Affordable Warmth Strategy
The Gloucestershire Affordable Warmth strategy describes how the local authorities of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, along with the affordable warmth partnership aims to assist those in fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency in houses and promote advice over the next 5 years (2013-2018).
The Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire affordable warmth strategy forms the basis of a HECA report (a summary of the council's priorities, targets and plans for action to improve the energy efficiency of housing, as required by the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995) on behalf of a consortium consisting of all the district authorities in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire council.
A summary of the council's priorities, targets and plans for action to improve the energy efficiency of housing in the borough, as required by the Home Energy Conservation Act (1995).
Progress reports and updates will be needed every 2 years.
As affordable warmth stretches across many social aspects and sectors, it is also a priority to make links to local policies and objectives e.g. Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the South Gloucestershire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board have identified reducing excess winter deaths amongst the over 75s as a priority in its Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The outcome this will contribute to is improving health and wellbeing into older age. The Affordable Warmth Partnership is key to ensuring that fuel poverty and its effects remain on the agenda for the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Members of the Partnership come from a range of organisations that are concerned with issues around affordable warmth and fuel poverty:
Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Affordable Warmth Partnership Members
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Cotswold District Council
- Forest of Dean District Council
- Gloucestershire City Council
- South Gloucestershire Council
- Stroud District Council
- Tewkesbury Borough Council
- Gloucestershire Age Concern
- Gloucestershire Country Council
- Severn Wye Energy Agency
- We Care and Repair
- Gloucestershire Rural Community Council
- Age UK Gloucestershire
- Age UK South Gloucestershire
- British Red Cross
- Gloucestershire Community Foundation
- Bristol Debt Advice Service
- Countywide Benefits Forum
- Wood U Waste
The Partnership’s work is most successful when members from the public, private and voluntary sectors work together. The Affordable Warmth Partnership also works closely with and exchanges information to the Social Housing Action to Reduce Energy (SHARE) Forum, the Gloucestershire Climate Change Panel and South Gloucestershire Environment Forum.