Minutes of the Wales HECA Forum
Held at The National Assembly Divisional Office, Llandrindod Wells
Tuesday 12th October 2004, 10.15 am
Present:
Steve Martin, ChairDavid Powell, Bridgend CBC
Trevor Roberts, Newport CC Andrew David, S. E. Wales EEAC
Douglas Reynolds, Monmouthshire CC Cyril Knott, Blaenau Gwent CBC
Peter Morgan, Neath & Port Talbot CBCAngela Bassett-Jones, British Gas
Dafydd Cantwell, R-C-T CBC Eleanor George, EAGA Partnership
Neal Parry, Powys CC Keith Philbrick, Powys CC
Nia Prys-Williams, Flintshire CCPaul Kindlin, Flintshire CC
Jane Edginton, NEA Fred Houghton, North Wales EEAC
Jim Stobbart, Pembrokeshire CCBob Cherryman, EST Wales
Jim Prosser, WLGABarbara Potter, Conwy CC
Rachael Mills, Advice Code of PracticeRichard Williams, WAG
Bruce Pittingale, UK HECA ForumJake Hollyfield, West Wales Eco Centre
Emma Cole, Secretariat
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Apologies:
Bill Jones, Vice Chair Andrew Morris, Carmarthenshire CC
Kendal Davies, Carmarthenshire CC Ben Ferguson, Mid & W Wales EEAC
David Mundow, Vale of Glam Council Steve Clark, Torfaen CBC
James Edwards, Merthyr Tydfil CBC Will Pierce, Flintshire CC
Pam Walters, Swansea City CouncilColin King, Cardiff City Council
Gerry Baker, Gwynedd CCAdrian Roberts, Gwynedd CC
John Williams, Ceredigion CC
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1.0Minutes of last meeting
1.1The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
2.0Matters Arising
2.1There were no matters arising.
3.0Treasurer
3.1David Mundow has a new position which is not HECA related and therefore has stepped down as the treasurer. Peter Morgan volunteered and the Forum accepted. The accounts are to be audited and passed onto Peter Morgan.
4.0UK HECA Forum
4.1Bruce Pittingale, Chair of the UK HECA Forum gave a presentation which included the make-up of the UK HECA Forum, the aims and objectives and the workplan for 2004/05. Further information can be found on
4.2Bruce Pittingale also has a database which holds statistics for all wards in the 22 Local Authority areas. HECA Officers can contact Steve Martin for this information.
5.0Code of Practice
5.1Rachael Mills from BRE gave a presentation on the Energy Efficiency Advice Code of Practice overview for Wales. The Code of Practice can be found at
5.2Jane Edginton said she is looking for hold the City & Guilds 6176 on Energy Awareness in North, Mid and South Wales. Jane is looking for venues to hold 3 day sessions and an exam day. The cost is approximately £700 per delegate.
6.0Events Update and scheme integration
6.1All regions are working towards the event for next year.
6.2The Local Authority Operational Group has produced three documents; Sustainable Energy Integration Research – report 1, 2 and Facilitating Integration Summary Versi and how to achieve successful scheme integration – A guidance document. The EST has produced a summary of these documents which can be downloaded from the Practical help website;
6.3The UK HECA Forum has been asked if each region could arrange a seminar with a contribution of £300 per region. The seminar would be carried out by Impetus and would be to disseminate scheme integration information – examples of successful schemes throughout the UK and to raise profile. The seminar will be aiming at a wider audience such as planners, charitable organisations, community first, environmental organisations as well as HECA. The UK HECA Forum is only looking for one seminar in Wales but Steve Martin will put the case forward to have one seminar in the North and one seminar in the South. David Powell will research venues and costings for the South Wales event. Jake Hollyfield to speak to CEERW to research the venues and costings for a CEERW event. Fred Houghton and Paul Kindlin will speak to Bill Jones to research venues and costings for the North Wales event. These events will be planned for February 2005.
6.4Steve Martin and Bob Cherryman to discuss Health Challenge Wales and a possible specific energy efficiency project.
7.0Regional Updates
7.1David Powell gave an update on the South Wales HECA Forum. The last meeting was held on 24th August and included EAGA, EnergyFocus, SWEP, meetings update, groundwork presentation and the HECA event which led to a further sub-meeting.
7.2Jake Hollyfield gave an update on CEERW. CEERW last met on 10th September at CAT and included Practical help – fuel poverty tool-kit, energywatch research, raising the profile of HECA to senior officers and councillors and therefore the HECA event. CEERW are currently looking at venues.
7.3Paul Kindlin introduced Nia Prys-Williams to the Forum who is interested in taking on the Chair of the North Wales HECA Forum.
8.0Events Calendar
8.1Jim Prosser suggested producing an events calendar similar to that at the WLGA. The UK HECA website is looking to having regional pages in which the calendar could be located. The calendar will help to stop double-booking and duplication. All HECA Officers to send events to Jim Prosser.
9.0Energy Efficiency Week Questionnaire
9.1The Local Authority Energy Day 2005 could help raise the HECA Officer profile possibly through a questionnaire.
9.2This year Energy Efficiency Week commences on 25th October. Any suggestions for Energy Efficiency Week can contact Bob Cherryman.
10.0HECA Workplan and future funding
10.1Steve Martin gave a presentation on the workplan for 2004/05. The workplan will be produced and circulated to the Forum. Bob Cherryman would like to get support for an all Wales LASP. Jim Prosser believes raising the HECA profile should be the number one priority. Trevor Roberts suggested copying the events calendar into every Member and introduce their HECA Officer. All HECA Officers to e-mail workplan suggestions to Steve Martin.
11.0UK HECA Conference 2005
11.1The UK HECA Conference will be held at the Bournemouth Marriott Hotel on 11th and 12th May. The theme will be “All Change for Climate Change”. The steering group are currently organising sponsorship and the speakers have been confirmed. There will be a HECA Officer case study workshop. Steve Martin asked the Forum for case studies and suggested Gwynedd. The Forum agreed. Steve Martin to speak to Adrian Roberts and Gerry Baker.
11.2The Guidance Notes for the HECA Award 2005 are available, and will be distributed to members shortly.
12.0Energy Advice Handbook
12.1A copy of the Energy Advice Handbook was given to all regions. Order forms for the book were circulated.
12.2All EAGA surveyors have a copy. NEA maybe distributing the handbooks to all City & Guilds candidates.
13.0Practical help – project work dissemination
13.1There was a Practical help meeting held on 20th October with Amanda Pearson. Discussion took place as to how Wales can increase their use of the Practical Help web-site and to send good practice case studies. Practical help will become a regular agenda item for the Wales HECA Forum meetings. All HECA Officers to send case studies to Jim Prosser who will send them onto Practical help.
13.2The Practical help website has now been developed to include new case studies and case notes. There is also a separate section for managed housing. Practical help offer 2 hours free research on a topic.
14.0British Gas Update
14.1British Gas is working with 14 Local Authorities in Wales. This year British Gas is able to negotiate and be more flexible. They can include private and social housing. There are 10 partners in Wales using the Here to Help scheme. Fuel switching is available; £900 to convert from coal to oil, £600 for coal to gas and £450 for electricity to gas. British Gas also has a £10m trust fund for vulnerable people to help pay fuel bills. This is due to be running at the end of November.
15.0National Assembly Update
15.1Richard Williams reported that all Local Authorities are signing up to the 12% target in the Policy Agreement. Steve Martin thanked Richard Williams for taking HECA Officers’ comments on board and reduced the target from 14% to 12%.
15.2The HECA Reports are due in on Friday 5th November 2004.
15.3Neal Parry asked Richard Williams for an update on the software. Richard Williams said he would get costings for the new software for next year. All HECA Officers to e-mail Emma Cole with suggestions on updating the software by December 17th.
16.0EAGA Update
16.1 Eaga has employed a number of new staff. The customer satisfaction survey will be sent to all clients shortly. The benefits entitlement check is underway. The social housing spend has been spent quicker this year and there is no more money available for this year. Eaga are looking for private sector mail outs and those interested should contact Eleanor George. The annual report is due out in November. The next newsletter is due out before Christmas. The solid fuel pilot is underway. EAGA’s first AM/MP day in Wales has taken place in Flintshire. EAGA have received good comments from the AM and MP. Eleanor George thanked Will Pierce and Fred Houghton for their help. Eaga are now talking to Alan Michael in Cardiff.
17.0EST Update
17.1The EST website has been redesigned to be more user-friendly. Bob Cherryman is talking to the National Assembly regarding the Energy Efficiency Action Plan to link the two portals together. The re-branding of the EST will be completed by the end of March 2005 which will be more relevant to key decision-makers.
17.2EST is extending their support for the WLGA post to 2007.
17.3There are foundation energy efficiency courses available. The next course is on 17th November at Cardiff City Hall. Candidates can register on the EST website or on the Practical help website.
17.4The Clean-Up transport programme has been extended for another year and the EST. Extra funding has been put into the Solar PV programme to meet demand. Community Energy funding has been awarded to Ceredigion and Anglesey.
17.5Calls for bids for the SECs have been made in the OJEU. Five regions have been identified for pilots in 3 areas.
17.6A study on people’s attitude towards climate change has been published by the Welsh Consumer Council.
17.7Energy Efficiency Week 2004 starts week commencing 25th October. EST has an article in the Western Mail on Friday 22nd October titled, “Sustainable Wales”. There is an Assembly statement in the article from Carwyn Jones AM.
17.8A budget has been allocated by EST to promote local activities and raise awareness.
18.0Any other business
18.1Bob Cherryman told the meeting that during Energy Efficiency Week, there will be a stand at the Welsh Assembly supplied by South East Wales EEAC and will be manned on Thursday 28th October. Posters have also been posted to all 46 Assembly offices.
19.0Date of next meeting
19.1The next Wales HECA Forum meeting will at the National Assembly Divisional Office, Government Offices, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells on Friday 28th January 2005 at 10.00am to start at 10.15am.
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