Agenda item

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Matthew Saggers):

 

“This council notes: 

 

      i)        The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. 

 

     ii)        The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. It is estimated that up to 11 thousand pensioners in Harlow will be affected by these changes.

 

   iii)        The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents of Harlow and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health. 

 

   iv)        The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this sudden policy change. 

 

    v)        The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners in Harlow, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.

 

This council believes: 

 

      i)        That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship. 

 

     ii)        While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across Harlow sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance. 

 

   iii)        The 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 poorest older residents. 

 

   iv)        The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need. 

 

This council resolves to:  

 

      i)        Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need. 

 

     ii)        Request that the Council Leader and the MP for Harlow write 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. 

 

   iii)        Commit the Council to signing the ‘whatlaboursaid.com/winter-fuel-payment’ petition and 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. 

 

   iv)        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 Harlow are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Matthew Saggers):

 

“This council notes:

 

i)                 The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the

Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of

means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by

Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

 

ii)                The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says

will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to

stay warm this winter will not receive it. It is estimated that

up to 11 thousand pensioners in Harlow will be affected by

these changes.

 

iii)              The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in

helping older residents of Harlow and across the UK afford

heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat

or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

 

iv)              The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and

other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential

health risks posed by this sudden policy change.

 

v)               The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable

pensioners in Harlow, many of whom do not claim Pension

Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their

financial hardship.

 

This council believes:

 

i)                 That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many

older people across the UK and that restricting its availability

solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many

pensioners in financial hardship.

 

ii)                While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter

Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across

Harlow sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will

now lose their allowance.

 

iii)              The 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

poorest older residents.

 

iv)              The government’s approach fails to consider the

administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many

without the support they desperately need.

 

This council resolves to:

 

i)                 Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to

alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects

will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most

in need.

 

ii)                Request that the Council Leader and the MP for Harlow

write 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.

 

iii)              Commit the Council to signing the

‘whatlaboursaid.com/winter-fuel-payment’ petition and 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.

 

iv)              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 Harlow are supported in claiming their

entitlement.”

 

Under Standing Order 15.7, the following amended motion was tabled and became the substantive motion:

 

“This council notes:

 

i)                 The Labour Government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

 

ii)                The estimated impact of this decision, which Age UK says will mean 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. It is estimated that up to 11 thousand pensioners in Harlow will be affected by these changes.

 

iii)              The significant role that Winter Fuel Payments play in helping older residents of Harlow and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health.

 

iv)              The criticism from Age UK, the Countryside Alliance and other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this sudden policy change.

 

v)               The additional strain this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners in Harlow, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship.

 

This council believes:

 

i)                 That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.

 

ii)                While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across Harlow sit just above the cut-off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.

 

iii)              The 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 poorest older residents.

 

iv)              The government’s approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need.

 

This council resolves to: 

 

i)                 Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need.

 

ii)                Request that the Council Leader and the MP for Harlow write 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.

 

iii)              Write to all members giving details of relevant petitions.

 

iv)              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 Harlow are supported in claiming their entitlement.”

 

Councillor Dan Swords requested (seconded by five supporting

Councillors) a recorded vote on the motion. The recorded vote is appended to the minutes.

 

Upon being put to the vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED that the motion was agreed.