December 02, 2022 - 689 views
Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has claimed that the Conwy First Independent Group, Welsh Labour, and Plaid Cymru coalition Cabinet are overseeing a major delay in support being provided to households living in fuel poverty.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme, now in its 4th iteration. ECO4 is a four-year scheme and was planned to run from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026.
The main objective of ECO4 is to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock occupied by low income and vulnerable households. One route that can be used to identify these households is ‘ECO4 Flexibility’ (ECO4 Flex). Under ECO4 Flex, a participating Local Authority, can refer private tenure households that it considers to be living in fuel poverty or on a low income and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.
Last month, the Member highlighted to Conwy County Borough Council that the Local Authority ECO statement is no longer available, hindering constituents from receiving support.
As of 1 December 2022, the Local Authority website is still stating:
“Our energy company obligation statement of intent is no longer available”.
Commenting on the situation, Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “Three weeks ago I raised concerns with Councillor Emily Owen, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory and Deputy Leader, that by the Council not having an ECO statement available, the Local Authority is hindering constituents from receiving support.
“With communities now experiencing plummeting temperatures, every effort should be made by the Independent, Welsh Labour, and Plaid Cymru Cabinet to ensure that low income and vulnerable households in Conwy can access support that improves energy efficiency.
“It has been explained to me that staff shortages in the relevant team are causing the significant backlog. To be frank, given that we have people living in cold homes, and struggling for one day to the next, we should have a Local Authority that pulls together as a team to ensure that this matter is prioritised for addressing.
“The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made clear that for a vulnerable person, living in a cold home increases their chance of serious illness or death. They are at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, breathing problems, flu, depression and falls. For the well-being of Conwy I urge the Cabinet to get moving with ECO4 Flex.”
