Agenda item

For Council to note the introduction of an NNC Standard Operating Procedure for the payment of a goodwill gesture to tenants of the Council, as a result of the breakdown of primary heating systems this winter (2022/23).

Council noted the introduction of an NNC Standard Operating Procedure for the payment of a goodwill gesture to tenants of the Council, when temporary heaters were left in their property, as a result of a breakdown of their primary heating system during the current winter (2022/23).

         It was recognised that during the winter period (the Council had defined this as 1st November to 30th April based upon Met Office 1991-2020 minimum average temperatures data), there was a greater impact upon Council tenants if their central heating boiler should break down and was not repairable for a period of time.

         Previously North Northamptonshire Council did not have a procedure for goodwill payments when a central heating boiler broke down and was not repairable for a period of time. Instead, the legacy Council policy was followed where this existed. For example, in the Corby area this amounted to the issuing of two electric heaters and a payment of £2.00 per day (payable from the day after the engineer’s initial visit if they were unable to repair the boiler to the date the boiler was then operational or replaced). The New NNC SOP was implemented from 1^st December 2022.

         Estimated costs had been based on last winter’s figures for temporary heaters provided in the former Kettering area (Corby data was not available due to the contractor not recording this). There were 96 instances of this nature in Kettering. Pro rata for Corby stock it was estimated that this would equal 121 instances. Therefore, a combined approximate total of 217 instances of where temporary electric heaters would need to be left could be expected for the Council this winter. An estimated maximum cost to the Council of £18,228 this winter had been estimated. It was noted that 14 days was the maximum that the Council could be expected to pay the gesture of goodwill for. It was expected that most breakdowns would be resolved in a shorter timeframe than this. The HRA would fund these costs through the revenue budgets dedicated to heating repairs.

         In addition, there was the cost of heaters estimated at £2,916.48. However, it was recognised that the Council currently purchased heaters and gifted them to tenants, so this would not be seen as an additional cost. Whilst consideration had been given to collecting the heaters back in from tenants once they had finished with them, it was deemed uneconomical to do this due to the requirement to complete a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) on each heater prior to reissuing them.

Councillor Lyn Buckingham, whose motion at a previous Full Council meeting had highlighted this issue, welcomed the report. Councillor John McGhee also welcomed the report but stressed the importance of the need to look at the underlying causes resulting in failed boiler and heating systems, ensuring that old and defective units were replaced in a timely fashion.

The recommendation was MOVED by Councillor Matt Binley and SECONDED by Councillor King Lawal.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               the Implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure for the payment of a goodwill gesture to tenants of the Council, when temporary heaters are left in their property, as a result of their primary heating system during the winter of 2022/2023 be noted.