NEWS update from Norfolk County Council

15 October 2024

Norfolk County Council commits over £1m to keep people warm this winter

Proposals to support some of the Norfolk’s most vulnerable people this winter have been set out today.

Norfolk County Council is looking to use £1.15m of the £6.7m allocated to the county through the Household Support Fund to keep people warm and help them make ends meet.

This follows the government’s decision to make the winter fuel payment means tested from this winter.

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance at Norfolk County Council said:

“We are extremely concerned about the impact that the government’s decision will have on our communities. Winter can be an extremely challenging time for our older residents and the cost of heating your home can make it difficult to pay for other necessities.

“There will be thousands of people who will miss the new cut-off by a small margin, leaving them without the means to pay for the cost of fuel.

“The county council will make sure payments make their way quickly to those who most need them, working closely with Age UK, Citizen Advice Bureau and other local partners.

“However, the funding only lasts until March. I will continue to urge the government to find a solution that isn’t to the detriment of our older residents.”

The county council will use £0.75m to partner with local organisations, including Age UK and Citizens Advice Bureau, to reach some of those most affected by the changes to the Winter Fuel Payments. They will also put £400k into the ‘warm spaces’ scheme which provides vital respite in community spaces across the county.

OUTWELL PARISH COUNCIL

We are looking for another member to join the Council.

If you feel you can help the community and represent the people in the Parish, then please apply in writing to the Clerk at the email address above, with your contact details and why you believe you would be an asset to the Council.

Please get your application in before September 30th 2022.

The Council will then look at all applications and then co-opt a new member on their next Parish Council meeting to be held on 4th October 2022. 

Debbie Newton

Parish Clerk

30 August 2022

The sun shines for West Norfolk homeowners who can go greener and reduce bills with solar energy

A new community led initiative will help boost local renewable energy generation, cut carbon emissions, and save on energy bills. Residents are coming together to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.

Solar Together Norfolk (www.solartogether.co.uk/kings-lynn-and-west-norfolk) helps homeowners feel confident that they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from pre-approved installers.

This innovative scheme builds on four years of highly successful Solar Together programme run across the UK. To date Solar Together has delivered over 7,000 installations and over 130,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions. 

West Norfolk residents can now join the group-buying scheme which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate as well as increase their independence from the grid. Letters will be sent out to homeowners from 5 September highlighting this scheme.

It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation. The borough council is working in partnership with other Norfolk district councils and independent experts iChoosr, to make the transition to clean energy as cost effective and hassle-free as possible.

Cllr Paul Kunes, Cabinet member for Environment and CO2 reduction said: “We have a deep and firm commitment to taking actions that will reduce our own impact on the environment and support others to do the same. In June we held our successful climate change business expo, now the focus turns to how our residents can play their part.

“The more people that participate, the better the price we can secure, and the more renewable energy will be generated by west Norfolk residents.

“I urge homeowners to register for free and without obligation online before the deadline of 27 September 2022.”

How does it work?

• Householders      can register online now to become part of the group for free and without      obligation. Register for free before 27 September at      solartogether.co.uk/kings-Lynn-and-west-Norfolk
• Letters      will be sent to all households from 5 September 2022 with details of how      to register an interest.
• Pre-approved      UK solar PV suppliers participate in an auction on 27 September. They are      able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration      makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they      pass on with lower prices for installations.
• After      the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal      recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their      registration.
• If      they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their      installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date      can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.
• Telephone      and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which,      together with information sessions, will allow households to make an      informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.

As well as registering online, residents can email norfolk@solartogether.co.uk or call 0800 086 8960 for more information. Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am until 5pm.

Marie-Louise Abretti, iChoosr UK Solar Manager added – 

“With energy prices continuing to increase,  residents of west Norfolk are looking for opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions, save on energy bills and increase their independence from the grid.  The Solar Together group-buying scheme offers a straightforward way to make an informed decision and to access a competitive offer from a trusted, vetted provider.”

iChoosr has a strong track record of delivering group purchase schemes for local authorities. It has worked with 160 UK local authorities on its collective energy switching schemes. Furthermore, in 2018 UK councils, in collaboration with iChoosr, initiated their collective purchase schemes for solar PV systems. iChoosr’s schemes have been delivered in partnership with local authorities in five countries. Over 70 schemes led to 110,000 residents installing solar PV systems.

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The Solar Together programme is part of a range of schemes available to help reduce residential carbon emissions including boiler upgrade scheme, ECO flexible energy, Norfolk Warm Homes and more. You can see the full list of what is available to residents on the borough council website, here:
west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20095/energy_and_climate_change/975/residential_emissions  

About iChoosr - www.ichoosr.co.uk:

iChoosr was founded in 2008 and is privately owned by two co-founders. Before it entered the UK energy market in 2012 it had focused on collective schemes in the Netherlands and Belgium where it works with community leaders helping households to select energy and solar power suppliers. As in the UK, its operations continue to grow across Europe, North America and Japan.

Do you know any Norfolk residents aged 65 or over who are currently experiencing financial hardship?

We operate the Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) in partnership with Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich to help residents aged 65+ get support and financial assistance for food, energy, water and other essentials.

If you know of anyone who could benefit from the scheme, please encourage them to apply for support. They can do so - either themselves or through another party, such as through Age UK or via a carer or family - online at www.norfolk.gov.uk/NAS or by calling 0333 996 8333.