Agenda item

In February 2022 the government announced a package of support known as the Energy Bills Rebate to help households with rising energy bills.  The scheme includes a £150 rebate to all properties in council tax band A-D with criteria set by the government (the main scheme). The announcement includes a discretionary fund to support other financially vulnerable energy bill payers not covered under the main scheme. This report sets out a local scheme to comply with the government guidance.

Recommendation

That the Executive approve the Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme set out in this report.

RESOLVED that the Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme set out in the report be approved.

Reason: Waverley has been allocated discretionary funding of £216,600 to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living, but not eligible for the main energy rebate scheme.

Councils can decide locally how best to use the funding to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living. This could include households living in property valued in council tax bands E to H that are on income related benefits or those where the energy bills payers are liable for council tax.

The discretionary fund should be paid out by 30^th November, any remaining funding will be required to be returned to the government.

[Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee]

Councillor Merryweather, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Commercial, presented the report which set out a proposed discretionary energy rebate scheme, to support other financially vulnerable energy bill payers not covered under the main scheme.  The main scheme covered monies which the Council had been tasked by the Government with administering locally through the council tax system in line with criteria set by the Government to all properties within bands A to D.  All 9,000 eligible households which the Council did not hold bank details for had been written to and to date, 5,534 of those households had responded and their payments would be with them shortly  There were just over 26,000 eligible households for the main scheme of which £22,570 have been paid, representing 87%.

The discretionary scheme would cover up to 1,444 additional properties and would be targeted at vulnerable residents in bands E to H, as set out in the report and the Council would work with partners in the third sector.  Councillor Merryweather highlighted other sources of funding available and acknowledged the work of the team on administering the scheme.

Councillor Heagin spoke on the report, echoing the thanks to the team, and asked that the scheme be referred to as an Energy Rebate Scheme in communications with residents to avoid confusion.  The criteria were welcomed but there was concern that those who paid energy bills, but not council tax directly, for example through a private rent landlord, would miss out.  Councillor Heagin expressed some concern over the first come, first served approach but accepted that the money needed to be administered quickly.  It was important to ensure that the money was spent and did not have to be returned to the Government; and that all communications with residents should be clear.  Councillor Heagin suggested automatically crediting every eligible council tax account with £150.

The Leader shared Councillor Heagin’s comments on the clarity of information sent to residents.  The Strategic Director (s151) advised that the banding of properties was carried out by the Valuation Office on behalf of the Government, over which the Council had no control.  He undertook to investigate the point raised in respect of those residents in shared accommodation who did not pay council tax directly and if the Government criteria allowed the flexibility, then that would be incorporated in the Council’s scheme.  The Council did not have the authority to credit a council tax account directly, it could only make a payment.  He also highlighted the other sources of financial support available to residents.

The Leader reassured Councillor Heagin and that any money received from the Government would be distributed as soon as possible.

RESOLVED that the Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme set out in the report be approved.

Reason: Waverley has been allocated discretionary funding of £216,600 to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living, but not eligible for the main energy rebate scheme.

Councils can decide locally how best to use the funding to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living. This could include households living in property valued in council tax bands E to H that are on income related benefits or those where the energy bills payers are liable for council tax.

The discretionary fund should be paid out by 30^th November, any remaining funding will be required to be returned to the government.