Newcastle City Council – Energy Directorate
Kate, Annette, Simon – Newcastle City Council. Meeting at City Council Energy Directorate Office, Archbold Terrace, Newcastle Upon Tyne
The sat-nav sold me up the river this morning, directing me to a building 3+km away from my desired destination. After parking and walking with the sat-nav for a while I entered the foyer of a building that I knew was not the council office, I asked the guy on reception if I was at the council, and he opened with “you were using a sat nav weren’t you? Don’t know what is going on, but we always get people showing up here”. He gave me a map, and pointed me in the correct direction. Watching the rain tumble down I rang Kate to let her know I was running late but I was on my way. I then caught a taxi across town, only to get to the reception area of the Civic Building and be told that I was still 15 minutes walk away from the right building. This was the first time in three weeks I felt like pulling the pin early. It was raining, I was saturated, I had a 2.5 hour drive immediately after the meeting, I was late and still lost. I stood for a minute under some shelter and weighed up my options. I called Kate, for a second time, to indicate I was still coming. When I eventually found my meeting point I was bewildered to find I was back in the same building complex as my meeting with eaga on Tuesday. Gotta laugh. I tracked down Kate, and apologized for looking like a drowned rat and being an hour late.
Annette, Simon and Kate introduced themselves and their respective roles. I discussed my study trip and outlined who I had spoken too during the week. All heads around the table nodded as I reeled off the names of several well known and respected members of Newcastle fuel poverty network. The Newcastle Council trio then set out to fill in some of my knowledge gaps.
Education programs. Kate shared information on the “Enviro-Schools” programs, and the role she plays working with young people; building awareness of energy efficiency issues and encouraging students to take an interest now and in the future. Kate provided information on a variety of programs. The area also holds a Solar Car Challenge annually.
Health through Warmth. Annette spoke keenly of the Health through Warmth program. One of the country’s leading utilities, npower, provides GBP100 000 annually for this program targeted at those with ill health who would benefit from assistance. The program has trained 600 allied health and “first to know” practitioners, and has received 14000 referrals in 9 years. Annette also spoke about additional aspects of the telecare program that I was introduced to by John at Your Homes Newcastle earlier in the week. I was initially stuggling to make the connection with aspects of telecare and fuel poverty, but Annette was explained how the schemes are complimentary, and Telecare services support people by providing rapid response that may reduce ill health, health costs, and the costs to the individual, thereby increasing their disposable income, leaving them more to spend, including on fuel.
Establishing baseline data. I indicated to Simon that I was unaware of any Tasmanian data set comparable to the English House Condition Survey (this survey provides basic information on the quality of all housing stock). Simon confirmed that it would be the place to start, without a baseline measure it is difficult to prioritise and set goals, nor cost any retrofitting or refurbishment plans. Simon also provided some information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that feeds into planning and reporting on the impact of programs.
Reporting. National Indicators. Newcastle City Council has taken on the task of reporting on National Indicator 187 (fuel poverty). Not all local authorities have gone down this path, but Newcastle is working actively on the issue and reports on the indicator.
The meeting wrapped up at 2.30. I walked the 30 minutes back to the car, turned the air-conditioning on to hot, and set out for the final leg of the study tour. In less than an hour I was across the Scottish border, warm and dry.
