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The decisions of the First-tier Tribunal
The decisions of the First-tier Tribunal
The First-tier Tribunal (“the FTT”) made two (effective) decisions: a preliminary decision on 29 December 2021 and a substantive decision on 5 July 2023.
(The First-tier Tribunal had made an earlier substantive decision on 16 November 2022 but that decision had been set aside and replaced by the substantive decision of 5 July 2023, pursuant to rules 43 and 44 of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (General Regulatory Chamber) Rules 2009 (“the GRC Rules”) and sections 9(4)(c) and 9(5)(a) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. Nothing turns on this.)
- Heading
- The decision of the Upper Tribunal is to allow GDFC Assets Limited’s appeal
- The statutory scheme
- A notice under these Regulations— must be in writing; and
- The improvement-specific instalments must not exceed the improvement-specific first year savings The improvement-specific payment period must not exceed the improvement-specific savings period
- Improvement-specific instalments – exceptions to fixed amount
- Guarantees to be given by green deal providers
- The guarantee must include the requirements set out in Schedule 3 (guarantees) Condition as to other matters – confirmation from bill payer and owners
- the relevant first bill payer; or subject to paragraph, the relevant subsequent bill payer; and
- A must pay instalments under the plan for such time as A is the bill payer, and the other terms of the plan which bind a bill payer will bind A
- Sanctions for breaches of the relevant requirements by green deal providers
- withdrawal
- the following may be imposed—
- that the Secretary of State intends to impose the sanction
- details of the early payment discounts
- the reason for imposing the sanction; and information on appeals which may be made under regulation 87
- Appeal to First Tier Tribunal
- The Tribunal may suspend a decision pending determination of the appeal The Tribunal may—
- Relevant factual background
- The decisions of the First-tier Tribunal
- Preliminary decision
- Substantive decision
- I will return, as necessary, to where aspects of this summary were unpacked by the FTT The FTT’s grant of permission to appeal
- The grounds of appeal
- Discussion and conclusion
- Grounds 2-4 – legal effect of non-compliance with regulation 30(3)(c) and whether written or oral notification is required by that regulation
- Nor does regulation 30(3)(c) containing a condition sit oddly with, or indeed lie outwith ( ultra vires ), the enabling powers of the parent Act under which it was made. Section 1(3) (b) of the Energy
- Grounds 5 and 6 – proportionality and approach to sanction
- Ground 7 – proportionality and sanction if not a green deal plan
- Conclusions