(a) That this Council notes the recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits.
(b) That, though many agree that universal Winter Fuel Payments are not necessary, this Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments, and that across England and Wales the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million).
(c) That, in Leicestershire the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 129,537, which means that 92.5% of pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.
(d) That this Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.
(e) That this Council is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit with only 63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them – and over 880,000 pensioners not doing so. This Council recognises the role it has to play to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credit to ensure people are aware of the support they are entitled to.
(f) That this Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October, which combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.
(g) That this Council supports the criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this abrupt policy change and believes that decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our most vulnerable older residents.
(h) That,
given the expected impact the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment will have
on vulnerable older people, and the analysis carried out by charities that 71%
of disabled people will lose their entitlement, despite their greater
dependence on heating their homes, this Council is deeply concerned that the
Government did not carry out an impact assessment before putting the matter to
a vote.
(i)
That this Council is also concerned that the
government is suggesting the use of the Household Support Grant to fill the
gap, diverting much-needed funding away from children receiving Free School
Meals.
(j)
That this Council therefore resolves to:
(i)
Request that the Chief Executive of
Leicestershire County Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging
a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and asking the
government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not
claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.
(ii) Commit
this Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling
Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them
the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.
(iii) Encourage
local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and
partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that
all eligible pensioners in Leicestershire are supported in claiming their
entitlement.
Minutes:
It was moved by Mr Mullaney and seconded by Mrs Taylor:
“(a) That
this Council notes the recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal
winter fuel payments and restrict eligibility to only those in receipt of
Pension Credits and other benefits.
(b)
That,
though many agree that universal Winter Fuel Payments are not necessary, this
Council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower and middle incomes
will now not receive the payments, and that across England and Wales the number
of people eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by 10 million (from 11.4
million to only 1.5 million).
(c)
That, in
Leicestershire the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility
criteria is 129,537, which means that 92.5% of pensioners currently eligible
for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this
winter onwards.
(d)
That
this Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which
pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those
receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples)
are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living
wage rate.
(e)
That
this Council is also concerned by the low take up of pension credit with only
63% of those eligible nationwide receiving them – and over 880,000 pensioners
not doing so. This Council recognises the role it has to
play to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credit to ensure people
are aware of the support they are entitled to.
(f)
That
this Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in
October, which combined by the removal of Winter Fuel Payments will push
thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.
(g)
That
this Council supports the criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and
other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks
posed by this abrupt policy change and believes that decision to means-test
Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate
compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the
health and well-being of our most vulnerable older residents.
(h)
That,
given the expected impact the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment will have
on vulnerable older people, and the analysis carried out by charities that 71%
of disabled people will lose their entitlement, despite their greater
dependence on heating their homes, this Council is deeply concerned that the
Government did not carry out an impact assessment before putting the matter to
a vote.
(i)
That
this Council is also concerned that the government is suggesting the use of the
Household Support Grant to fill the gap, diverting much-needed funding away
from children receiving Free School Meals.
(j)
That
this Council therefore resolves to:
(i)
Request
that the Chief Executive of Leicestershire County Council writes to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the
Winter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable
pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected
from fuel poverty.
(ii)
Commit this
Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’
petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the
opportunity to sign the petition themselves.
(iii)
Encourage
local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and
partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that
all eligible pensioners in Leicestershire are supported in claiming their
entitlement.”
On the
motion being put and before the vote was taken, five members rose asking
that a named vote be recorded.
The vote was
recorded as follows:
For the motion
Mr Allen, Mr Ashman,
Mr Barkley, Mr Boulter, Mr Bray, Mr Breckon, Mrs Broadley, Mr Champion, Mr
Chapman, Mr Charlesworth, Mr Coxon, Dr Feltham, Mr Frisby, Mr Galton, Mr Ghattoraya, Mr Gillard, Mr Grimley, Mr Hadji-Nikolaou, Mr
Harrison, Mr Harrison-Rushton, Mrs Jordan, Mr King, Mr Lovegrove, Mr Merrie, Mr
Morgan, Mr Mullaney, Mrs Page, Mr Pain, Mr Parton, Mr Pendleton, Mr Phillimore,
Mr Poland, Mrs Posnett, Mrs Radford, Mr Richardson, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Seaton,
Mr Shepherd, Mr Smith, Mrs Taylor, Mrs Wright.
Abstentions
Mr Hunt, Mr Miah,
Mrs Newton,
The motion was
carried with 41 members voting for the motion and 3 members abstaining.