Winter fuel payments: Councillors make 'firm commitment' to pensioners

Westmorland and Furness councillors approved the motion following amendments from the Liberal Democrats and then the Labour Party to the initial proposal tabled by the Conservatives.

People in England and Wales not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive £300 winter fuel payments after an opposition motion to block cuts to the allowance failed in parliament.

The approved motion requests that council leader Jonathan Brook writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging a review of the decision to means-test winter fuel payments.

After a Labour amendment, it also states: “The council will make a firm commitment to all older adults, including disabled older adults, that each councillor, Locality Board and team will act as older people’s champions, working with our partner organisations beyond just promotion of pension credit.

“We will prioritise and share all of the information, benefits, funding and community opportunities through signposting, social media, community noticeboards, community groups, charities, carers, partner organisations, local press, face to face, and targeted letters so they are all in receipt of what they are entitled to and have access to what they need.”

Conservative group leader councillor Hilary Carrick, who tabled the initial motion, told the council fuel poverty in Westmorland and Furness exceeds the national average and added the change would have a ‘major detrimental’ impact on people in the council area.

Cllr Carrick (Hesket and Lazonby) said: “Brandishing the newly acquired political muscle in the face of an innocent and defenceless opponent such as our pensioners is nothing but an example of the thuggery that the government themselves regularly call out.

“While some pensioners who have been in receipt of the winter fuel payments may not have required it, for the vast majority it has proved to be a lifeline.”

Deputy leader of the council councillor Andrew Jarvis (Windermere and Ambleside, Lib Dems) told the council while he is aware there are pensioners who probably do not need this support, he said the government’s decision ‘will hit those truly vulnerable’.

“You should not be removing the support for those amongst the poorest in our community”, he added.

Councillor Jarvis said the motion is ‘right’ but added: “The motion’s been proposed by the Conservatives, this is a party that has all too often had little regard for poverty in our country.”

The Liberal Democrats then proposed an amendment to the motion which was subsequently approved by the council.

The amendment added to the motion: “While understanding the dire state the previous government left the finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

In response Cllr Carrick said there was ‘universal agreement’ on the actions proposed but added the disagreement is in the ‘politics of the narrative’ which she said was ‘completely pointless’.

Councillor Beverly Morgan (Ormsgill and Parkside, Labour) told the council the new government faces ‘significant challenges’ inherited from ‘14 years of mismanagement’ of the country’s finances by previous Conservative governments.

Cllr Morgan added: “Addressing these issues is tough, particularly while trying to restore economic stability but the proposed withdrawal of winter fuel payments for all pensioners except those receiving pension credit does raise concerns.

“Many older people, including disabled older people, who have relied on this payment for part of their winter budgeting find themselves in a precarious position with winter approaching causing mental anguish and anxiety for those struggling to claim the relevant benefits at short notice.”

The Labour group then tabled an amendment to the motion which was subsequently carried.

The motion was approved at the full council meeting on September 26 at the County Hall in Kendal.