The draft strategy sets out the council’s vision and proposed actions for the next four years to ensure all Borderers have access to healthy homes and can afford to heat them adequately.

Councillor Mark Rowley, executive member for business and economic development, said: “It is unacceptable that currently almost a third of households in the Scottish Borders are living in fuel poverty and that is something that we are committed to reducing, working with a range partners.

“The draft strategy has been developed to link in with the priorities of our partners and also the Scottish Borders Community Plan and Local Housing Strategy, which identify the challenges of fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

“The vision of this strategy is for more people to live in energy efficient and affordably warm homes, and it sets out a wide range of actions to that end. We want our partners, other stakeholders and the public to review these and provide their comments and suggestions as part of the ongoing consultation to help us develop a final strategy that meets the needs of everyone and well help us and our partners deliver on this vision.”

Three main priorities have been identified in the draft strategy:

• To collectively work with partners to improve affordable warmth and energy efficiency in homes;
• To explore wider measures to better manage energy and increase warmth in the home;
• To ensure that strategy provides opportunities for all in the Scottish Borders.

The consultation is open until 21 May and the draft strategy and consultation questions can be accessed online via scotborders.citizenspace.com or www.scotborders.gov.uk/consultations. Hard copies of the strategy and consultation questions can be requested from the Housing Strategy team.