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0019 2022/23
23/08/2022
Safer, Stronger Communities
All wards
Publication of Statement of Intent to Utilise Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4) Flexibility Criteria
To support the Liverpool City Region approach to the delivery of the ECO Flex mechanism through approval of a joint Statement of Intent.
To approve St Helens Borough Council being part of the LCR joint ECO Flex Statement of Intent (Version LCR SoI 4.0.2022).
An SoI must be published to enable ECO Flex funding support for vulnerable households. A joint LCR SoI maximises the potential ECO funding available.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), is a government energy efficiency scheme, that provides assistance with the installation of domestic energy efficiency measures. The ECO scheme has been in operation (in a number of formats) since January 2013. The ‘LA Flex’ component of the scheme was introduced as part of the changes to the scheme in April 2017. ECO4 is the new scheme that will replace it. ECO4 will be a four-year scheme and is intended to run from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026. The main objective of ECO4 is to improve the least energy efficient 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 (LA), 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. A Statement of Intent or Local Authority Declaration in itself does not guarantee funding. Utility Company ECO offers vary over time in relation to the proportion of funding they are prepared to commit. ECO funding is not provided to the Local Authorities but is deducted from the householder's work costs by the Utility. The 6 Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region have produced a draft Statement of Intent (SoI) to be approved by each Local Authority. This has the advantage of ensuring a consistent approach across the LCR. The administration of ECO Flex Local Authority Declarations would be carried out by the Council's Affordable Wamth team within Housing Services, alongside existing services which seek to maximise the funding and energy efficiency of homes within the Borough. The SoI is to be signed at Director level or above.
Enabling residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes will result in lower energy bills and help to reduce fuel poverty within the borough.
Failure to publish a statement of intent will exclude St Helens residents from the opportunity to benefit from ECO Flex funding
A joint statement of intent has been prepared for the LCR which meets the needs of all the LCR authorities.
None
Please Contact Chris Birkett - Ext 1611 for more details.
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