Ref: LCO-071

Proposed Fuel Poverty Legislative Competence Order

Gareth Jones

Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order

Outline of proposed Order

To make provision about and in connection with Local Government functions in respect of fuel poverty.

Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order

There are approximately 340,000 fuel poor households in Wales.  For many of thesehouseholds, Local Authorities will be the main service provider, accountable for representing their needs and developing the wellbeing of their areas. Local authorities provide and co-ordinate services that are inextricably linked with fuel poverty including housing, energy efficiency, social services,the environment, and health.  Almost all local authority areas have an Affordable Warmth Action Plan setting out how the local authority and its partners will tackle local fuel poverty.  However, there is no duty on local authorities to implement the actions in these plans.

The proposed Order would allow a Measure to be brought forward to introduce a duty on public bodies to produce an annual report demonstrating progress in tackling fuel poverty in their local area.