Minutes of Wales HECA Forum Meeting

Held at The Brynavon Country House Hotel, Rhayader, Powys

Friday 16th January 2004, 10.30 am

Present:

Steve Martin, ChairDavid Powell, Bridgend CBC

Andrew Morris, Carmarthenshire CCJohn Williams, Ceredigion CC

Eleanor George, EAGA PartnershipCharlotte Gibson, EST Wales

Sharon Youssefi, Merthyr Tydfil CBC Douglas Reynolds, Monmouthshire CC

Chris Collins, NEAJane Edginton, NEA

Trevor Roberts, Newport CCKeith Philbrick, Powys CC

Neal Parry, Powys CC Richard Williams, WAG

Jim Prosser, WLGAEmma Cole, Secretariat

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Apologies:

Bill Jones, Vice Chair Sally Sullivan, Cardiff City Council

Ann Rees, Ceredigion CC Barbara Potter, Conwy CC

Carol Evans, Denbighshire CC Bob Cherryman, EST Wales

Will Pierce, Flintshire CCAdrian Roberts, Gwynedd CC

Becci Johnson, M & S.W. Wales EEACJake Hollyfield, M&S.W. Wales EEAC

Fred Houghton, North Wales EEACGary Tawn, Pembrokeshire CC

Andrew David, S. E. Wales EEACDavid Mundow, Vale of Glam Council

Hefin Roberts, Ynys Mon CCVince Kitching, Ynys Mon 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.

2.2Jane Edgington, Training and Development Officer for NEA Wales was introduced to the Wales HECA Forum.

3.0Code of Practice

3.1Eleanor George, Energy Advice Providers Group for Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes gave a presentation on the Code of Practice. Information packs were given to each HECA Officer. This can also be found on the website, Additional questions can be e-mailed to Eleanor George at .

3.2Eleanor George was asked a number of questions regarding the Code. Steve Martin said he would have to put a report through to be able to sign up to the Code. John Williams asked about staff training. Eleanor George replied staff will have to have energy efficiency qualifications to give advice. This should appear in job descriptions, be monitored and be recognised as part of the audit process.

3.3Steve Martin told the Forum, at the last Executive Committee meeting, Bob Cherryman suggested having an objective for all Local Authorities to be signed up or on their way to signing up. Douglas Reynolds asked why do Local Authorities have to be signed up if they have an SLA with their EEAC. Steve Martin replied that Local Authorities do not. Eleanor George said the Code of Practice could be looked at when looking for contractors to make sure installers are suitable and therefore improving the standards. It is down to each individual Local Authority to sign up.

3.4Jim Prosser asked how much would it cost to Local Authorities. Eleanor George replied, there is no cost to sign up to the Code but staff will need to be trained as the minimum qualification is a City & Guilds in Energy Awareness.

3.5Eleanor George to update the Forum quarterly on the number of organisations signed up to the Code of Practice.

4.0Update from Regional Forums

4.1North Wales – There was no representative from North Wales to provide feedback.

4.2CERRW – Feedback will be given at the next meeting.

4.3South Wales – Steve Martin provided feedback on the South Wales HECA Forum. 10 Local Authorities attended. The last meeting saw an update from EAGA. Kerry Burns of Energyfocus gave a presentation on their website. Jim Prosser gave a presentation on Policy Agreements. SM updated the Forum on the UK Conference. There were Local Authority updates, a discussion on SWEP and Community Heating.

4.4Emma Cole to contact Bill Jones and Becci Johnson to provide feedback as attachments to the minutes. (It was later noted that due to the North Wales HECA Forum not having a Chair, a meeting has not taken place).

5.0Conference Feedback

5.1Emma Cole provided the Forum with feedback. Approximately 70 people attended the Conference. From the Conference evaluation forms, both the venue and the organisation of the conference were seen as excellent. The content, speakers and catering were seen as good. The extra comments varied. Some people said it was good to see the conference come to North Wales and it was very well attended, while others preferred the central location of Mid Wales. Some people would like to see more examples of good practice from Local Authorities.

5.2Steve Martin believes the present conference format has run its course. The Forum has some breathing space due to the UK HECA Conference coming to Wales. Steve Martin asked the Forum for suggestions.

5.3John Williams said suggestions were discussed at the last CEERW meeting. The conference was preaching to the converted.

5.4Eleanor George updated the Forum on the discussions at the CEERW meeting. It was suggested to have individual Local Authority events similar to Adrian Robert’s event in Gwynedd. Energy Efficiency was linked with housing, transport, education and health. There was representation form various areas including Councillors, Directors of Education and Health sectors.

5.5John Williams said it would be better to have local people involved in local events as he has trouble getting Local Authority people to attend the conference in Mid Wales.

5.6Steve Martin made it aware that Zoë Livermore and Kerry Burns have done seminars in South Wales to individual Local Authorities which was successful in getting Councillors to attend.

5.7Jim Prosser suggested 3 or 4 regional conferences. Steve Martin asked if the Forum could fit into Chief Housing Officers meetings in Llandrindod Wells.

5.8Emma Cole to contact Adrian Roberts to give an overview and an update of his event in Gwynedd.

5.9Douglas Reynolds asked if the conference could broaden the focus to include transport. Steve Martin replied that transport is not in the HECA remit. Charlotte Gibson said that HECA cannot put money towards having a wider focused conference but there are other departments in the National Assembly that could help.

5.10Richard Williams suggested the HECA Forum as a group need to raise their profile. If HECA is mixed with other subjects, it will end up diluting the message.

5.11Trevor Roberts said the profile of HECA should be raised quickly as there are new Councillors coming on board due to those taking the redundancy money.

5.12Richard Williams was not impressed that some South Wales Local Authorities could not attend their own conference due to the Authority not agreeing to pay for overnight accommodation. Steve Martin said this was the case for the UK and not just Wales. Richard Williams suggested pushing HECA Officers into other departments’ conferences.

5.13Steve Martin suggested that each Local Authority should find out individual departments that HECA could be linked to. Health Alliance Coordinators were suggested.

6.0Welsh HECA Forum Handbooks

6.1The Forum were told that the handbooks were discussed at the Executive Committee meeting and that energywatch already have something similar.

6.2Richard Williams suggested making the Forum a focal point as Local Authority departments do not know HECA exists. He suggested having a few pages that were note pad size to hand out to local councillors, health officerts etc. It should be short and snappy so people will read it. It should have the benefits of having a HECA Officer and examples of what the post can bring into the Local Authority in terms of inward investment, let alone the health benefits to people. These should be handed out at conferences the Officers go to. The National Assembly may be interested in funding a similar project to this.

6.3Sharon Youssefi suggested personalising it to each Local Authority. There should be a general section and a localised section.

6.4Steve Martin to look at an idea for the booklet and asked someone else to look at their Local Authority.

7.0UK Conference 2004 and HECA Awards

7.1Steve Martin reported that the UK HECA Conference has now been advertised with Enact being for main sponsor. It is being held in the Cardiff Marriott on 11th & 12th May. There is a reduced delegate fee from the previous year.

7.2Steve Martin attended the UK HECA meeting and discussed sponsorship, delegate packs, HECA awards, promotional literature, entertainment, conference speakers, workshops, staffing and finances.

7.3Steve Martin will be sending out the Award letters in the next two weeks. The letter was passed around the group for comments. Charlotte Gibson suggested to take out “Officer” and call it “Wales HECA Award 2004”. Applications must be in by 26th March and the board will meet week commencing 5th April.

8.0Sponsorship 2004/05

8.1The Forum is waiting to hear from the Energy Saving Trust regarding the level of sponsorship in April.

8.2EAGA will sponsor the Forum for the same amount for next year.

8.3Steve Martin and Bill Jones to look for another utility company to sponsor the Forum. There will be an update at the AGM.

9.0Energy Policy Update

9.1Jim Prosser updated the Forum on the Energy Policy. The draft policy has been revised and it will be distributed early to mid February. There are new sections including housing, affordable warmth, extended street lighting, contact and grants.

9.2Jim Prosser is working with Richard Williams and Francois Samuel on the guidance notes for the Energy Policy Agreement. They are looking at 2% per year for 5 years. The HECA target will be revised to 13-14% with funding. The period is being extending to 15 years instead of 10 years to meet the 30% target with extra funding. Councils will be able to ask for a full-time post under the funding bid.

9.3.1John Williams believes the only way to get information for HECA reports is through more money for housing conditions surveys. Charlotte Gibson said the Policy agreements is providing a way for funding and could fund the EEACs or other agencies to do the work on the Council’s behalf.

10.0Chair 2004/05

10.1There are currently problems in North Wales to appoint a new chair and there is low attendance at the meetings. Bill Jones is looking to take the Chair in North Wales to progress. Steve Martin said he would continue as the Chair for the Wales HECA Forum if no-one else wanted the position. The Forum was asked for their views.

10.2Nominations to be made to Emma Cole in time for the AGM.

11.0Any Other Business

11.1With regard to dates of the meetings, Eleanor George suggested to have a gap of 1 to 2 weeks between the local forums and the Wales HECA Forum. Dates for the coming year will be decided at the AGM.

11.2David Powell asked Richard Williams about the software for HECA reporting. The software is inflexible. Richard Williams asked the Forum if they would like an updated version. Richard Williams will then provide a costing. All HECA Officers to e-mail Emma Cole with the changes that officers would like to be made. Emma Cole to forward suggestions to Richard Williams.

12.0Date of next meeting

12.1The next full HECA Forum meeting will at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on 7th April 2004 at 10.30am. This will be the AGM.

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