Their free paid for by the tax payer

Only available to hosuing association and people on benefits, typical we have to pay for them.

One thing you can be sure of is that whoever is living in these houses didnt pay for them.

RCT Council has also spent £190,000 on a bridge for dormice to cross a road. It's obvious then from this instance, and the supplying of solar panels to council residents, that there's no recession in RCT and they have money to burn.

This is obviously the level of the financial wizards we have running the accounts in RCT. If only they'd been allowed to run the banks like this we wouldn't have a world wide financial crisis on our hands.

You can only admire their financial acumen and be grateful that we've got so much money washing around the coffers of RCT's treasury that we can soon expect a refund on our council taxes, cleaner streets, clear roads in next winter's snow and ice, far superior social services than any other part of the country, more police on the streets, new schools...and a host of other advantages that other councils can only dream about.

Maybe that explains why the top honchos in RCT's administration pay themselves such amazing amounts of our money. As the old cliche goes, "If you want the best you gotta pay 'em". Well, we've certainly got a right bunch of specimens here and no mistake. £190,000 to help the dormice cross the road?

You couldn't make it up could you?

OK, latest information.

1. RCT Homes is the landlord of the social housing in RCT, formerly managed by the Council.

2. I asked the British Gas "gaffer" on a site installation of some 6 homes-worth of panels why they were being installed when it was a fact they would make no money for some years, and he said "Not worth it for you to have them because you're paying for them to be installed, but these people aren't paying for them". [Did I see red?]

3. Checking the RCT Homes website tells us that:

- "in order to meet the demands of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, RCT Homes's housing stock will require an investment of £170m by end 2012, with approximately £25m being required annually therafter to maintain and improve homes".

- It goes on to say that every property will be seen by a surveyor to assess work required to bring each home up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and RCT Homes will then discuss with the tenants when and how the work will take place. Tenants are able to choose from a variety of kitchens, bathrooms, doors and window styles.

- Paraphrasing the work to be done, any kitchen over 15 years old will be updated with space for white goods. Up to 5k homes will require a brand new kitchen. Bathrooms over 25 years old will be updated to include bath and shower and around 4k homes will be updated by 2012. New electical rewiring and sockets will be provided to bring wiring to modern safety stands. THEN, More than half all RCT homes will need new energy-efficient boilers and some will need completely new CH, ventillation and insulation. Last but not least the surveyors will consider whether new doors and windows are required.

I believe we should be allowed to see where the funding for these works is coming from; I find it hard to believe that RCT Homes can have a bucket of £170m of its own money for this purpose. Unfortunately any accounts are not available on their website. If the money is coming from the State, from RCT itself, other Grants or EU funding, then this information should be readily available.

While wishing avoid the pitfalls of any comments that could be considered socially devisive, I (and I am sure many here) believe that some of these decisions and the extent of the expenditure seem misguided amd questionable for all the usual reasons.

I have asked RCT Homes for a copy of their Annual Report and Accounts and if I get anywhere I'll report back.

This is the definitive reply from RCT Homes.

Announcement issued September 2009

Aberdare to lead green energy drive as first low carbon town in Wales

Aberdare to lead green energy drive as first low carbon town in Wales.

A town in the South Wales Valleys that was once at the centre of iron making and coal mining is set to become the first low carbon town in Wales and one of the first in the UK.

Monday 14 September 2009
The latest renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures will be championed in Aberdare as part of the wider initiative to establish the Heads of the Valleys region as one of the largest low carbon zones in the UK.

This innovative move is being driven forward by the Heads of the Valleys strategic regeneration programme and designed to create economic benefits - including the development of a new industry base with new job opportunities - as well as social and environmental benefits.

Ambitious targets have been set for the 15 year Low Carbon Zone project, which initially includes:
• assessing 65,000 homes for energy efficiency measures
• improving the energy efficiency of 40,000 homes including the installation of renewable energy technologies where appropriate, and
• developing the largest concentration of renewable energy businesses in Europe.

The Heads of the Valleys programme has already invested substantially in a number of pilot projects throughout the region and funding is now being concentrated on Aberdare.
In the first year of the Aberdare project 500 of the 1500 social housing properties in the town will be targeted with around 300 renewable energy systems installed. These will include:
• solar thermal hot water heating systems
• solar photovoltaic panels for electricity
• the very latest micro-CHP (combined heat and power) systems for heat and electricity generation, and
• air source heat pumps for hot water to help reduce CO2 emissions and fuels bills.
Other activities will include:
• energy performance checks on each property to advise on the most suitable energy saving solutions;
• benefit entitlement checks to ensure all eligible benefits are maximised;
• raising awareness amongst residents and businesses by promoting existing programmes available through the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust;
• encouraging the employment of local people to deliver the programme through partnership working with Jobmatch and other welfare to work programmes
Measures are also underway to develop low energy street lighting, support energy efficiency measures for businesses and provide improved public transport links. Utility companies will also be encouraged to supply smart meters to help users conserve energy consumption.

The recently announced British Gas Green Skills Centre in Tredegar – the only one of its kind in the UK - will support training contractors to gain the necessary skills.
Environment Minister Jane Davidson said:

“The Welsh Assembly Government has set a target of cutting carbon emissions per year from 2011 onwards, enabling an 80% reduction before 2050. To achieve this we will need to create thriving, sustainable, low carbon communities throughout Wales and Aberdare is now leading this drive.
“This town was at the centre of the industrial revolution of the 19th Century, where the exploitation of fossil fuels created the modern world. By becoming Wales’s first low carbon town Aberdare will now be at the forefront of bringing about a new way of living within our resources, whilst also ensuring communities and businesses can succeed and grow.”

Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration, said it was fitting that Aberdare, which was one of the foremost iron making towns in the world and a major centre for coal production, would now be at the forefront of the future energy revolution:

“The investment in Aberdare will help spearhead the development of the region as a Low Carbon Zone where energy efficiency measures will be introduced on a scale that has not been undertaken in the UK to date.

“The long term aim is to create a new industry base in the region linked to job creation, skills, training and the development of indigenous businesses. Investment in renewable energy provides real opportunities for Welsh businesses in the design, manufacture, distribution, installation and maintenance of renewable technologies and energy efficient measures and employment.

“Our hope is to create a hub of renewable energy businesses in the region and negotiations are already underway with a number of indigenous and international companies that have expressed an interest in our plans for the Heads of the Valleys.”

An initial report on the Aberdare project will be produced after the first year to highlight CO2 savings, the impact on fuel poverty and income enhancement through benefits checks. It is anticipated that up to 1000 tonnes of CO2 savings could be achieved per annum from the first 500 homes which could rise to savings of 3000 tonnes a year when all 1500 social homes are treated. The remaining 6500 private homes will come onto the programme in the third and fourth year.

Some of the first solar panels in Aberdare have been installed by British Gas in properties owned by Cynon Taf Community Housing in Dumfries Street, Bute Street and Mary Street.

The Low Carbon Zone programme complements the Welsh Housing Quality Standard which requires all social housing to upgrade their housing stock to meet these standard by 2012 and to maintain that standard. Heads of the Valleys funding is enabling registered social landlords to use this opportunity to install a range of renewable and energy saving measures while other work is being carried out.

14 September 2009