Decision details

The report seeks to set the principles to be used for the development of an Energy Rebate Discretionary Policy and requests delegated authority be given to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, to finalise the detail in the Policy and approve any subsequent amendments that are needed.

The Government has tasked local councils with distributing energy rebates of £150 to council tax payers in the local area.  Fareham Borough Council has received £5,367,000 from the Government to administer the mandatory scheme for council tax payers in Council Tax Bands A-D plus those in Band E who receive Disabled Relief.  

Fareham Borough Council has also received £122,400 to support households not eligible for the mandatory scheme, such as council tax payers in Council Tax Bands E-H.  The Council is required to set a Discretionary Policy on how this latter funding will be used across the Borough.  Energy rebates using this discretionary funding must all be made by the end of November 2022.

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)   the key principles to be followed when designing the Energy Rebate Discretionary Policy, as outlined in paragraph 12, are approved for adoption in Fareham;

(b)   authority is delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, following consultation with the Executive Member for Policy and Resources, to approve the detail of the Policy and any subsequent amendments that are needed; and

(c)   this delegation extends to any further government schemes designed to assist households with the rising cost of living, which the government requests the Council to deliver by a stated deadline, and which have a discretionary element as to who are the recipients of that support.

Where the Deputy Chief Executive Officer considers it in the best interests of the local residents to deviate significantly from the government guidance on their preferences as to who are the recipients of that support, and what support they receive, the proposed scheme will first be reported to the Executive for decision.