North of Tyne Combined Authority - ECO4 Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent
Local Authority names:
Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council
Publication Date: 01/07/2022
Version number: NTCA V1 (replaces Newcastle V5, Northumberland V2)
Publication on web site:
www.newcastle.gov.uk/energyadvice
https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/page/9617/sustainability
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Business/Grants/Grants-Funding.aspx#grantsfunding
This statement sets out the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) 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 NTCA LAs welcome the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the LAs achieve plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.
The LAs are publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI), on the 01/07/2022 to 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-G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.
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Route 2: SAP bands E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:
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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 rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes 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. |
* Note proxies 1 and 5 cannot be used together.
Route 3: SAP bands D-G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as lowincome 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 councils have 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 4: SAP band D-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.
[1] The English Indices of Deprivation 2019 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
[1] Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (full Index update with ranks): 2019 | GOV.WALES
[1] Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Declaration and evidence check confirmation
All potentially eligible households should apply through the relevant LA or an approved ECO installer 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:
Local Authority: Newcastle City Council
Name: Kate Coulthard
Job Title: Energy Officer
Contact: phone: 0191 2783442, email: kate.coulthard@newcastle.gov.uk
Local Authority: North Tyneside Council
Name: Ian Rice
Job Title: Welfare and Tenancy Support Manager
Contact: phone: 0191 643 7729, email: Ian.Rice@northtyneside.gov.uk
Local Authority: Northumberland County Council
Name: Kate Ershadi
Job Title: Energy Systems Officer
Contact: phone: 01670 622275, email: kate.ershadi@northumberland.gov.uk
Dedicated responsible person mandatory signature
The NTCA councils will administer the scheme according to BEIS’ ECO4 Order and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process. The dedicated responsible person 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.
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Local Authority: Newcastle City Council Name: David Hall Job Title: Assistant Director, Operations and Regulatory Services Signature: Image
Date of signature: 29/06/22 |
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Local Authority: North Tyneside Council Name: Peter Mennell Job Title: Director of Housing and Property Services Signature: Image
Date of signature: 13/07/22 |
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Local Authority: Northumberland County Council Name: Matthew Baker Job Title: Service Director for Climate Change, Business Intelligence and Corporate Performance: Image
Date of signature: 13/07/22 |
For any general enquires relating to this SoI, please contact: energy@newcastle.gov.uk
[1] The English Indices of Deprivation 2019 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
[2] Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (full Index update with ranks): 2019 | GOV.WALES
[3] Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)