This report seeks approval for Herefordshire Council to accept the Warm Homes Fund grant offer of £1.069m, to act as the accountable body for the project and to implement the project in accordance with the attached project applications.

Warm Homes funding will enable Herefordshire to support approximately 150 fuel poor households in the county, with the same number potentially supported in Shropshire.

That:

(a)   Herefordshire Council act as accountable body for the £1,068,900 grant funding and delivery of the Warm Homes Fund Project across Herefordshire and Shropshire;

(b)   the scheme criteria set out at paragraphs 11a and bbe approved;

(c)   the chief finance officer be requested to add the £959,830 capital grant funding to the capital programme; and

(d) the Acting Assistant Director for Regulatory, Environment and Waste Services  be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the scheme including determination of grant applications in accordance with scheme criteria.

1.           Not/only part accept the grant funding.

a.     This is not recommended as this would make it difficult for some fuel poor households with no recognised central heating systems to receive support, as national funding streams alone are likely to result in significant funding shortfalls for fuel poor households.

b.     This will result in a risk of not achieving the council’s strategic objectives within the Corporate Plan and Affordable Warmth Strategy.