Proposed by Councillor Stuart Kelly

Seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

(1)  Council notes the spiralling costs of household energy bills and believes that something needs to be done now, locally, to help residents struggling with fuel bills.

(2)  Council understands that whilst households are aware of the benefits of switching energy provider, few do and switching rates are low. 

(3)  Council also endorses the concept of cooperation across geographical areas in order to obtain better energy deals for customers and notes a similar motion has recently been approved by Liverpool City Council.

(4)  Council notes the good work already being done by Cornwall Together, Oldham Council and South Lakeland District Council in partnership with ‘ichoosr’ which are encouraging their residents to sign up to collective energy switching.

(www.cornwalltogether.com/en/about

  www.oldham.gov.uk/fuel_coop and

   http://southlakeland.ichoosr.com/)

(5)  Council, therefore, asks officers to explore the feasibility of setting up a Wirral Energy Switching Initiative and to work with local housing associations, the NHS, voluntary groups, care homes and households across Wirral to increase awareness and encourage them to sign up to the scheme.

.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Brian Kenny

Seconded by Councillor Anita Leech

At the end of paragraph (5) add the following:

(6)  Council notes that Energy and in particular its cost (along with the profits of energy companies) continues to be an ongoing public policy concern. The average annual household bill for gas and electricity has increased from approximately £500 in 2006, to over £1200 in 2011 – with many firms announcing fresh price rises in recent weeks.

(7)  Council notes that as energy bills have risen, many people have lost faith in the energy market, and the number of people switching supplier has hit a record low. According to Ofgem, 60% of consumers have never switched energy supplier and 75% of people are currently on their supplier's 'default' standard tariff. Research by the consumer group Which? has shown that consumers are missing out on £4 billion a year by not switching.

(8)  Council warmly welcomes initiatives such as ‘SwitchTogether’, - the Labour Party’s Collective Energy Switching Scheme.

(9)  Council notes that Energy Projects Plus has submitted a bid on behalf of the Liverpool City Region authorities to the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to fund a regional collective switch. £5m is available from DECC to local authorities and Third sector organisations under its “Cheaper Energy Together” scheme. Energy Projects Plus would lead on the development of the scheme should the bid be successful and will work with local housing associations, the NHS, voluntary groups, care homes and households across Wirral to increase awareness and encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Council notes that we expect to find out shortly whether or not the bid has been successful. This will be publicised on the Council web site.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The mover of the motion agreed to accept the amendment and the motion, as amended, was put and it was -

Resolved (61:0) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council notes the spiralling costs of household energy bills and believes that something needs to be done now, locally, to help residents struggling with fuel bills.

(2)  Council understands that whilst households are aware of the benefits of switching energy provider, few do and switching rates are low. 

(3)  Council also endorses the concept of cooperation across geographical areas in order to obtain better energy deals for customers and notes a similar motion has recently been approved by Liverpool City Council.

(4)  Council notes the good work already being done by Cornwall Together, Oldham Council and South Lakeland District Council in partnership with ‘ichoosr’ which are encouraging their residents to sign up to collective energy switching.

(www.cornwalltogether.com/en/about

  www.oldham.gov.uk/fuel_coop and

   http://southlakeland.ichoosr.com/)

(5)  Council, therefore, asks officers to explore the feasibility of setting up a Wirral Energy Switching Initiative and to work with local housing associations, the NHS, voluntary groups, care homes and households across Wirral to increase awareness and encourage them to sign up to the scheme.

.

(6)  Council notes that Energy and in particular its cost (along with the profits of energy companies) continues to be an ongoing public policy concern. The average annual household bill for gas and electricity has increased from approximately £500 in 2006, to over £1200 in 2011 – with many firms announcing fresh price rises in recent weeks.

(7)  Council notes that as energy bills have risen, many people have lost faith in the energy market, and the number of people switching supplier has hit a record low. According to Ofgem, 60% of consumers have never switched energy supplier and 75% of people are currently on their supplier's 'default' standard tariff. Research by the consumer group Which? has shown that consumers are missing out on £4 billion a year by not switching.

(8)  Council warmly welcomes initiatives such as ‘SwitchTogether’, - the Labour Party’s Collective Energy Switching Scheme.

(9)  Council notes that Energy Projects Plus has submitted a bid on behalf of the Liverpool City Region authorities to the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) to fund a regional collective switch. £5m is available from DECC to local authorities and Third sector organisations under its “Cheaper Energy Together” scheme. Energy Projects Plus would lead on the development of the scheme should the bid be successful and will work with local housing associations, the NHS, voluntary groups, care homes and households across Wirral to increase awareness and encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Council notes that we expect to find out shortly whether or not the bid has been successful. This will be publicised on the Council web site.