Strategic Priority 1: Reduce Carbon Emissions in the Council Housing Stock

Action required:

Produce a business case to seek approval for a Greener Housing Project Manager to lead and manage the council's approach to net zero in housing services.
Complete 100% Stock Condition Surveys of our council housing stock by January 2024.
By April 2024 establish the model of retrofit packages to install in our property archetypes and dwelling types to meet net zero 2050, particularly with regard to:- the criterion for the installation of Photo Voltaic (PV) panels on individual house roofs- heating and hot water
Commission an internal working group to establish an appropriate alternative heating source(s) to off gas heating systems by April 2024, ahead of the EPC C cut off of 2030.- Agree an action plan by April 2024 to retrain our gas servicing operatives on new and replacement technologies
Target all council housing stock with an EPC of greater than C with individual plans to improve energy efficiency to achieve EPC Band C by 2030:- Programme retrofit actions to 2030 by November 2023- Review the new greener housing budget annually to ensure it meets cost projections to 2030.
Establish a cost ceiling level where existing stock may be classed as unviable to retrofit- Establish an options appraisal for stock meeting these criteria.- Combine this with natural depreciation costs and future maintenance/replacement projections to produce a report to Cabinet seeking approval for disposal, if required
Establish a method to survey potential buy back properties to identify retrofit costs and establish a cost ceiling of retrofit costs which makes a potential purchase unviable, when taken in conjunction with the aspirations of the council's development programme, by April 2024.
Combine Asset Management Strategy and replacement programmes with the total retrofit requirements to ensure property works are planned efficiently by April 2026- Combine replacement years and plan geographically to provide value for money and limit carbon emissions
Align Asset Management Strategy with HRA Business Plan and Development Strategy by November 2023.
Continue to canvas the government for national and regional funding to support retrofit schemes toward net zero.
Explore consortium approaches to funding on all government funding schemes
Affordable Warmth Programmes - Educate and promote energy efficiency to our tenants and residents to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions.- Link with local partners - Citizens Advice/HCC- Promote initiatives and measures in each Hometalk magazine
Key stakeholders and Partnerships - engagement- HCC, Citizen's Advice, tenants, residents, members, staff- Consultation- Events, estate drop ins.
Assess our wider carbon footprint by April 2026- Embodied carbon in retrofit and demolition activities- Material production, delivery and installation.
Complete an options appraisal of the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging points across the areas of our housing stock, in conjunction with the council's approach to the wider district by April 2029.