Green-led Stroud District Council unanimously backed a motion in support of the Age UK campaign against the cuts to winter fuel payments, after the council debated the impacts on local pensioners, writes Sue Fenton.
A motion was originally proposed and seconded by Conservative and Green councillors before being amended by Labour, with support from the Greens. The final motion secured unanimous support from councillors.
The motion calls on the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to review the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, to take action to protect all vulnerable people from fuel poverty and to invest in home insulation.
Green councillor Steve Hyndside, who seconded the original motion, quoted at the meeting frontline workers who have talked about the “fear” that many pensioners have as they feel forced to choose between heating and eating this winter.
Age UK estimates that 2.5 million people will face hardship as a result of this cut, which will see only those entitled to Pension Credit receiving winter fuel payments.
The motion also welcomes the Council’s action of writing to pensioners in the district who may be eligible for Pension Credit, to encourage them to apply, and it calls on the government to invest in home insulation for a long-term reduction in heating bills and energy use, and improvements to health.
Cllr Hyndside said: “The previous Conservative government failed to invest in bringing homes up to modern standards of insulation and energy efficiency. That’s something this new Labour government needs to get a grip on, especially in places like Stroud District with so many older properties. Insulating homes is the surest way to bring down energy bills and end the awful choice that some people are facing between heating and eating. There are still too many older people living in fuel poverty and cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment will make this situation worse.”
Cllr Hyndside pointed to Unite’s recent successful motion on winter fuel payments, which made clear that taxing multi-millionaires and billionaires a little more would easily cover the cost of winter fuel payments for all pensioners and generate additional funds for much-needed investment in health and social care services.
Cllr Hyndside added: “The Green Party continues to call for those with the broadest shoulders to pay a bit more in tax. Just a 1% tax on assets over £10 million and 2% on assets above £1 billion would raise enough money to protect the winter fuel payment and invest in nursing the NHS back to health.”
