LGA update on energy, fuel poverty and climate local Insert date www.local.gov.uk

Energy and local government Energy as part of national infrastructure: Councils need stability and the confidence to invest long term Important role for councils in local decisions on energy infrastructure Scope for councils to reduce their costs through reducing energy use in buildings and the wider council estate

Lobbying government on policy gaps: Locally energy companies - e.g Cornwall devolution work, Nottingham, Bristol, Southend Lobbying government on policy gaps: Domestic energy efficiency – where next after Green Deal and ECO Making sense of new regulations for the private rented sector

DECC priorities - 1 From Departmental business plan 2015-2020 Objective: Keep energy bills as low as possible for households and businesses Action: Reduce subsidies and cost of ECO Insulate a million homes by 2020 Target energy efficiency at those most in need

DECC 2 – reducing carbon Commitments include action to decarbonise heating supplies Plans expected later this year on meeting carbon target Also – investment in local heat infrastructure and renewable heat incentive

Opportunities to influence Nationally National and local DECC select committee on home energy efficiency and energy demand Consultation on replacement for ECO Making the case for savings in health Ambitions for increased house building/regeneration

Fuel poverty – LGA view We need investment in energy efficiency to reduce energy bills in the long term Councils are best placed to lead and commission local work to tackle fuel poverty – they should have control of ECO and other funding Green Deal and ECO are too complex. Replacements need to be easier for councils and residents to access www.local.gov.uk

Climate local – next steps Climate Local national conference 22 March 2016 Current arrangement between the Environment Agency and LGA comes to an end in March Working on legacy and next steps, details to be announced later this month

Opportunities to influence DECC select committee into home energy efficiency and demand reduction

LGA guide for councillors and officers