Agenda item

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The Housing Standards Officer gave a presentation to the Panel.

The Chair thanked the Housing Standards Officer and invited questions and comments from the Panel, a summary which is set out below.

Councillor Heneghan thanked the Housing Standards Officer for the regular updates and recognised the achievements of all the work Housing Standards do.  She referred to the schemes which were means tested and commented it was encouraging to see the threshold had been raised and more households are now eligible. She sought clarification on schemes which were not means tested. She asked further if there were ways further advertisement and promotion could be done.

The Housing Standards Officer confirmed there were primary schemes as mentioned however there were additional branch off schemes for households with and EPC rating D to G in Council Tax Bands A to D. He explained these schemes relating to the Great British Insulation Scheme were restructure but with similar criteria. He added further the Housing Standards team work closely with the Communications Team to promote this via social media.  

Councillor Kunes commented he had received a grant which was easy to apply for by completing a questionnaire.

The Housing Standards Officer explained big energy companies had an obligation and commitment to pay for energy efficiency improvements in dwellings across the country.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Bullen asked if tenants could contact the Housing Standards directly or if these needed to be done through the Landlord of the property.

The Housing Standards Officer explained tenants of privately rented properties could contact the team and they would then liaise with the landlord however they would recommend with social housing, for tenants to contact their landlords directly.

Portfolio Holder, Councillor Rust took the opportunity to remind members to contact the Lily team to help residents and highlighted the household support fund was still available. She commented the Alive Leisure facilities could be used for Warm Welcome Centres.

Councillor Kemp thanked the Housing Standards team for their work and highlighted the importance of the household support fund and the Warm Welcome Centres.

In response to the Chair, Councillor Devulapalli, the Housing Standards Officer explained the thermal imaging camera in further detail, highlighting the darker the image the more insulation. He added the public are not able to borrow the thermal imaging camera but advised the team could attend and assess the property for them.

The Chair, Councillor Devulapalli highlighted the Warm Welcome Centres were more focused in King’s Lynn and if there were ones being held in other parts of the Borough.

The Housing Standards Officer advised the Warm Welcome Centres were focused more in the town centre as the Borough was rural. He explained Beat the Bills events were arranged with Parish Councils to fulfil rural parts of the Borough.

Portfolio Holder, Councillor Rust explained there were no funding for the Beat the Bills events therefore if there were costs involved, for example the cost of the community centres the events were not able to go ahead.

Councillor Kemp advised Councillor Community Grants could be used to cover these costs.

Portfolio Holder, Councillor de Whalley asked if there would be further demonstrations of the thermal imaging camera at the Beat the Bills events. He thanked the Housing Standards team for their hard work and for proactive joint working.

The Housing Standards Officer brought the Panel’s attention to environmental events where the thermal imaging camera would be demonstrated. He highlighted the event on the 2^nd May 2025 at the Earth Day Festival at Nelson Academy in Downham Market and the 19^th May 2025 at the Community Day Festival in Hunstanton.