Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), approved the acceptance of up to £3.29 million in grant funding from the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH: SHF). This funding will be used to support a three-year programme of retrofit and energy efficiency works for up to 403 social housing properties.

Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund

Councillor Sarah Williams approved the acceptance of up to £3,290,823 in grant funding from the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH: SHF) programme. This funding will be channelled through the London Councils (Retrofit London) Consortium, with Camden Council acting as the Lead Authority for the pan-London partnership. Haringey Council will enter into a funding agreement with the consortium and an agreement with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).

The grant will fund a programme of retrofit and energy efficiency works for up to 403 social housing properties over the next three years, aiming to improve their energy performance and make them decent homes according to regulatory standards. This initiative aligns with the Council's Housing Asset Management Strategy and Housing Energy Action Plan, as well as its Climate Change Action Plan and Affordable Energy Strategy. The decision supports the Corporate Delivery Plan's objective to deliver retrofit improvements in our housing stock, improving energy performance and reducing fuel poverty.

The decision to accept the funding was made because there was a financial shortfall for the necessary retrofitting and decent homes works. Without this government grant funding, the capital works programme would not be financially viable. An alternative of applying for the grant funding independently was considered, but the level of internal resources required for application and administration was deemed too extensive. The council also recognised the significant benefits of learning and collaboration offered by being part of the larger London Councils (Retrofit London) Consortium, which comprises 27 members, including 21 boroughs and 6 housing associations.

The Cabinet Member resolved to:

• Enter into the Consortium with London Councils (Retrofit London) Consortium and Camden Council.
• Approve the acceptance of up to £3,290,823 from the WH: SHF programme.
• Approve entering into legal agreements with the London Councils (Retrofit London) Consortium and the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).
• Approve up to 5% of grant funding being retained by London Councils (Retrofit London) Consortium as a management fee.
• Approve the overall programme budget.
• Approve the acceptance of any additional grant funding (and match funding allocation) up to £1.5 million via delegated authority by the Director of Housing in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance.
• Approve the procurement and approval of the main consultant appointment under delegated authority by the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance.

The report highlighted that the programme follows PAS 2035, a mandatory compliance process for domestic dwelling retrofits, which safeguards residents and the council. Lessons learned from a pilot retrofit project informed the approach, particularly regarding the time and cost of works, the need for an equitable rather than equal approach to energy efficiency measures, and the data and procurement requirements. The funding is expected to help reduce carbon emissions, as 50% of emissions in Haringey are from domestic properties. The project aims to improve the energy efficiency of social homes, with a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating targeted for all properties receiving works. This is seen as a crucial step in tackling fuel poverty, which affects an estimated 15,000 households in the borough.

The meeting also noted the standard notice regarding filming at meetings and confirmed there were no declarations of interest, urgent business, or deputations, petitions, or questions. Item 8, concerning exempt information related to the grant funding, was also discussed in private.