renovation works.

To date works have been carried out in 15 properties.

5.2 PRIVATE LANDLORDS FORUM

The first private landlord’s forum was held in July 2001. This will be a regular meeting between private landlords and agents representing well in excess of 3000 domestic homes, when all issues relating to housing standards will be discussed. A key partner involved in all meetings will be the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre to promote energy efficiency.

5.3 NORTH SHREWSBURY REGENERATION

The three most deprived wards in North Shrewsbury - Castlefields and Ditherington, Harlescott and Underdale are part of the North Shrewsbury and Oswestry SPARKS Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme aimed at improving and regenerating the social, economic and health well being in these areas of deprivation. Whilst action to reduce fuel poverty are not specifically included within the SRB programme consideration will be given to submitting bids for SRB funding for activities to tackle fuel poverty.

5.4 TRAINING

Two members of staff from the Housing and Environment strategy and Environmental Health sections have been trained to the National Energy Advice/City & Guilds standard. Four new members of staff are currently being recruited to the newly formed Housing and Environment Strategy section and those staff will be given training in energy efficiency including where appropriate to City and Guilds standard.

5.5 PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING

Following a tenants Ballot in April 2001 the Councils housing stock is being transferred to a Housing Company (Severnside) on 1 October 2001. The new company has given a commitment to increase its expenditure on repairs and improvements and every tenant will be offered where not already fitted: -

i) UPVC double glazing window replacement;

ii) internal/external insulation measures;

iii) new efficient condensing boiler replacement programme

iv) energy efficient central heating systems;

• to upgrade partial systems to full central heating
• to replace out of date systems with more efficient modern ones; and
• to be offered to tenants whose houses don’t have central heating.

Energy efficiency is an integral part of the repair, improvement and maintenance programme.

5.6 BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Governments standard assessment procedure (SAP) is required as a best value performance indicator in the best value performance plans. This can be used to measure existing performance and establish targets for future improvement programmes.

5.7 PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION

Front line staff who regularly meet the public in their homes are trained to advise tenants of good energy efficiency practice. Leaflets and other information on energy efficiency initiatives are displayed at reception and public areas. Information is also included in tenants newsletters and other consultation literature and all tenants have been sent information regarding their local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC). Energy advice surgeries have been successfully held in various Community Centres to promote energy conservation and feedback has shown that this information has been of particular interest to residents.

6 EXISTING PROGRAMMES AND PARTNERSHIPS

6.1 SHROPSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE AND STOKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVICE CENTRE (EEAC)

The EEAC, which is based in Telford, provides, on behalf of the Council, free and impartial advice to all enquirer’s. Shrewsbury and Atcham is a significant financial contributor to the centre, which is fundamental to our HECA fuel poverty/affordable warmth programme. Officers of the Borough Council sit on the management/steering group and will develop further its links to alleviate fuel poverty. On our behalf the EEAC has assisted hundreds of low income households to gain access to energy efficiency grants and services.

In the financial year 2000/2001 the following activities were undertaken by the EEAC in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

• 25 mailshots to targeted audiences;
• 11 focused exhibitions;
• daily adverts in the local paper;
• 19 presentations and training sessions.

In addition, the centre received 986 calls, sent out 499 information packs and made 102 advisory visits.

6.2 RURAL ENERGY WATCH IN SHROPSHIRE

Rural Energy Watch in Shropshire provides discounted insulation and heating system improvements to residents of the four participating Shropshire Council areas. As well as competitive prices the scheme offers an additional incentive of grant assistance to rural residents - £75 each for loft or cavity wall insulation and/or £180 towards a high efficiency condensing boiler. Householders who install measures under the scheme receive an energy efficiency report including a report of the improvements carried out.

Leaflets incorporating a Home Energy Check questionnaire have been produced to promote the scheme. The bulk of the marketing has been carried out in partnership with the Shropshire, Herefordshire and Stoke EEAC (SHSEEAC) as well as local heating contractors and insulation installers. Advertisements placed in local newspapers were not found to be particularly effective in fostering interest in the scheme.

Promotion has also been possible at a community level as the result of eight training courses that were held in the four participating Council areas in order to raise awareness of the scheme amongst Council staff and partner organisations. 78 representatives from a wide range of organisations including Social Services, Shropshire Community & Mental Health Trust, Housing Associations and the voluntary sector attended the training sessions. As the training took place in February and March 2001, the expectation is that its effects will not be fully felt until the next reporting period, when the scheme will also be promoted through the Parish newsletters.

Out of enquiries from nearly 3,000 households during the reporting period, 1,134 dwellings have had improvements installed through the scheme.

A breakdown of improvements instigated by the scheme follows

Measure	Take up
Loft insulation	139
Cavity wall insulation	214
Draught proofing	35
Low energy light bulbs	1,914
Condensing boiler	5

While Rural Energy Watch in Shropshire’s insulation offer has been successful there has been a poor response with regard to condensing boilers. In an effort to combat this, new incentives are in place for Year 2 to encourage contractors to promote the boiler discount offer, particularly while the boiler grant offer is still open to householders in rural areas.

There is also some concern that once the insulation grants have been used up insulation installers will have difficulty in meeting their obligation to promote the scheme. This is a serious issue as the insulation market has a high level of grant dependency. The scheme will attempt to overcome this through the provision of effective marketing support to installers, particularly linking with SHSEEAC.

6.3 HOME-A-LOAN FOR WARMTH

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council in partnership with the 5 District Councils of New Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Council has been awarded funding from the Government to promote energy efficiency loans to local credit union members and the wider public. The scheme will offer an energy efficiency package including an energy audit and discounted insulation measures and appliances and if eligible, a credit union loan to help purchase energy efficiency measures. The scheme plans to ‘go live’ in October 2001.

6.4 SHROPSHIRE CARE AND REPAIR - HOME IMPROVEMENT AGENCY

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council in partnership with the 4 District Councils in Shropshire, Shropshire County Council Social Services Department and the Health Authority have been successful in securing Government funding for a new Home Improvement Agency. Managed by Anchor Housing, Shropshire Care and Repair provide advice and assistance to elderly and vulnerable private sector residents to enable them to carry out improvements and adaptations to their properties to enable them to stay in safety and comfort in their own home. Help with energy efficiency measures is central to this aim.

7 SUCCESS OF EXISTING PROGRAMMES

Between 1^st June 2000 and 31^st March 2001, 215 properties have had work carried out by registered installers and over £63,685 has been spent within the boundaries of this local authority area.

Energy efficiency measures fitted were as follows: -

Measure Type	Number of Properties	Cost of Jobs
Cavity wall insulation	115	£28,471
CFL’s	198	£1,930
Draught proofing	126	£10,637
Gas central heating	4	£1,756
Hot water thermal jacket	35	£359
Loft insulation	117	£19,891
Repairs to existing heating system	11	£641

7.1 Since 1996 the efforts of the Council and its partners have resulted in a calculated overall improvement in energy efficiency to March 2001 of 13%. External validation by the Association for the Conservation of Energy for the DETR indicates that Shrewsbury and Atcham are on target for the 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2010.

7.2 Whilst Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has made good progress, fuel poverty remains an issue within the Borough, and continued concerted co-ordinated efforts are required to tackle it.

TACKLING FUEL POVERTY

DRAFT ACTION PLAN FOR 2002

	ACTION	TARGET	TARGET DATE	KEY PARTNERS
1)	Raising the profile of fuel poverty in Telford and Wrekin.
a)	Establish a multi agency fuel poverty steering group.	To progress the fuel poverty strategy and to monitor implementation.	To establish the steering group by July 2002.	SABC, RSL’s, HEALTH EEAC, SCAR
b) c) d) e)	Increase awareness of fuel poverty in high-risk areas. Local promotion - Targeted poster and leaflet campaign in Community Centres, Sheltered Housing Scheme Shops and public facilities. Training and advice sessions for front line staff within the Council and other agencies. Targeted leaflet campaign to RSL tenants.	To raise the profile of fuel poverty and affordable warmth in selected target areas. To put up 5 displays. To train 50 people. To send out at least 500 leaflets.	November 2002 November 2002 October 2002 October 2002	SABC, Severnside, RSL’s, EEAC SABC, Severnside Voluntary sector, RSL’s, Age Concern SABC, EEAC, SCAR SABC, Severnside, EEAC, RSL’s
	ACTION	TARGET	TARGET DATE	KEY PARTNERS
2) a) b) c) d)	Promote energy efficiency works to targeted groups. Continue delivery of the Home-a-loan for warmth scheme. Continue to deliver the Rural Energy Watch Shropshire scheme. Investigate opportunities offered through SOP3 in April 2002. Review Council’s Home Improvement Grant policy.	Elderly and low-income families. 5 condensing boilers 100 loft insulation 150 cavity wall insulation 125 other measures To secure funding for at least one scheme targeted at reducing fuel poverty. To improve the targeting of limited resources.	ONGOING ONGOING April 2002 January 2002	SABC, Telford & Wrekin Council, District Councils, Credit Unions, EEAC SABC, District Councils, HESTIA SABC, Telford & Wrekin Council, District Councils, EEAC SABC, SCAR, Home Investment Trust
	ACTION	TARGET	TARGET DATE	KEY PARTNERS
3) a) b) c) d)	Develop existing Partnerships and forge new Partnerships. Secure funding for SHSEEAC. Continue to support funding for Shropshire Care and Repair (SCAR). To forge links with Severnside Housing. To forge links with the Voluntary sector.	To improve the multi agency response to facilitating fuel poverty in a co-ordinated way. To develop a three year service level agreement with SHSEEAC. To continue the development of SCAR Home Improvement Agency. To work collaboratively with Severnside to reduce the incidents of fuel poverty amongst their tenants. To work closely with the volunteer service to develop links with 3 key voluntary agencies.	ONGOING January 2002 ONGOING ONGOING October 2002	SABC, Telford & Wrekin Council, District Councils, Health Authority, RSL’s, SCAR, EEAC SABC, EEAC SABC, SCAR SABC, Severnside SABC, CVS

Glossary

SAP	Standard Assessment Procedure	A way of calculating hot water and heating energy costs
SHSEEAC	Shropshire Herefordshire and Stoke Energy Efficiency Advice Centre	A jointly funded energy efficiency advice centre
SCAR	Shropshire Care and Repair	A jointly funded Home Improvement Agency
SOP	Standards of Performance	Energy efficiency commitments required by energy companies
HECA	Home Energy Conservation Act 1995	The primary legislation requiring Local Authority to take steps to reduce home energy use
RSL	Registered Social Landlord	A provider of publicly subsidised housing registered with the Housing Corporation