Agenda item

To consider the Motion from Cllrs Elizabeth Threlfall and Pauline Church.

The meeting reconvened at approximately 1:35pm.

On invitation of the Chairman, Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall proposed the motion as set out in the agenda, which was seconded by Cllr Pauline Church.

Cllr Threlfall introduced the motion by speaking in objection to the government’s decision to end winter fuel payments for pensioners not in receipt of pension credit. She described the decision as precipitous and stated that it would force many people to choose between eating and heating. She provided statistical information in support of the view that the decision could impact many pensioners near the poverty line and even lead to excess deaths.

It was stated a large proportion of the 160k pensions living in Wiltshire would face an income reduction for the coming winter and noted that Wiltshire has a higher proportion of pensioners than the national average, with many eligible but not currently in receipt of pension credits. A contrast was made with the decision to end the winter fuel payment for many less well-off pensioners, whilst simultaneously committing to award pay rises to workers on what could be considered comfortable salaries. Cllr Threlfall argued that it was essential that Wiltshire Council signposted pensioners to where they could get help and encouraged Council to support the motion requesting the Chancellor of the Exchequer review the decision.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council and relevant Cabinet Member, agreed with Cllr Threlfall’s statements. He argued that that the decision by the government to withdraw winter fuel allowance for pensioners, at the same time as awarding £9 billion in above inflation pay increases in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent public sector strikes, was the wrong priority. He highlighted that most pensioners had a fixed income, so a future uplift in the state pension would cover other rises in the costs of living and not the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance. He reported that the Department of Work and Pensions and Wiltshire Council were working to encourage eligible pensioners to claim pension credit.

The Chairman then moved that Council debate the motion, which was seconded by the Vice-Chairman and agreed by the Council.

Other Group Leaders then had the opportunity to comment on the motion.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, congratulated Cllr Threlfall on moving the motion, which he fully supported. He criticised the onerous process that pensioners had to go through to apply for pension credit and emphasised the importance of ensuring that Wiltshire Council communicated with people that were impacted by the changes.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, deputising for the Independent Group Leader, noted that they would give their views on an individual basis, but stated his personal concerns about the winter fuel payment decision and about the impact on the most vulnerable, though he questioned why Council had not raised similar concerns about decisions made during the previous government.

Cllr Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, explained that, whilst he disagreed with much of the preamble to the motion, he did support the motion itself. He reported that the General Secretary of the Unite Union had moved a similar motion at the Labour Party conference. He noted that some wealthier pensioners did not need the winter fuel payment and stated that his preference would have been for the government to set a higher threshold, so it was targeted to those most in need, but was happy to support the motion as set out.

The Chairman the opened the debate for general discussion.

There were a large number of comments from members across all of the political groups in support of the motion. Many members expressed their strong opposition to the government’s proposal to withdraw the winter fuel payments. Several members shared concerns from their relatives about the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance and highlighted the difficulties that they had had in helping them to apply for pension credit. 

Other comments made included raising the disproportionate impact that the measures would have on Wiltshire, the financial backdrop to the decision and need for some difficult decisions to be made by government, discussion over the level of payment reduction which would occur as a result of the decision, the role of town or parish councils in highlighting the issue, and how to raise appropriate awareness.

Some members felt that the wording of the motion could be strengthened by mandating, rather than requesting, that officers coordinate a social media and press campaign to help pensioners register for pension credits. Others raised what they considered inconsistency in the Council not raising objections to previous government policies which they considered had impacted vulnerable persons in Wiltshire.

There was wide agreement about the need to raise awareness about pension credit, so that those entitled to claim it were doing so. It was noted that Wiltshire Council would work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness. The Department for Work and Pensions would be writing to all pensioners in receipt of housing benefit on 1 November, to encourage them to apply for pension credit before 21 December. In addition to publishing information on Wiltshire Council’s website, and through social media, leaflets would be available in Wiltshire’s libraries being run as warm spaces. Members could also encourage information to be sent out via, area boards, town and parish councils, parish magazines and other channels. It was also noted that the Wiltshire’s MPs might have the opportunity to raise the issue in Parliament.

Cllr Richard Clewer, as the relevant Cabinet Member, then had the opportunity to respond to the points raised during the debate. He welcomed the broad agreement across Council and said that he would look forward to writing to the Chancellor as requested.

Cllr Threlfall, as mover of the motion, thanked councillors for their support. She noted that she was satisfied with the wording in the motion requesting officers to help pensioners register for pension credits.

It was then,

Resolved:

We therefore request that the Leader of the Council write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, urging a review of Labour's decision to end the Winter Fuel Payment. We also encourage officers to coordinate a social media and press campaign to show Wiltshire residents how to check their eligibility and register for pension credits.

In accordance with the Constitution there was a recorded vote.

Votes for the motion (74)

Votes against the motion (0)

Votes in abstention (3)

Details of the recorded vote are attached to these minutes.