Proposed by Councillor Harry Smith

Seconded by Councillor George Davies

(1)  Council expresses its concern that funding for insulation programmes in HMRI areas could be under threat after 2011, as outlined in the report to Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on carbon reduction.

(2)  Council recognises that the HMRI initiative, and many other valuable programmes, will be subject to decisions made in the Comprehensive Spending Review in October which could see Departmental budget cuts of 25% or more.

(3)  Council would urge the Government to continue with Pathfinder, or a similar scheme, which has already produced major housing benefits for deprived communities in Rock Ferry, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Seacombe and Liscard.

(4)  Council recognises that, while progress has been made, there is substantial work still to be done to achieve the original HMRI goals which will require secure funding in the future.

(5)  Council welcomes the start of its own insulation programme for private sector homes outside HMRI areas and points out the real benefits already identified of the existing insulation programme in HMRI areas in terms of reducing fuel poverty, reducing Wirral’s Carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency and improving private sector housing stock.

(6)  Council believes that any removal of funding for this programme in HMRI areas would be very short sighted and would have serious consequences in Wirral’s most deprived areas.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2):

Proposed by Councillor Gill Gardiner

Seconded by Councillor Stuart Kelly

Add:

(7)  Council welcomes the recent announcement from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, of a “Green Deal” to create almost 250,000 jobs in green industries and modernise £26m homes to make them energy efficient, boosting the economy as well as helping households to reduce their energy bills and their carbon footprint and taking more households out of fuel poverty.

The amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment by the movers of the motion.

The motion, as now amended, was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

Resolved (unanimously) – That

(1)  Council expresses its concern that funding for insulation programmes in HMRI areas could be under threat after 2011, as outlined in the report to Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on carbon reduction.

(2)  Council recognises that the HMRI initiative, and many other valuable programmes, will be subject to decisions made in the Comprehensive Spending Review in October which could see Departmental budget cuts of 25% or more.

(3)  Council would urge the Government to continue with Pathfinder, or a similar scheme, which has already produced major housing benefits for deprived communities in Rock Ferry, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Seacombe and Liscard.

(4)  Council recognises that, while progress has been made, there is substantial work still to be done to achieve the original HMRI goals which will require secure funding in the future.

(5)  Council welcomes the start of its own insulation programme for private sector homes outside HMRI areas and points out the real benefits already identified of the existing insulation programme in HMRI areas in terms of reducing fuel poverty, reducing Wirral’s Carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency and improving private sector housing stock.

(6)  Council believes that any removal of funding for this programme in HMRI areas would be very short sighted and would have serious consequences in Wirral’s most deprived areas.

(7)  Council welcomes the recent announcement from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, of a “Green Deal” to create almost 250,000 jobs in green industries and modernise £26m homes to make them energy efficient, boosting the economy as well as helping households to reduce their energy bills and their carbon footprint and taking more households out of fuel poverty.