The lead councillor in charge of housing has responded after Reading Borough Council was slammed for having to repay £495,000 which was meant to help people insulate their homes.

A report by the council’s financial planning and strategy manager admitted that it had to return  £495,000 of Government grant funding to help insulate homes because the council overestimated the number of council properties eligible and was unable to encourage private landlords to sign up to the scheme.

The funding came from the Government’s Green Homes Scheme and has since been returned.

The loss of the money led councillor Rob White (Green, Park) to slam the Labour administration for missing out.

READ MORE: Reading Green party slams Labour administration for returning £495,000 in grant funding 

Cllr White, who is the leader of the Green group, also criticised Labour councillors for refusing his suggestion to hire a council officer to focus on getting more homes insulated.

In response, councillor Ellie Emberson, Reading’s lead member for housing explained what work the council has done to insulate homes, and that it already has an officer who’s dedicated to helping people facing difficulties with their bills.

Cllr Emberson (Labour, Minster ) said: “The Council has done, and continues to do, a lot to support those struggling in fuel poverty. For 10 years we have had a dedicated officer supporting those facing difficulty with fuel costs, helping an average of 250 residents each year. We are one of the only Councils nationally to have such a resource. We know these are tough times for residents, with a surge in energy prices, and we will continue, in partnership with our wonderful voluntary sector, to support those struggling.

“The Council is owner of one in 10 homes in the town and we know we are making a big difference in the work that we do. We work collaboratively with the private housing sector through our Rent with Confidence scheme for landlords, pushing for landlords to upgrade their homes to help reduce bills. Our new Low Carbon Projects Officer will add extra capacity, to help support our Low Carbon Housing Plans already in place.

“Reading Borough Council continues to invest in our homes and is leading the way in building new homes with ‘passivhaus’ principles. The Council’s housing team were awarded Homebuilder of the Year for their work on new build developments across the town, with sustainability key to our plans. We were also one of just 50 councils highlighted for commitment to zero carbon, with our Local Plan policy on green homes mentioned. Work has already taken place to enhance heating systems and insulation across the town, including in Southcote, Redlands and Kentwood, with more work to start later this year on the Coley High Rises. 

READ MORE: Plan to overhaul Coley high rise flats 'plagued by rats' approved 

“The Tory government and this Labour Council have different ambitions – we have committed to net zero by 2030, but the government only aims for 2050. The government are lagging behind Reading in providing the necessary funds to enhance homes and reduce bills. Reading is a victim of its own success, with our properties seen as too efficient to be eligible for the grantCllr White mentions. As a Council, we bid on all and any appropriate grant schemes to help us in our journey. The particular grant mentioned by Cllr White had restrictively short timescales for delivery and for eligibility, as noted by the National Audit Office. 

“While Labour are delivering for residents, Green councillors voted against a £34 million investment to make our housing stock more efficient – so any commitment from the Green Party on tackling this important issue is absent. Unlike our focus on actually delivering, they merely play politics.”