Decision

To agree the allocation of £165,000 health and housing funding provided by the Essex Integrated Care Board to deliver staffing to address fuel poverty and approve a further one year extension to the Fuel Poverty Officer and Housing Benefits and Early Intervention Officer until 31 March 2029.
To agree to allocate £91,400 to be met from the Corporate Investment Fund for the required additional funding for the posts.

Reasons for the decision

The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) has provided funding which the Council has accepted to deliver health and housing outcomes (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 17/09/2021 10:30, (pages 63-94) and the newly formed Essex ICB (the successor to SNEE ICB) has written to the Council agreeing the continued use of this funding for addressing fuel poverty.
The funding is to be used to continue the Fuel Poverty Officer and also the Housing Benefits and Early Intervention Officer who both deliver work which addresses fuel poverty.
The funding will keep both roles going until the end of March 2028 and to ensure these roles do not finish when the new unitary comes into existence (which will therefore allow the unitary to make a decision on the further continuation of the roles at a later date), it is proposed to extend both roles for a further year to the end of March 2029 which will be funded from the Corporate Investment Fund for £91,400.

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide not to agree the use of the funding although this would adversely impact residents who would experience reduced services in respect of fuel poverty. The Council could also request to utilise the funding differently. However fuel poverty is in line with the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities, fuel poverty – addressing the wider determinants of health.