Decision details

A consideration of the options and recommendations of the Green Deal Scoping Study

(1) To AGREE in principle, the proposed approach to the Green Deal in Bath & North East Somerset, through the development of a Community Delivery Partnership, initially led by the Council in partnership with Curo Group and other relevant community and private sector organisations;

(2) To AGREE that this approach will be supported through:

•  partnership development, including cross-service and with partners in Bath and North East Somerset and, potentially, beyond;

•  implementation of the starter projects (Housing Services);

•  procurement strategy development for a partner Green Deal provider or providers;

•  exploring potential for moving to a CIC model;

•  development of the business case for potential capital investment and income generation (including from referral fees);

•  building community engagement in energy efficiency retro-fitting;

•  setting up an advice line to provide advice to all residents, including the vulnerable and the fuel poor, on home energy efficiency and the Green Deal;

(3) To AGREE that a new Green Deal/Retro-fitting budget line for 2013-14 will be set up for £35,000 to cover the last two points in 2.2: community engagement work and the setting up and running of the advice line, whilst the detailed approach is developed, subject to the approval of the Budget by the Council in February 2013; and

(4) To AGREE that the Council and its partners will communicate these ‘in principle’ intentions early in 2013, in order to send a signal to the market and to inform local residents of future options.

The recommendation to support the development of the proposed approach – through a Community Delivery Partnership - enables us to have real influence locally in pursuit of our objectives, whilst insulating us from risk and cost by procuring a partner to fulfil the ‘Green Deal Provider’ role.  This option provides maximum flexibility, enabling us to pull-out at any stage, whilst keeping the door open should the Council or any of its partners wish to become a ‘Green Deal Provider’ in the future.

The consultants examined two other possible options, both of which have been rejected by the Senior Advisory Group:

Allow the market to run its course with no action taken by the Council or its partners

This was rejected because it does not enable the Council to provide any leadership, as required by the Administration, and provides no opportunities to ensure any of the Council’s specific objectives were met. It was judged that, if left solely to the market, take-up would be very low. The consequence of this would be: that we would not draw down the full entitlement of free funding for more vulnerable residents; that we would not be able to ensure the local economy benefitted or that carbon emissions from the domestic sector were cut.

The Council or one of its partners takes on the role of ‘Green Deal Provider’

This would include providing finance, contracting with householders, administering the requirements of the Consumer Credit Act and more besides.  This was rejected because at this stage neither the Council nor any of its partners is prepared to take on the risks and responsibilities this would entail.  This may change in the future, once the Green Deal market has developed