2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:45 pm on 25 October 2022.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:45, 25 October 2022

I ask for only one statement and it's by way of update. There was a real sense of optimism a year ago, when the Welsh Government stepped into the breach in terms of the Caerau Arbed community energy saving programme issues, with over 100 householders—not all through the Welsh scheme, in fact, the majority through the English CESP programme—deeply affected, with their homes and their standard of life as well, I have to say. It's a real issue. But the Welsh Government stepped up and it said it would work with Bridgend County Borough Council to bring forward a business case that would then be signed off and we could get on with remedying the homes of all those people. But time has gone by; I think it's eight months since the business case was being presented. I know there's been to-ing and fro-ing between the council and Welsh Government finessing it, because I've written before. Other Members in the Senedd have raised this issue as well. But we need a statement, so that we can give the reassurance to people that this is progressing, despite delays, despite refining, despite having to get all the bureaucracy signed off, because it's a heck of a lot of money we're talking about, but we want to see it progress. So, is there any chance that we could have a statement of update so that all those householders—over 100 in Caerau—will know that this work is finally going to be done, and sooner rather than later?