Victims of a home insulation scandal involving shoddy workmanship that wrecked homes in one of Wales’ poorest communities are still waiting for repair work to be done more than a year after the Welsh Government decided to set aside £2.65m to pay for it.
When she announced the cash award, Climate Change Minister Julie James said it was intended to put right errors made more than a decade ago when homes at Caerau near Maesteg were insulated. Homeowners had been left facing repair bills of more than £20,000 for botched work done under a scheme led by a former Labour councillor in Bridgend, Phil White, who died in 2021.
Mr White had been a member of the council’s cabinet and was the subject of an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. The authority had paid more than £300,000 to his company Green Renewable Wales Ltd (GRW) to insulate the homes under a grant scheme administered by the council known as Arbed.
Read more: Public money may have been paid to company that didn't exist in Caerau insulation scandal
The Arbed programme was meant to address fuel poverty and contribute to carbon reduction in some of Wales’ poorest areas. But after the scheme was completed, numerous complaints were raised about the internal and external wall insulation work that was undertaken. An independent consultant’s report was scathing about the quality of the work.
Homeowners whose homes were damaged are, however, still waiting for the remediation work to be done. They have received a letter from their MP Chris Emore and their MS Huw Irranca-Davies expressing sympathy for their continuing frustration.
The letter stated: “While it was a breakthrough to have the in-principle confirmation of the funding from the Minister some time ago, the detailed discussions between the Welsh Government and the local authority, combined with the need to have formal government sign-off on such a large and costly remediation programme has caused delays which have frustrated everyone.
“However, together we have continued to push for progress and to stress the need for clear communication with residents as soon as possible.
“While the delays are understandably frustrating for you and everybody involved, it is at least reassuring to know that progress has been made on the final details of the scheme and that plans are being put in place to engage with all residents affected.”
An internal audit report, which looked at BCBC's involvement in the saga, identified a "number of significant concerns" relating to the "the governance, decision making, procurement, monitoring and control aspects" of the Arbed Scheme. Notably, the findings of the report - released on January 26 - concluded that "no due diligence checks were evidenced for the companies used to undertake these works", and that there were a "number of examples" indicating potential breaches of the council's Members Code of Conduct.
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A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are providing £2.65m over the next three years to Bridgend County Borough Council which will be used to repair more than 100 homes in the Caerau area.
“Officers and officials continue to work together to finalise the details of the grant award which will make a positive and lasting difference.”
The spokesman added: “Welsh Government officials wrote to the lead official in Bridgend council (chief executive Mark Shephard) on December 1 informing him that if expenditure was required immediately then the Welsh Government would be content for the council to proceed at risk, subject to agreement of those activities.
“The Welsh Government have worked closely with the council throughout and appreciate the excellent working relationship. Officials issued the grant award on January 9 which includes technical conditions to ensure the completion of the work to the satisfaction of the homeowners and meeting current housing standards.
“Bridgend are formally considering the grant offer letter. Officials and council officers remain in close dialogue to finalise the details.”
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