Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Jodie Clements and Co-optee, Richard Downie.

Councillor Heather Anderson acted as substitute representative for Councillor Jodie Clements.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations declared at the meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting of Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 16^th July 2024 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Recommended                     -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th October 2024 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved                               -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To receive a verbal update from the Chair regarding previous recommendations made by the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee and items relating to the work programme.

The Chair informed the Committee that a report had been submitted to Full Council on the 26^th September 2024 to recommend the approval of Tim O’Kane and Richard Downie as Co-optees to the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Committee was informed that Full Council had approved the appointment of both Co-optees for the two Municipal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.  They noted that there were two further vacant Co-optee positions that would be discussed later in the meeting.

Committee was also informed that item 7 of the agenda – Impact of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) on Hyndburn, had been deferred to a future meeting.

Due to a number of items being deferred to future meetings, Members were informed that items on the work programme would need to be reconsidered and, as such, the work programme would be re-circulated to all Members of the Committee.

Committee are requested to consider the attached report which provides:

·         Information about the range of energy efficiency measures installed in domestic properties in Hyndburn through various energy funding programmes and grant schemes.

·         A summary of the approach taken by the Council to promote funding opportunities, engage residents and support them to apply for funding.

·         Progress made in increasing awareness and take up of funding since the introduction of a ‘Home Energy Reduction Officer’ (HERO) post.

Recommended                     -   That Committee note the progress made in delivering energy efficiency measures to domestic properties in Hyndburn through energy funding programmes and grant schemes.

A report was submitted by Chris Gregory (Housing Stratgey & Policy Manager) and Tim Brodest (Home Energy Reduction Officer) on behalf of the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, Councillor Kate Walsh.  The report provided information about the range of energy efficiency measures installed in domestic properties in Hyndburn through various energy funding programmes and grant schemes.  There was also a summary of the approach taken by the Council to promote funding opportunities, engage residents and support them to apply for funding and progress made in increasing awareness and take up of funding since the introduction of a ‘Home Energy Reduction Officer’ (HERO) post.

Councillor Kate Walsh, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Sustainability reported on progress in delivering energy efficiency measures in Hyndburn Domestic Properties.  She reported that there had been significant progress in improving energy efficiency in properties in the borough, particularly since the introduction of the Home Energy Reduction Officer (HERO) post.  She explained that the Council had been more proactive since the establishment of the Officer post and more domestic properties had been advised of the availability of grants to improve home energy efficiency.  She referred to the Council’s commitment in reducing carbon emissions and reaching net zero targets and referred to the challenges Hyndburn faced in reducing carbon emissions, largely due to Hyndburn’s property types.  She acknowledged that there was a lot of work to be done.

Responses were provided to the following advanced questions:

1. Reference was made to the air pollution created by the domestic wood burner and if this was being addressed?
2. The Committee requested information on the vetting process for companies employed to carry out work on properties, in respect of work standards.
3. The Committee asked for information on how people could complain about standards of work.

The Committee was informed that:

·         Wood burners had to be fitted and used in accordance with building regulations.  Only a small proportion of heating sources were made up of wood burners in Hyndburn and residents would be required to burn fuels in accordance with regulation standards.  Properties not burning appropriate fuels could be reported to the Council.

·         With regards to work being carried out by contractors, the Committee was informed that these companies were not employed directly by the Council as grants were administered by either Homewise – HBC Affordable Warmth – or Rhea Projects – LCC Affordable Warmth. Both Homewise and Rhea have on-board procedures in place for contractors and they had to be qualified/certified for what the work they carried out.  If residents felt the need to complain, this could be done directly to the contractor and raised with the administrators if still not happy.  After this process, residents could complain to Hyndburn Borough Council if they were still dissatisfied. 

Discussions followed and Members of the Committee made the following comments:

• Greater education was required on the use of woodburners.
• There was a lack of enforcement action of inappropriate fuel use in woodburners.
• Some housing types were more difficult to retrofit than others.
• Hyndburn had a lot  ...  view the full minutes text for item 200.

Item withdrawn.

Item deferred to a future meeting.

Recommended                     -   That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it is likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act, specified at the item.

Resolved                               -   That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

Committee are requested to note Council’s approval of two Co-optee members and to consider the nominations for the remaining two vacant positions.

Exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, Paragraph 1 – Information relating to any individual

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer submitted a report to inform Members of the two Co-optee appointments formally made by Council to the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting held on 26^th September 2024.  The Co-optees appointed were Richard Downie and Tim O’Kane. 

The report also requested the Committee to consider further nominations for the remaining two vacant co-optee posts on the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Three nominations had been received in advance of the meeting, two from Councillor Zak Khan who nominated Nick Whittaker and Eddie O’Brien and one nomination from Councillor Kimberley Whitehead who nominated Christine Heys.

The Committee gave consideration to the nominations and determined that Eddie O’Brien and Christine Heys should be recommended to Full Council for the remaining two co-optee posts.

Resolved                               -   That the nominations for Eddie O’Brien and Christine Heys as co-optees on the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee be accepted and recommended to Full Council for approval for a duration of two Municipal Years, 2024-25 and 2025-26.