Local authorities have a key role to play in tackling Fuel Poverty and the Government has asked councils to set out their plans for it in their local areas. This strategy details those actions in Gateshead for 2001/2002. It builds on the Council's strategy used for 2000/2001, which was largely based on encouraging and helping people to make their home more energy efficient.
The Council aims to minimise the incidence of fuel poverty by increasing the number of energy efficient homes in Gateshead.
It intends to achieve this by developing a range of actions around four
strategic objectives:
-
Raise awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency, and give advice on the ways in which energy efficiency in the home can be improved and the sources of financial assistance available.
-
Target information on the availability of Warm Front grants specifically to vulnerable people.
-
To be proactive through Council staff and partner organisations identifying people suffering from fuel poverty, and referring them to appropriate sources of assistance, when carrying out their normal duties in contact with members of the public.
-
Include energy efficiency measures in Council schemes for the repair and improvement of both private and public sector housing, as resources permit.