South Cambs District Councillor (SCDC) Bill Handley’s Report to Over Village News – June 2025
Energy boost for hundreds of South Cambridgeshire Council homes
More than 600 Council homes in South Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from major energy efficiency upgrades helping to cut tenants’ energy bills. The project is part of a wider investment programme of around £19 million which is being delivered by SCDC in partnership with Mears. Almost half of the funding is from the government under their national Warm Homes Plan with SCDC contributing £10 million from its Housing Revenue Account (which comes from Council house rents, not Council Tax). The aim is to bring every home involved in the programme up to at least an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C, which should help tenants reduce their energy usage and lower their bills by more than £200 a year.
A total of 610 properties are to be upgraded with one or more improvement type, thus:
• Cavity Wall Insulation: 576 homes
• Loft Insulation: 397 homes
• Air Source Heat Pumps: 356 homes
• Solar PV Panels: 388 homes
• Ventilation Improvements: 596 homes
• External Wall Insulation: 14 homes
SCDC helps low-income households to secure millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits
As I reported several months ago, SCDC has been helping residents on lower incomes to claim benefits to which they’re entitled but are not claiming. The council is utilising innovative software called the Low-Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to do this, and the project has so far identified and encouraged South Cambs residents to claim over £3.6 million that would otherwise have been lost to them. In addition, the LIFT project also identified nearly 70 low-income households that only just missed being eligible for Pension Credit (and therefore the Winter Fuel Payment); they were contacted and offered a free electric blanket and financial advice through the ‘Income Maximisation’ programme run by the council.
The next area of focus for the council’s Data Team – again using the LIFT software – will be to encourage eligible residents to claim grants to retrofit their home with energy efficiency measures and to raise awareness of Cambridge Water’s ‘Assure Tariff’ – which offers discounts on water bills for those who are eligible. Finally, the programme has been promoting the availability of the Household Support Fund – a one-off hardship payment of £110 administered by Cambridgeshire County Council, with just under 250 South Cambridgeshire households going on to claim it during in the last 12 months.
Home adaptations for disabled residents in South Cambridgeshire
Disabled residents and people with long-term health conditions can now access more support to live independently at home, thanks to increased funding from SCDC and the government to the tune of £1.02 million for the coming year. The changes are part of an update to the adaptations and repairs policy for the Cambs Home Improvement Agency (HIA).
Some residents will be eligible for up to double the funding available compared to last year to make their homes safer and more comfortable with essential adaptations like ramps, hoists, or showers and there is enhanced assistance for low-income households to improve home energy efficiency.
‘Let’s Waste Less’
A new campaign has just been launched by the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS) which showcases best practice for recycling and reducing waste. Featuring photos of residents and staff on the side of bin lorries, the ‘Let’s Waste Less’ campaign aims to shine a light on good recycling habits such as the importance of the rinsing out of recyclable items and not putting non-recyclable items like polystyrene into recycling bins.
GCSWS is inviting all residents to get involved with the campaign to further highlight the role of collective action, and the promotion gives them a chance to win a prize by encouraging them to tell the council what they do to waste less or to make a pledge to take further action. If residents visit https://www.scambs.gov.uk/letswasteless they can find out more and they have the chance to enter a prize draw.
