Councillors feel the heat as one in six struggle with fuel poverty

A report to a key East Riding Council committee shows that 18 per cent of households in the borough are in fuel poverty, above the England average of 16 per cent, and the rate is also the highest of the four Humber council areas.

Altogether 26,000 households in the East Riding are in fuel poverty – where a household has to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory level of heating – compared to 21,000 in Hull, and about 12,500 in North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.

The 2008 figures – the latest available – reveal that fuel poverty has risen by six per cent since 2006.

Councillor John Wilkinson, chairman of the environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny sub-committee, which considered the report, said he expected the problem to escalate, but said the council would do all it could to support those in need.

The report comes after Scottish Power announced its decision to raise electricity prices by 10 per cent and gas by 19 per cent – a move that is expected to prompt rises by other suppliers and has led charities to warn that millions of people could be plunged into fuel poverty.

The rises are also likely to sorely test the Government’s commitment to eradicate fuel poverty in the UK by 2016.

As well as blighting the lives of those in the fuel poverty, people’s inability to adequately heat their homes can have lethal consequences.

The report highlights a study published by public health expert Professor Sir Michael Marmott, which shows that excess winter deaths are almost three times higher in the coldest (least energy efficient) quarter of housing compared with the warmest.

Coun Wilkinson said the council’s most effective response would be to help people insulate their homes.

“It’s an area the council doesn’t have very much in the way of duties and responsibilities, but we do have a lot of input into getting other authorities to move and putting people on the right track to where they can get help,” he said.

“It’s going to get worse as fuel costs rise and will affect a very vulnerable section of the community, which I think is mainly older people and young families that have got very little spare income.

“I think the council’s main responsibility is to explore that grants that are available to help people get extra insulation in walls and roof spaces.”

He added: “The council is concerned about this. We are doing all we can to assist vulnerable people involved.”

A housing needs survey in the East Riding this year showed where improvements were most needed. A total of 22 per cent of households have 6mm or less of loft insulation and six per cent have no loft insulation – including eight per cent of households in Bridlington.

Altogether six per cent of households have less than half their houses double-glazed and 31 per cent said utility bills were a problem – and issue that was a “major problem” in Bridlington and Goole.

The right levels of insulation can save as much as £200 a year on fuel bills, and make buildings easier to heat.

The council is also considering how best to respond to the Government’s proposed Green Deal, a flagship project currently going through Parliament that is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from domestic properties.

In principle, it will allow property owners to access energy efficiency improvements with no up-front costs. Customers would pay back the money lent to them for the improvements through a levy added to their fuel bills. The loans would be tied to properties, not the owners, so would be taken on by new residents when homes are sold. Councils could register to be Green Deal providers.