London HECA Forum
London HECA Forum
Annual General Meeting
Thursday 25th February 2005
Council Chamber, Camden Town Hall
Present:
Oliver Myers / Camden / Charlotte Maddison / SouthwarkClare Thompson / Camden (part) / Richard Brown / Sutton
John Davies / Hammersmith & Fulham / Jeremy Hopkins / Westminster
Teresa Friday / Hammersmith & Fulham
Jemma Moore / Harrow / Fiona Gould / British Gas
Jo Gill / Hillingdon / Roland Taylor / CEN
Charles Pipe / Hounslow / John Crouch / CEN
Simon Evans / Islington / Noeleen McNally / EAGA Partnership
Jean Roberts / Kensington & Chelsea / Peter Daley / EAGA Partnership
Mark Ward / Kingston / Harry Mayers / London Energy P’ship
Gervase McKinna / Lambeth / Tony Rose / GLEEN
Peter Gibbs / Lewisham / Sarah Hitchcock / GLEEN
Ian Lane / Redbridge / Ray Osborne / Osborne Energy
Colin Coomber / Richmond upon Thames / Rachael Knowland / Practical Help
Daniel Bonner / Threshold Housing
Apologies: Rita Cudd and Robin Adam (EDF Energy), Kam Sandhu (Ealing); Heather Watkinson (Energy Solutions – Brent); Norma Nyaulingo (Greenwich), Paul Bandy (Harrow), Mark Lowers (Havering); Lucy Padfield (Islington); Jon Lissimore (Lambeth); Barry Waldron (Waldron Associates); Wendy Bolt (Waltham Forest), Fiona Sibson (Wandsworth).
1. Treasurer’s Report1.1. The Treasurer’s Report was circulated and JD summarised the key points.
1.2. OM explained that the proposal for a feasibility study on Fuel Rich Incentives has been submitted to the Energy Saving Trust. In order to provide match funding, the Committee recommends that the Forum makes a £3k contribution from their funds. This was agreed.
2. Chair’s Report
2.1. The Chair’s Report was circulated and OM summarised the key points.
2.2. SH to ask Liz Warren for feedback on the number of Forum members who visited the Flagship Home. Action SH.
2.3. OM outlined the Committee’s proposal that Members continue to pay an annual subscription to the Forum. He proposed that the level of subscription should be flexible this year so that those authorities who felt that they could contribute more, could do so. RB seconded this proposal and it was agreed by the Forum.
3. HECA Reporting
3.1. JH asked how other members with excellent authority status planned to report this year, if at all. He understood that there was no requirement for him to report, but values the reporting structure and is considering submitting a report anyway.
3.2. Other authorities supported this view (Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston and Camden) and confirmed that they would be continuing to complete reports for their own information purposes and to keep the profile up within their boroughs.
4. UK HECA Fora Constitution
4.1. There were no comments on the proposed UK HECA Fora constitution.
Presentations – please refer to separate powerpoint presentation notes for details.
5. Condensing Boilers and Part L (Rachael Knowland, Practical Help)
5.1. The presentation is based on draft papers at this stage but the details are unlikely to change. The draft documents are available from Practical Help.
5.2. The evidence forms are only required as proof of why a condensing boiler cannot be installed. If the installation is possible then no forms are required.
5.3. The forms must be completed by a “competent person” but this has not yet been defined – not clear who might be qualified to do this although likely to be CORGI registered installer.
5.4. JH expressed concern at the timescales, given that the competent person is not yet defined although the regulations come in within the next month. Heating contractors have been gearing up for the regulations and details are already included in self-assessment training procedures through City & Guilds.
5.5. RB asked if the potential for complaints arising because of pluming have been considered, as this is a common problem at the moment. Pluming is considered within the regulations and therefore if the boiler has been installed to the regulations, this should counteract complaints.
5.6. The use of diverters was queried as a possible solution to some of the examples. The examples given in the guidance do not consider the use of diverters although they could be valid. The LA would have to review the certificate.
6. An Update on the London Energy Partnership (Harry Mayers, GLA)
6.1. Please see separate powerpoint presentation for details.
7. HECA Activities in Sutton (Richard Brown, LB of Sutton)
7.1. The success of the door-knocking approach was discussed. No complaints have been received – a letter is sent in the first instance and this has proved very effective.
7.2. The WarmFront results were queried as there were differences between the borough’s data and EAGA Partnership’s. See response from Samantha Green (LB Sutton) – appendix 1.
8. A Local Authority Tariff Switching Project (Jeremy Hopkins, City of Westminster)
8.1. The inclusion of the standing charge in Simply Switch’s quotations was queried – some companies do not take this into account. JH had understood that this was included.
9. Update on Warm Front in London (Noeleen McNally, EAGA Partnership)
9.1. NM announced that EAGA had successfully secured all four areas for Warm Front, subject to detailed contract negotiation.
9.2. JH asked if the increased grant level would allow installers to increase their prices, as the margins are very tight at the moment. EAGA recognises that London has higher costs and hope Defra will take this into consideration but they have made no statement yet.
10. Associate Members’ Update
10.1. British Gas are trialling Wind Save and hope to roll this out shortly. They also have had good results from a council tax cashback scheme. Further details are available from Fiona Gould.
10.2. Simon Evans of Islington EEAC reported on their successful private sector and public sector energy efficiency programmes, their affordable warmth services and CHP projects.
10.3. Tony Rose reported on HelpCo’s increasing focus on intelligent metering and the application of energy management technologies in domestic properties and in combination with CHP.
11. Elections
11.1. JD announced that OM was standing down as Chair, having completed his two-year term in office, and thanked him on behalf of the Forum for his hard work. Nominations had been received for existing committee members to continue in post. Ian Lane (LB Redbridge) had been nominated as Chair; Oliver Myers (LB Camden) as Vice Chair; John Davies (LB Hammersmith & Fulham) as Treasurer and Norma Nyaulingo (LB Greenwich) as Secretary.
11.2. JD announced that Richard Hurford was also standing down from the Committee. Following Colin Monk’s departure, this leaves two vacant posts. The nominees for these two posts were Jean Roberts (RB Kensington & Chelsea) and Peter Gibbs (LB Lewisham).
11.3. The Forum agreed the committee members for 2005-06 as nominated. A full list including contact details is attached (see Appendix 2).
Clarification of LB Sutton’s Warm Front Statistics
As presented by Richard Brown in his presentation on 24th February 2005, London HECA Forum AGM.
Sutton has a PSA target for qualified Warm Front referrals only. This PSA target runs from April 2002 until end of March 2005.
Our minimum target for this PSA is 1,920 qualified Warm Front referrals only.
The actual measures fitted i.e. completed Warm Front grants, in the 3 years, is not part of our PSA target. Nor are measures waiting to be fitted.
It is simply the number of qualified referrals in the time period. I receive monthly updates from EAGA in Newcastle (Reports Team) so I can monitor our performance against this target.
As at the end of Jan 2005 (latest figures)
Total referrals to 31/01/05 1,415
31/01/05 28 awaiting allocation to a surveyor
106 awaiting survey
April 2002- end of Jan 2005 1,549.
Other data:
717 completed grants April 2002 to end of Jan 2005.
I hope this clarifies the situation. If you would like any further details please do give me a ring.
Kind regards,
Sam Green
Warm Front Grant Co-ordinator
London Borough of Sutton
020 8770 5563.
LONDON HECA FORUM COMMITTEE 2005/6
IAN LANE
Chair
London Borough of Redbridge
Tel No. 020 8708 3305 w Fax No. 020 8708 3987 w Mobile:
Email.
OLIVER MYERS
Vice Chair
London Borough of Camden
Tel. No. 020 7974 6370 w Fax No. 020 7974 5522 w Mobile: 07939 650940
Email.
JOHN DAVIES
Treasurer
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Tel. No. 020 8753 1237 w Fax 020 8753 1250 w Mobile: 07961 979020
Email.
NORMA NYAULINGO
Secretary
London Borough of Greenwich
Tel. No. 0208-921 6238 w Fax No. 0208-921-5706 w Mobile: 07960 587261
Email.
Committee Members
RICHARD BROWN
London Borough of Sutton
Tel. No. 0208 770 5531 w Fax No. 0208 770 5540 w Mobile: 07973 335663
Email.
PETER GIBBS
London Borough of Lewisham
Tel. No. 0208 314 8375 w Fax No. 0208 314 3142 w Mobile:
Email.
JEREMY HOPKINS
Westminster City Council
Tel. No. 020 7641 2583 w Fax No. 020 7641 1904 w Mobile:
Email.
JEAN ROBERTS
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Tel. No. 020 7341 5673 w Fax No. 020 7341 5234 w Mobile:
Email.
T:\06-Networks\01-LondonHECAForum\Secretariat\Forum Meetings\Mtgs 2004-05\Mtg050224\AGM-mins-050224.doc