Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Orod Osanlou seconded a motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.

In moving the motion, Councillor Gilchrist confirmed he was happy to accept the Green Group amendment, which was moved by Councillor Naomi Graham and seconded by Councillor Harry Gorman and read as follows:

Insert after the sixth paragraph:

‘Council also requests:

-  The Director of Regeneration and Place to circulate to all Member of the Council  and publish on the Council’s website, the existing report on Decarbonising Residential Buildings in Wirral, written by the Energy Saving Trust in March 2021 for Wirral Council and summarised by officers in a report to Housing in November 2021.

-  The Director of Regeneration and Place report to the next meeting of Economy Regeneration and Housing Committee regarding the motion  passed by Council on 10^th October 2022 in order to provide an update’

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9.1, the Council did not debate the matter, and it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That

Council notes that the creation of the ‘Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’ was announced by the Prime Minister on 7 February 2023. The ‘Priority Outcomes’ set out at its launch included actions to:

‘Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition.’

‘Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses.’

Council recognises that this renamed Department replaced the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. This body had the key role in funding substantial programmes for home insulation schemes and projects throughout the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Council observes that Wirral residents have benefitted through the projects established to retrofit local homes considered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority at its meetings of 21 January 2022 (Item 110, Housing Retrofit Funding) with the potential for further funding discussed on 20 January 2023 (Item 100, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund). These relied on funds channelled through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and depended on bids submitted.

Council believes that it is essential that the energy efficiency of homes is improved in Wirral so that residents are able to live in well insulated properties, reduce their carbon footprint, meet their household bills and avoid being plunged into fuel poverty. In order to secure this, the creation and training of an appropriately skilled workforce is essential along with funding streams that are sufficient to enable sustained progress.

Accordingly, Council requests that the Director of Regeneration and Place provides a briefing paper on what is currently known about the energy efficiency of Wirral’s housing stock with a view to supporting all future bids by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for funding to enable Wirral’s housing stock to become more energy efficient. The briefing should be drawn up in cooperation with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and circulated to Wirral’s MPs.

Council also requests:

- The Director of Regeneration and Place to circulate to all members of the Council and publish on the Council’s website, the existing report on Decarbonising Residential Buildings in Wirral, written by the Energy Saving Trust in March 2021 for Wirral Council and summarised by officers in a report to Housing in November 2021.

- The Director of Regeneration and Place report to the next meeting of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee regarding the motion passed by Council on 10th October 2022 in order to provide an update.

In order for the Council to respond to future initiatives in a timely matter the arrangements be made for relevant spokespersons of all groups, and the Director of Regeneration and Place to liaise with officers of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and its relevant Portfolio Holder to enable these to be progressed.

In the event that funds are released by central government that enable this Council to take them up directly the issue be discussed with the relevant spokespersons and reported to the relevant Policy and Service Committee and Policy and Resources committee as required.