Agenda item

Councillor Holt presented his motion on notice. Councillor Parsad-Wyatt seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak.

 

Councillor Daar proposed the following amendments to the motion.

 

·       To add as a fourth paragraph: “Whilst we recognise the new Labour led government’s need to deal with the debts inherited from the previous Conservative led administration, we feel the burden of paying for cuts should fall on the broadest shoulders not those of the most vulnerable.  We urge the government to make up the shortfall in funding through a windfall tax on energy companies in the immediate term whilst other longer-term options are explored.  Locally we have already seen the effects of austerity on the vulnerable and cannot support any extension of this approach.  In addition, we oppose further rises in the energy price cap which affect the most vulnerable adversely.”

·       To add under point 2 under ‘This Council Observes’: “We also recognise that pensioners struggling with their heating bills will also be unable to afford upgrades to home insulation.”

·       Add a new point 2 under ‘This Council Resolves to’: “Call for the minister responsible for the environment:to support pensioners, by increasing funding for free home insulation schemes in order to make the winter fuel payments go further.”

·       Add the words “not receiving Pension Credit’ after pensioners in point 3.

·       To add under point 3 under ‘This Council Resolves to’: We need to see a review of all possible ways of organising a better and fairer way of assessing the needs of pensioners for receipt of the Winter Fuel Payments. This would ensure that it is targeted so that all pensioners who need the payment would receive it, not just those on the lowest incomes.

·       To add the words ‘environmental sustainability’ in the final paragraph.

 

Councillor Daar spoke to the amendment and said that she supported the motion fully but felt the fourth paragraph was an important addition for honesty and transparency. She felt that residents needed to have the context that has led to the decision and poor choices from the previous and current government has impacted residents locally.

 

Councillor Horner seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak. 

 

Councillor E Buckmaster said he supported the original motion. He said as a former Executive member, the council had provided £30 million to get funding out to community groups and small business. He said he was shocked by the move by the Labour government to remove the winter fuel allowance and said they had blamed it on difficult decisions. He said that there were no difficult decisions but there were options and felt the government had made the easy choice to take away from the most vulnerable who did not have the option to fight back. He said that he liked some of the amendments proposed but not all so he would be supporting the original motion.

 

Councillor Butcher said he supported the amendments proposed as it made important points.

 

Councillor Jacobs said that the Green/Liberal Democrat administration should recognise the challenges of inheriting a challenging position like the government had. He said that he knew the administration had not taken pleasure in cutting budgets and calling an extraordinary meeting to provide the theatre project with more money and reminded them that the Labour group voted with the administration on that issue. He said everyone recognised that the winter fuel allowance had played an important role in helping pensioners, but changes were being made to ensure that assistance was targeted to those that needed it the most.

 

Councillor Swainston sympathised with Councillor Jacobs’ comments, but the amendment recognised that there needed to be a review of the winter fuel payments. She said she supported the amended motion.

 

Councillor Hart thanked Councillor Holt for bringing the original amendment. She pointed out the general narrow view of a pensioner’s income who have the burden of aging, ill health, and potential care costs. She felt the government had targeted a vulnerable population for an easy win.

 

Councillor Williams also thanked Councillor Holt for the original motion. He said he supported the amendment and said this was not a group that should be targeted.

 

Councillor Goldspink said she supported the amended motion. She said she understood that the government wanted to give the payment to those that really needed it but felt the financial limit for receipt of payment was set too low resulting in hardship for many vulnerable pensioners. She felt a fairer way to assess need must be found.

 

Councillor Devonshire said the application for pension credit was online and there was about 200 questions to answers which was too cumbersome for pensioners.

 

Councillor Parsad-Wyatt welcomed support for the motion across the Chamber. He said he would have been happy to accept the majority of the amendments proposed but was not happy with the fourth paragraph. He said the original motion had been drafted to avoid reference to political parties and had tried to be constructive around what the council could do to support residents.

 

Councillor Glover-Ward said she thanked the Labour group for their support on previous issues faced by the administration. She said the amendment to point 2 was important to call on the Minister responsible to increase the funding for environmental heating schemes.

 

Councillor Wilson said that the Conservative group were talking about protecting vulnerable people without acknowledging the previous government’s failure to protect other vulnerable groups. He said he agreed with the amended motion.

 

Councillor Horner responded to the points raised and said that the withdrawal of payment from the poorest pensioners was a misstep from the government. He said it was a misguided decision that restricted those on the lowest incomes. He felt this would not realise the savings the government needed and urged all councillors to vote for the amended motion.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, the substantive motion was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED - This Council expresses deep concern regarding the Government's decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) as outlined in the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024, which were presented to Parliament on 22nd August 2024 and came into effect on 16th September 2024.

Under the new regulations, beginning in the winter of 2024/2025, households in England and Wales will only qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if they are recipients of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits specified by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This change raises significant concerns, as the Government has not conducted a full impact assessment or initiated public consultation.

Age UK has estimated that 2 million pensioners who rely on this crucial support to stay warm during the winter months may be ineligible under the new criteria. Locally, in East Hertfordshire, 27,486 pensioners could lose access to this vital financial assistance, creating severe financial strain for many elderly residents and exacerbating existing health and wellbeing challenges, particularly for those just above the Pension Credit threshold.

Whilst we recognise the new Labour led government’s need to deal with the debts inherited from the previous Conservative led administration, we feel the burden of paying for cuts should fall on the broadest shoulders not those of the most vulnerable. We urge the government to make up the shortfall in funding through a windfall tax on energy companies in the immediate term whilst other longer-term options are explored. Locally we have already seen the effects of austerity on the vulnerable and cannot support any extension of this approach. 

In addition, we oppose further rises in the energy price cap which affect the most vulnerable adversely.

This Council Observes:

1. Impact on Vulnerable Pensioners: The removal of the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners not receiving Pension Credit or other designated benefits is likely to disproportionately impact vulnerable elderly residents, particularly those living in rural areas where access to services and support is already limited.

2. Rural Housing Challenges: Pensioners in rural areas often reside in older, less energy-efficient homes, with over 70% of rural properties in the UK built before 1980. These homes typically suffer from inadequate insulation and outdated heating systems, making them more costly and difficult to heat. We also recognise that pensioners struggling with their heating bills will also be unable to afford upgrades to home insulation. 

3. Health Impacts of Cold Weather: Excess winter deaths (EWDs) remain a significant public health issue, with over 30,000 EWDs occurring in the UK each year, a majority of which affect older populations. Public Health England has reported a 1.5% increase in EWDs for each degree Celsius drop below 18°C, highlighting the vital need for sufficient home heating.

4. The Right to Warmth: Every pensioner should have the right to live in a warm and secure home. The decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment risks increasing cold-related illnesses and excess winter deaths among elderly residents who may not qualify for additional support despite being just above the Pension Credit threshold.

This Council Resolves to:

1. Oppose the Removal of Winter Fuel Payments: Strongly oppose the Government’s decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits and recognise the disproportionate negative impact this policy will have on some of our most vulnerable elderly residents, particularly in rural areas.

 

2. Call for the minister responsible for the environment: to support pensioners, by increasing funding for free home insulation schemes in order to make the winter fuel payments go further.

 

3. Call for a Government Review: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a full review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment. The Council will advocate for ensuring that all pensioners, not receiving Pension Credit but still vulnerable to fuel poverty, continue to receive essential winter fuel support. We need to see a review of all possible ways of organising a better and fairer way of assessing the needs of pensioners for receipt of the Winter Fuel Payments. This would ensure that it is targeted so that all pensioners who need the payment would receive it, not just those on the lowest incomes.

4. Engage Local MPs: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the four Members of Parliament representing East Hertfordshire, urging them to lobby the Government for a reversal of this decision and to ensure protections are in place for vulnerable pensioners who are at risk of fuel poverty. This action is crucial given that 27,486 local pensioners may be affected by this change.

5. Promote Benefit Awareness: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to seek additional funding for a local outreach and awareness campaign. This campaign will aim to inform pensioners about their eligibility for Pension Credit and other related benefits, particularly targeting those who are eligible but not currently claiming. This effort is intended to ensure that no pensioner misses out on support due to lack of awareness.

In summary, this Council believes the proposed changes to the Winter Fuel Payment system will cause undue hardship to many elderly residents in East Hertfordshire and calls on the Government to reconsider this decision in the interest of public health, financial stability, environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of our pensioners.

The Council then debated the substantive motion.

 

Councillor Redfern asked about the figure of 27,486 pensioners and she said she was not clear on whether that was the number of pensioners in East Herts or if it was the number of pensioners at the bottom of the income scale for pension credit.

 

Councillor Holt confirmed that it was the number of pensioners in East Herts previously eligible for the winter fuel allowance.

 

Councillor Hopewell said that Josh Dean MP had been ding a lot of work locally to help support pensioners and had worked with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

Councillor Hart reiterated that most pensioners fall in the lower income bracket and were not wealthy.

 

Councillor Butcher said that 3,850 pensioners could die in the winter directly because of this cut.

 

Councillor Deering said that he was pleased the Green/Liberal Democrat group agreed broadly with the motion. He made reference to the comment about the local MP and said that it was pertinent to remember that MPs were paid £91,000 a year and nearly all Labour MPs voted in favour of taking the allowance away. He said the Conservative group only disagreed with the additional paragraph because it insinuated that they were not supportive of pensioners. He said the group would be voting in favour of the substantive motion.

 

Councillor McAndrew said that the government were failing to process 1 in 5 claims within 50 working days. He said that some pensioners would face uncertainty for ten weeks to see if they would qualify for the vital payment.

 

Councillor Estop said that the motion had become political and failed to add any context. She said there was a bigger picture of the most vulnerable in society such as child poverty and housing poverty.

 

Councillor Parsad-Wyatt said that despite his reservations on some of the amendment, he supported the majority if it. He said that the Labour group had chosen to talk about the previous government’s choices, not their own government’s choices now. He said if the motion was supported, it would send a clear signal that the Council supported its pensioners.

 

Having been proposed and seconded, the substantive motion was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED - This Council expresses deep concern regarding the Government's decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) as outlined in the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024, which were presented to Parliament on 22nd August 2024 and came into effect on 16th September 2024.

Under the new regulations, beginning in the winter of 2024/2025, households in England and Wales will only qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if they are recipients of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits specified by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This change raises significant concerns, as the Government has not conducted a full impact assessment or initiated public consultation.

Age UK has estimated that 2 million pensioners who rely on this crucial support to stay warm during the winter months may be ineligible under the new criteria. Locally, in East Hertfordshire, 27,486 pensioners could lose access to this vital financial assistance, creating severe financial strain for many elderly residents and exacerbating existing health and wellbeing challenges, particularly for those just above the Pension Credit threshold.

Whilst we recognise the new Labour led government’s need to deal with the debts inherited from the previous Conservative led administration we feel the burden of paying for cuts should fall on the broadest shoulders not those of the most vulnerable.  We urge the government to make up the shortfall in funding through a windfall tax on energy companies in the immediate term whilst other longer-term options are explored.  Locally we have already seen the effects of austerity on the vulnerable and cannot support any extension of this approach. 

In addition, we oppose further rises in the energy price cap which affect the most vulnerable adversely.

This Council Observes:

1. Impact on Vulnerable Pensioners: The removal of the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners not receiving Pension Credit or other designated benefits is likely to disproportionately impact vulnerable elderly residents, particularly those living in rural areas where access to services and support is already limited.

2. Rural Housing Challenges: Pensioners in rural areas often reside in older, less energy-efficient homes, with over 70% of rural properties in the UK built before 1980. These homes typically suffer from inadequate insulation and outdated heating systems, making them more costly and difficult to heat. We also recognise that pensioners struggling with their heating bills will also be unable to afford upgrades to home insulation. 

3. Health Impacts of Cold Weather: Excess winter deaths (EWDs) remain a significant public health issue, with over 30,000 EWDs occurring in the UK each year, a majority of which affect older populations. Public Health England has reported a 1.5% increase in EWDs for each degree Celsius drop below 18°C, highlighting the vital need for sufficient home heating.

4. The Right to Warmth: Every pensioner should have the right to live in a warm and secure home. The decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment risks increasing cold-related illnesses and excess winter deaths among elderly residents who may not qualify for additional support despite being just above the Pension Credit threshold.

This Council Resolves to:

1. Oppose the Removal of Winter Fuel Payments: Strongly oppose the Government’s decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or certain means-tested benefits, and recognise the disproportionate negative impact this policy will have on some of our most vulnerable elderly residents, particularly in rural areas.

 

2. Call for the minister responsible for the environment: to support pensioners, by increasing funding for free home insulation schemes in order to make the winter fuel payments go further.

 

3. Call for a Government Review: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a full review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment. The Council will advocate for ensuring that all pensioners, not receiving Pension Credit but still vulnerable to fuel poverty, continue to receive essential winter fuel support. We need to see a review of all possible ways of organising a better and fairer way of assessing the needs of pensioners for receipt of the Winter Fuel Payments. This would ensure that it is targeted so that all pensioners who need the payment would receive it, not just those on the lowest incomes.

4. Engage Local MPs: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the four Members of Parliament representing East Hertfordshire, urging them to lobby the Government for a reversal of this decision and to ensure protections are in place for vulnerable pensioners who are at risk of fuel poverty. This action is crucial given that 27,486 local pensioners may be affected by this change.

5. Promote Benefit Awareness: Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to seek additional funding for a local outreach and awareness campaign. This campaign will aim to inform pensioners about their eligibility for Pension Credit and other related benefits, particularly targeting those who are eligible but not currently claiming. This effort is intended to ensure that no pensioner misses out on support due to lack of awareness.

In summary, this Council believes the proposed changes to the Winter Fuel Payment system will cause undue hardship to many elderly residents in East Hertfordshire and calls on the Government to reconsider this decision in the interest of public health, financial stability, environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of our pensioners.