London Warm Zone

Putting Policy into Practice

Mark JohnsonChair London Fuel Poverty Task Group

LEP

London Warm Zone

London Warm Zone is a fully holistic and integrated private sector housing delivery programme sponsored by EDF Energy in partnership with NEA, addressing all areas of sustainable development in close partnership with London and its boroughs providing credible delivery on issues such as:

• Fuel Poverty• Climate Change• Income Maximisation• Health• Decent Homes• Water Conservation• Hazard mitigation

Quality Management

• In order to tackle trenchant issues such as Fuel Poverty it is essential that.

• You have a management team with a proven track record of delivering social sector programmes and a passion to do so.

• Set in place quality and functional partnerships with a real desire to achieve outcomes and help people.

• Create sound and robust delivery and reporting methods.

• Do not look at Fuel Poverty in isolation success and funding depend on looking at a much wider sustainability agenda!

“ London’s Private Sector Housing Renewal Budget allocated circa 33 million pounds to Heating for Vulnerable homes with non Decent heating systems between 2006-2008 By far London biggest grant pot to help the Fuel Poor but this was not its main aim”

Quality Partnerships

• If possible try to tap into Corporate Social Responsibility agendas of potential sponsors, don’t just become a delivery mechanisms for programmes such as CERT! this will limit your remit.

• London Boroughs have good and passionate staff in private sector housing engage with them fully.

• Work with and build bridges between on the ground borough level delivery and wider policy groups such as the GLA and LEP in order to provide wider partnerships and share best practice and outputs at a London wide level.

• Chase Funding! Don’t just focus on spending your own budgets go after leverage from Warm Front, CERT and CEEF work with boroughs on LAA and HECA programmes they all integrate!

Quality Management

• A Quality bespoke hand holding income advice service is essential to really address social issues of Fuel Poverty.

• Focus on more than one delivery method. Face to Face assessments are good but wider advertising and networks are also essential.

Warm Zone Process

• Our assessors visit residents to complete an assessment form in full partnership with local borough.• All assessors are CRB checked and carry ID badges• Assessors visit homes in identified areas• Residents can request an assessment by phone, on-line or referral• Data collected identifies:

1. if resident requires any heating or insulation work 2. if resident is eligible for a grant3. if resident requires a benefit health check4. if resident has any health and safety hazards in their home

• A survey is arranged and the work carried out by approved contractors

Other help

Benefit check • If the resident needs help with unclaimed benefits they are referred to

the LWZ Welfare Advice Team.• The LWZ advice team will check eligible benefits and help complete all

application forms.

Minor repairs and Health & Safety hazards• If any Decent Home or Health & Safety problems are identified through

the assessment and survey process they are passed to the boroughs for additional support.

Wider Promotion

• Borough magazine adverts

• Local newspapers

• Posters

• Leaflets

• Bill boards

• Press releases

• Community group training

• HECA officers

• ESTA’s leads

Promotion

Outputs

• London Warm Zone and its partners will deliver the following outputs by implementation of the above methods in 2008 with spend of around £15,000,000.

• Sub-regionally Funded Heating for vulnerable homes circa 3000

• CERT insulation Measures to Vulnerable Homes, Circa 6000

• CERT Insultation Measures to Non Vulnerable Homes Circa 9000

• £1 Million pounds of Additional Benefits claims

• 3000 Warm Front Grants

• 3000 Decent Homes and Fire Safety Surveys

• Wider work and partnership with other organisations to ensure development NEA, GLA, LEP, DEFRA.

Fuel Poverty Task Group

• The London Energy Partnership has just set up it Fuel Poverty Task Group and I hope you all can play an active part in forming a strong London wide multi disciplinary partnership that can demonstrate both determination for change and real delivery to those most in need.

• Once the Action plan is finalised this week ? Myself and Ross will forward it on to you all.

Thanks Mark