Statement of Intent for ECO4 v2

South Ayrshire Council ECO4 Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent

Local Authority name: South Ayrshire

Publication Date: 23/05/23

Version number: V.2

Publication on web site:https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/article/30194/Energy-Efficient-Scotland

This statement sets out South Ayrshire Council's flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 - March 2026.

The ECO4 scheme will focus on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the Government's fuel poverty and net zero commitments.

The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as "ECO4 Flex".

The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.

The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI), on the 23/05/23to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below:

Route 1:SAP bands D-Gowner-occupiedhouseholds and private rented sector E-G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.

Route 2:SAP bands E-Gfor owner-occupiedhouseholds and private rented sector households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:

Proxy 1) Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1-3 (LSOA)[1], or homes in Welsh provision LSOA 1-3 on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019[2], or the Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2020, published by the Scottish Government[3]

Proxy 2) Householders receiving a Council Tax reduction (based on low income only).

Proxy 3) Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from the list can be used, excludes the proxy 'low income'.

Proxy 4) A householder receiving free school meals due to low-income.

Proxy 5) A householder supported by a LA run scheme, that has been named and described by the LA as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guideline.

Proxy 6) A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice or Citizen's Advice Scotland, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.

* Note proxies 1 and 3 cannot be used together.

Route 3:SAP bands D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households that have been identified by either a person registered in the General Practitioner Register, a Scottish Health Board, a Welsh Health Board, an NHS Foundation Trust, or an NHS Trust as vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.

Route 4:SAP band D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers and LAs can submit an application to ESNZ where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the exiting routes.

Declaration and evidence check confirmation

All potentially eligible households should apply through South Ayrshire Council by using one of their approved ECO installers to ensure that they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.

The officer below will be responsible for checking and verifying declarations and associated evidence submitted on behalf of the local authority:

Name: Chris Carroll

Job Title: Private Sector and Landlord Registration Officer

Telephone: 01292 272 020

Email:chris.carroll@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

CEO or dedicated responsible person mandatory signature

South Ayrshire Council will administer the scheme according to the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 (ECO4 Order) and will identify eligible households via Ofgem's application process. The CEO of the Council will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO Flex.

The eligibility information will be stored securely in line with the Council's data protection policy, Information Commissioner's Office Data Sharing Code, and ESNZ guidance.

Signature:

Name: Eileen Howat

Job Title: Chief Executive

Date of signature:

For any general enquires relating to this SoI, please contact chris.carroll@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/835115/IoD2019_Statistical_Release.pdf

[2] https://www.gov.wales/welsh-index-multiple-deprivation-full-index-update-ranks-2019

[3] https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-index-of-multiple-deprivation-2020/