Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Housing and Investment.

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) presented the report on Electric Heating and Photo-Voltaic (PV) Installations at Affordable Housing Developments at Kimberley Close, Dover and Stockdale Gardens, Deal.

Members were advised that the Cabinet had previously approved projects to build a total of 24 flats as interim housing for homeless people at two DDC owned sites at Kimberley Close, Dover and Stockdale Gardens, Deal.

The report was seeking an additional expenditure of £160,000 (or £6,666 per flat) in order to enable electric heating to be installed in all 24 flats. This would avoid the use of gas fired boilers and provide for enhanced PV installations to all the buildings. The use of electric heating with PV installations would significantly reduce the environmental impact of the developments and reduce the long-term heating costs for the tenants, helping to mitigate fuel poverty concerns whilst tenants were in the accommodation.

Dover District Council’s net zero carbon target would include avoiding the use of gas as a fuel in line with the anticipated changes to legislation not to permit new domestic

buildings to use gas from 2025. It was therefore considered appropriate to avoid its use in all new build affordable housing.

Members considered alternative heating methods to electric boilers such as hydrogen or air/ground source boilers. The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) advised that whilst gas boilers were cheaper to operate than electric boilers, when combined with PV they became cheaper to run that gas boilers. In addition, electric heating was future proofed where as alternative heating sources might not be.

RESOLVED:       That it be recommended to Cabinet that decision CAB 22 be endorsed as follows:

(a)  That the upgrade to the incoming electricity main to Kimberley Close, allowing electric heating to be installed in lieu of gas, and the associated additional budget required, be approved.

(b)  That the installation of enhanced photo-voltaic systems to both Kimberley Close and Stockdale Gardens developments, and the associated budget required, be approved.

To consider the report of the Head of Housing and Investment (to follow).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Social Housing and Port Health

It was agreed:

(a)  That the upgrade to the incoming electricity main to Kimberley Close, allowing electric heating to be installed in lieu of gas, and the associated additional budget required, be approved.

(b)  That the installation of enhanced photo-voltaic systems to both Kimberley Close and Stockdale Gardens developments, and the associated budget required, be approved.