Agenda item

This Council notes the government’s decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs). Age UK estimates that such changes could hit 2 million people across the country, some of whom badly need the money to stay warm this winter.

This Council resolves to:

1. Request that the Cabinet requests a report from officers with proposals for promoting a District awareness campaign working with our local NHS partners, Parish Councils and charitable, civic and religious groups, to encourage elderly residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they continue to receive WFPs this Winter and that those in need are sign-posted to the continuing Household Support Fund;

2. Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging an impact assessment of the government’s decision to means test WFPs and asking HM Treasury to examine transitional measures to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under current thresholds, are protected from fuel poverty.

3. Request that the Cabinet reprioritises monies within the Council’s budget for 2024/5 held within the Budget Priority Reserve and/or within other relevant contingency funds or reserves, with a view to establishing an Oxfordshire Winter Fuel Payment Protection Fund, akin to the Oxfordshire Resident Support Scheme, to ensure that pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not eligible for other government support, are helped through the Winter.

Note: The motion, if passed, would constitute the exercise of an executive function in which case it will be referred to the Cabinet together with any advice the Council may wish to give, in accordance with Rule 13.5.1 (i) of the Council Procedure Rules in the Constitution.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Reeves and seconded by Councillor Walker.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Baines and seconded by Councillor Enright.

“This Council notes the Ggovernment’s decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs). Age UK estimates that such changes could hit 2 million people across the country, some of whom badly need the money to stay warm this winter.

This Council resolves to:

1. Recognises that the new Government inherited a terrible fiscal inheritance with £22 billion of unfunded spending commitments which had not been reported to the Office for Budget Responsibility. Left unaddressed this would have posed a major risk to the nation’s economy with the budget deficit increasing by 25%.

2. Welcomes the Government’s commitment to increasing the uptake of Pension Credit, aligning Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, extending the Household Support Fund and protecting the triple lock.

1. 3. Requests that the Cabinet requests a report from officers with proposals for promoting a countywide District awareness campaign working with our City and District Councils, local NHS partners, Parish Councils and charitable, civic and religious groups, to encourage elderly residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they continue to receive WFPs this Winter and that those in need are sign-posted to the continuing Household Support Fund;

2. Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging an impact assessment of the government’s decision to means test WFPs and asking HM Treasury to examine transitional measures to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under current thresholds, are protected from fuel poverty.

3. Request that the Cabinet reprioritises monies within the Council’s budget for 2024/5 held within the Budget Priority Reserve and/or within other relevant contingency funds or reserves, with a view to establishing an Oxfordshire Winter Fuel Payment Protection Fund, akin to the Oxfordshire Resident Support Scheme, to ensure that pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not eligible for other government support, are helped through the Winter.”

Following debate, the amendment by Councillor Baines was lost with 13 votes in favour, 37 against and 1 abstention.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Levy and seconded by Councillor Ley.  This amendment was accepted by the proposer and seconder and by Council.

Following debate, the motion as amended was carried with 35 votes in favour, 13 against and no abstentions.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes the government’s decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs). Age UK estimates that such changes could affect hit  2 million people across the country, some of whom may badly need the money to stay warm this winter.

This Council resolves to:

1. Request that the Cabinet requests a report from officers with proposals for promoting a District awareness campaign working with our local works with NHS, District Councils, partners, Parish Councils and charitable, civic and religious groups, to promote the full range of available support for low-income pensioners, including the Resident Support Scheme (RSS) and Better Housing Better Health. encourage elderly residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they continue to receive WFPs this Winter and that those in need are sign-posted to the continuing Recent Household Support Fund allocations have enabled these programs to expand and directly assist pensioners impacted by WFP changes, with libraries participating in the Warm Spaces initiative positioned for outreach to high-footfall pensioner areas.

2. Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging calling for an impact assessment and transitional measures for pensioners affected by of the government’s decision to means testing WFPs and asking HM Treasury to examine transitional measures to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under current thresholds, are protected from fuel poverty.  This outreach should address barriers to Pension Credit access and advocate for simplified application processes to ensure equitable access.

3. Request that the Cabinet to include addressing fuel poverty among low-income pensioners in the priorities of the council when allocating resources,  for example using the  Household Support Fund. Priority should be given to strengthening existing high-demand support programs and partnerships to maximize local resources. reprioritises monies within the Council’s budget for 2024/5 held within the Budget Priority Reserve and/or within other relevant contingency funds or reserves, with a view to establishing an Oxfordshire Winter Fuel Payment Protection Fund, akin to the Oxfordshire Resident Support Scheme, to ensure that pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not eligible for other government support, are helped through the Winter.