Tackling Fuel Poverty in Greenwich – working in partnership with PCT (and others)

Norma Nyaulingo – Greenwich Council

Greenwich Profile – 2001 Census

Population 225,700 (mid 2004 census) (White – 77%, BME – 23%)

No of Dwellings 92,788

Council:

Private Rented:

RSL:

Homeowners:

Rented from Other:

29.5%

9.0%

10.0%

49.0%

2.5%

Greenwich Profile – 2001 Census

Social Indicators

Unemployed:

Retired:

Looking after home/family:

Permanently sick/disabled:

5.4%

10.3%

7.7%

5.8%

Greenwich Profile – 2001 Census

Key Statistics

• 18333 all pensioner households in Greenwich Borough – 13000 live alone

• 9749 lone parents with dependent children

• nearly 50% children are living in households dependant on a means tested benefit

• 7469 private sector dwellings without central heating

• 37,000 people have a limiting long term illness and nearly 9000 are permanently sick or disabled

• Single biggest reason for non-decency is lack of adequate thermal comfort – 29% of all private sector dwellings

Stock Characteristics

Private Sector Council

Built Form Purpose built/ Converted Flat - 26%

Houses (2/3 terraced) - 74%

Purpose built/converted Flat - 66%

Houses (2/3 terraced ) - 34%

Age Pre War 41%

Post War 59%

Pre War 20%

Post War 80%

SAP Rating

PSSCS 2002

Average SAP for Private Sector Stock in Greenwich – 47• Owner Occupier - 43/45• Private Rented - 48• RSL - 53

Average SAP for London Private Sector - 45

Average SAP for UK Private Sector - 44

Average SAP for Council Stock – 67 (BVPI63 – March 2005)

Progress…

• Good progress had been made to the Councils own stock– SAP has risen from 53 to 67 in 5 years

• However to ensure continued tracking towards the 30% HECA 15 year target required a major change in emphasis

– The Council and its RSL partners will strive to achieve the higher levels of attainment for the social housing sector

– Future initiatives must be geared to securing higher improvement levels than are currently being achieved in the private housing sector

Tackling the Private Sector

Setting up a network referral scheme• involving community organisations and the health sector to ensure

that those entitled to grants can get help

Requires Resources• To develop partnership with the voluntary sector and the Health

Sector

• To provide help to their customers who are also our customers

Links between energy efficiency and health are not well known

MP Fuel Poverty Event

• Held in Feb 2002 to raise awareness among community groups to increase activity in the private sector

• Sponsored by EAGA and Local Utilities also attended

• Linking the voluntary sector and those with a particular health emphasis to those actively engaged in delivering energy efficiency solutions

• Positive response but lack of resources to take plan forward until mid 2004

Partnership Development

• Greenwich Council + EAGA Partnership + Local EEAC

• Greenwich PCT + EAGA Partnership

• Council + PCT + NHS + EAGA Partnership + Local EEAC + Voluntary Sector = Fuel Poverty Steering Group– Constitution– Quarterly meetings– Monthly meetings between Council and PCT

PCT – Annual Flu Jab mail out

• Greenwich PCT does a central mail-out for ’flu jab

• EAGA partnerships provided Warm Front Leaflets

• NHS Patient Liaison Service (PALS) notified.

• Response good – 2% uptake from 27,000

• 483 grants taken up (2004-5)

• Welfare benefits review at same time

PCT – Annual Flu Jab mail out

Issues encountered:

• PALS received many calls regarding Warm Front Grants that they were not prepared for

– more thorough briefing required

• EAGA Partnership were not set up to cope with non-english speakers– Need for local services to support initiative– Information on 10 most common languages included with mailout

• Warm Front Grants not available for all those who need help– Need mechanism to refer to other schemes

Thermographic Survey

• Joint Venture with Greenwich Primary Care Trust

• Funding received from SRB6 Health Benefits Programme

• Areas where action is needed to address fuel poverty can be identified

• Survey helps to raise awareness of the issues as it generates a lot of interest

 

Thermographic Survey

• Survey is currently being digitised onto the Council’s GIS

• PCT Analyst to analyse data captured by the thermographic survey with ‘Mosaic’ data to enable better targetting

• Will be used as the main marketing tool to raise awareness at events and training sessions

 

Greenwich

Bexley

Greenwich

Lewisham

Abbey Wood

Bexleyheath

Blackfen

Blackheath

Canning Town

Catford

Charlton

Deptford

Downham

East Wickham

Eltham

Forest Hill

Greenwich

Grove Park

Hither Green

Isle of Dogs

Kidbrooke

Lee

Lewisham

Mottingham

New Cross

New Eltham

North Cray

Plumstead

Poplar

Sidcup

Sydenham

Thamesmead

Welling

Woolwich

North Cray

Abbey Wood

Bexleyheath

Blackfen

Blackheath

Canning Town

Catford

Charlton

Deptford

Downham

East Wickham

Eltham

Forest Hill

Grove Park

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Lee

Mottingham

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New Eltham

Plumstead

Poplar

Sidcup

Sydenham

Thamesmead

Welling

Greenwich

Lewisham

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M osaic U K profile of R espiratory D iseasesM osaic U K profile of R espiratory D iseases

Greenwich

Bexley

Greenwich

Lewisham

Abbey Wood

Bexleyheath

Blackfen

Blackheath

Canning Town

Catford

Charlton

Deptford

Downham

East Wickham

Eltham

Forest Hill

Greenwich

Grove Park

Hither Green

Isle of Dogs

Kidbrooke

Lee

Lewisham

Mottingham

New Cross

New Eltham

North Cray

Plumstead

Poplar

Sidcup

Sydenham

Thamesmead

Welling

Woolwich

North Cray

Abbey Wood

Bexleyheath

Blackfen

Blackheath

Canning Town

Catford

Charlton

Deptford

Downham

East Wickham

Eltham

Forest Hill

Grove Park

Hither Green

Isle of Dogs

Kidbrooke

Lee

Mottingham

New Cross

New Eltham

Plumstead

Poplar

Sidcup

Sydenham

Thamesmead

Welling

Greenwich

Lewisham

Woolwich

Other Initaitives for the private sector

• Council’s Local Area Agreement– Action to Increase the uptake of benefits and grants– Mail out to housing and council tax benefit recipients with EAGA

• Private Sector Grants– Up to 7K to improve homes to ‘decent home’ standards– Above 7K = interest free loan up to 30 K repaid only when the home is sold– 143 homes received help of which 44 had energy efficiency improvements

• Coldbusters– In partnership with 4 other London boroughs (South East London Housing

Forum) - 1.5 million funding provided 422 grants for energy efficiency measures (2 year period)

What next…

• Development of cross agency AW strategy.

• Analysis of survey and census info to identify areas and practices with greatest need

• Clear criteria with priority across groups for “vulnerable” people most in need

What Next…

• “One stop shop” – accessible for all “users”

• Training and awareness for front line staff– Council, Health and community

• Monitor progress as part of fuel poverty strategy

• Continue to find ways to reach all those in fuel poverty

Lessons Learned…

• Need to use appropriate language when trying to engage partners

• Need to have initiatives that fits in with other partner goals/programmes – making the appropriate links

– Providing appropriate resources

• Be prepared to compromise

Working in partnership with PCT (and others)

Thank you for Listening

and

Good Luck