This superseded Statement of Intent was published on 14 September 2022.
This statement sets out Barrow Borough Council's flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 to 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 (Sol), on the 14 September 2022 to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below.
Route one
SAP bands D to G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E to G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.
Route two
SAP bands E to G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies. Proxies 1 and 5 cannot be used together.
Proxy 1
Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1 to 3 (LSOA), or homes in Welsh provision LSOA 1 to 3 on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, or the Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2020, published by the Scottish Government.
Proxy 2
Householders receiving a Council Tax reduction (based on low income only, excluding single person rebates).
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.
Route three
SAP bands D to G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as low-income and 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.
This is because the Council has identified a positive correlation between households who suffer from long-term health conditions and living off a low-income, with living in poorly insulated homes.
Route four
SAP band D to G households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers and LAs can submit an application to BEIS 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 Barrow Borough Council or 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.
Chris Jones
Job Title: Head of Programme Management and Climate Change
Telephone: 01229 876 543
Email: cwjones@barrowbc.gov.uk
CEO or dedicated responsible person mandatory signature
The Barrow Borough Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS' ECO4 Order and will identify eligible households via Of gem's application process. The CEO of the Council will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO4 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 BEIS guidance.
Sam Plum
Job title: CEO/ dedicated responsible person
Date of signature: 14 September 2022
General enquiries
Please contact us with enquiries relating to this Statement of Intent.