Decision details

Cabinet is requested to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Community, following  consultation with the Portfolio Holder for  Housing and Employment, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources and the Director of          Finance to:-

a.    Approve the request to grant the Housing Asset Management Team permission to collaborate with the lead Borough Ealing to utilise the funding awarded under the Green Homes Grant (GHG) coalition bid to enable retrofit solutions works to be delivered via an appointed managing agent within the lead Borough. The value of the grant is £4.783 million in total and £580,793 of this can be used to support works on private properties within Harrow.

b.    Tranche 1a will involve the Council recommending privately owned/ private rented properties for works. The full cost of works will be met by grant payments from Ealing Council with no financial impact on the Council’s General Fund or HRA and no impact on the Council’s borrowing requirement.

c.    Note a potential second phase of funding (tranche1b) if the lead Borough are successful with the submission bid. A total bid of £14.5 million on behalf of 10 Boroughs could amount to an additional sum of up to £1.232m per Borough.

d.    Tranche 1b, if successful will require the Council to contribute some additional funding from the HRA and will be reported to Cabinet as appropriate.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the request to grant the Housing Asset Management Team permission to collaborate with the lead Borough of Ealing to utilise the funding (of the value of £4.783 million in total, £580,793 of which could be used to support works on private properties within Harrow) awarded under the Green Homes Grant (GHG) coalition bid to enable retrofit solutions works to be delivered via an appointed managing agent within the lead Borough, be approved;

(2)          Tranche 1a which would involve the Council recommending privately owned/ private rented properties for works, the  full cost of which would  be met by grant payments from Ealing Council with no financial impact on the Council’s General Fund or HRA and no impact on the Council’s borrowing requirement, be agreed;

(3)          Having noted the potential second phase of funding (Tranche 1b), should the lead borough be successful with the submission bid (a total bid of £14.5 million on behalf of 10 boroughs could amount to an additional sum of up to £1.232 million per borough), the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources and the Director of Finance, be authorised to collaborate with the lead Borough Ealing in order to utilise the funding awarded under the Green Homes Grant (GHG); should Tranche 1b be successful, in line with Grant Contribution requirements, approval would be sought to the Council contribution of the £75,000 from the Housing Revenue Account.

This route will enable the Council to:

-               address the Climate Change Emergency that Harrow Council had declared with retrofit measures;

-               target not only Harrow’s poorest energy performing stock but also those households in greatest need in helping to reduce fuel poverty;

-               contribute to helping the local Harrow economy by providing opportunities for local training within colleges and employment opportunities, via agreed social value contribution/ commitments;

-               carry out retrofit measures to private properties supported by Grant funding from Ealing Council, with no cost to the Council for phase 1a.  Costs for tranche1b to be quantified and reported to Cabinet as appropriate.

Reason for Decision:  Due to the estimated value of the proposed contract award Cabinet authorisation was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure rules and to enable the Council  to utilise the grant funding.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.