Agenda item

To enable Non-Cabinet Members to raise an issue of relevance to Brent for debate on which notice has been provided in accordance with Standing Order 34 and to receive updates from Cabinet members, as required, on any issues previously raised.

Members are asked to note that the subject identified for debate at this meeting is as follows:

Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment

Please note: The motion submitted as the basis for this debate has been attached.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, the Mayor advised that the next item on the agenda was the non-cabinet member debate, with the subject chosen for consideration being Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment.

Members were advised that the motion submitted as the basis for the debate had been circulated with the agenda and that the time available for the debate was 25 minutes.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Jayanti Patel to introduce the motion which had been submitted as the basis for the Non-Cabinet Member debate.  In moving the motion, Councillor J.Patel began by outlining the impact of the proposed cut in the Winter Fuel Allowance on pensioners and vulnerable elderly residents not only nationally but also across Brent given the 30,000 pensioners in the borough.  Highlighting this cut had been introduced without any reference to it being made by the new Labour Government during their election campaign, Councillor J Patel felt this highlighted a level of hypocrisy given Labours criticism of the previous Conservative Government in relation to austerity with many thousands of vulnerable pensioners across Brent just above the cut off for Pension Credit or not claiming benefits now set to lose the allowance and having to make the choice between eating or heating.  As such the approach adopted was felt to represent a betrayal of pensioners and elderly residents given an allowance previously paid to all pensioners was now being restricted to those on income related and means tested benefits or tax credits in order to ease fiscal pressures.  In pointing out that all pensioners deserved to live in warm safe homes and the impact in removing support from a social justice perspective and in terms of potential health risks among the elderly population, Councillor J.Patel advised that in addition to opposing the Government’s approach the motion was also seeking to ensure the Council continued to offer support to those vulnerable pensioners most at risk utilising the Resident Support Fund or similar provision.  Concern was also expressed at the level of savings due to be achieved when compared to the funding being provided for foreign environmental aid or to fund public sector pay awards with the Labour Governments priorities questioned. As a result, Councillor J.Patel hoped all members would support the motion submitted as the basis for the debate and join the call for the Labour Government to  review and reverse their decision to means test Winter Fuel Payments in order to ensure that vulnerable pensioners were protected from fuel poverty with the fear this may lead to further potential action against pensioners in future budget statements.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Jayanti Patel for introducing the motion on behalf of the Conservative Group and then opened the debate for contributions from other members.

In opening the debate, Councillor Kelcher began by highlighting what he felt to be the opportunistic nature of the motion which rather than focussing on the difficulties created as a result of the previous Conservative Government’s fiscal policy failed to recognise the difficult nature of decisions required by the new Labour Government in attempting to address the challenging financial position they had inherited.  If wanting to truly act as champions for the most vulnerable in society, Councillor Kelcher queried why the Conservative Group had not previously sought to bring forward motions opposing the two-child benefit cap, bedroom tax or changes in universal credit regime, schools funding or opposing the freeze in public sector pay with the current proposal means tested to ensure the most vulnerable remained protected.  In contrast to the approach of the new Government he reminded members of the previous Conservative Governments mismanagement of the economy involving repeated fiscal interventions, austerity and tax cuts which had led to the black hole in public finances now having to be tackled.  As such he advised he would not be supporting the motion submitted.

Councillor Kennelly also felt it important to recognise how the approach adopted by the new Government in moving from universal to means-tested Winter Fuel Payment had been designed to ensure that support was maintained for the most vulnerable residents and those in greatest need rather than for all with the approach (as also identified by Councillor Kelcher during his contribution) reflecting the £22 billion black hold in public finances inherited as a result of the economic mismanagement of the previous Conservative Government.  In highlighting the need for action, Councillor Kennelly pointed that that whilst looking to address the challenging financial position inherited, the Labour Government remained committed to protecting pensioners including maintaining the triple lock and development of a long-term energy strategy with support also being provided to raise awareness and ensure all relevant benefits were being claimed by those eligible. Taken together, he felt this would ensure a more comprehensive approach was taken to protect and support the most vulnerable recognising the tough nature of decisions needing to be made.

As no there were no further contributions, the Mayor then invited Councillor Donnelly-Jackson, as Cabinet Member for Resident Support & Culture, to summarise and close the debate.

In responding to the debate and motion, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson in recognising the concerns raised felt it important to remind members of the context within which the decision had needed to be taken given the size of the gap inherited from the previous Conservative Government in relation to public finances.  In seeking to adopt a fiscally responsible approach the new Labour Government was now seeking to put the economy back on track but if was recognised this would require a number of difficult decisions, of which the change in Winter Fuel Payments was one.  In support to the comments highlighted by Councillor Kennelly during the debate, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson also felt it important to note that the decision not only reflected budget constraints but was also designed to promote fairness and a more effective targeting of resources with the shift from a universal benefit to a means-tested one ensuring that financial assistance remained focussed on the most vulnerable pensioners, rather than giving it to everyone even where not required.  The change in approach would also ensure funding could be prioritised to support public finances, allowing the government to protect the triple lock and raise the state pension with further support available through the extension of the Household Support Fund and longer-term energy strategy including the establishment of Great British Energy.

In terms of support the Council was able to provide reference was made to the impact of ongoing work involving Pension Credit take up campaigns (with 220 pensioners assisted to claim over £851,814 in unclaimed Pension Credit), the Resident Support Fund (RSF) having approved 876 applications from pensioners, with an average payment of £889 to assist with essential expenses and grants provided to 54 pensioners during the current year totalling £22,976.  Further support was being provided in the form of targeted communication and Outreach work and Community Support Initiatives involving Brent Hubs and the Council’s 50+ partners offering pensioners access to warm spaces, social activities, energy advice, and food support though programmes such as the Brent Well and Warm scheme.  Taken together it was felt this represented a comprehensive approach involving a combination of national benefits like Pension Credit with local initiatives such as the RSF and Brent Hubs to ensure pensioners in Brent received tailored financial supportin order to reduce the risk of fuel poverty and financial hardship.  Whilst therefore recognising the difficult nature of the decision made in relation to Winter Fuel Payments Councillor Donnelly-Jackson felt this needed to be seen in the context of the financial mess needing to be fixed from the previous government alongside the efforts being taken by the Council to ensure pensioners remained fully supported through the offer of targeted resources, direct outreach, and comprehensive local programmes designed to ensure that no one was left behind.  On this basis she advised the Labour Group would not be supporting the motion moved as the basis for the debate.

Having thanked members for their contributions, the Mayor then moved to the vote on the motion moved as the basis for the Non-Cabinet Member debate which was declared LOST.

It was therefore RESOLVED to reject the following motion as the outcome of the non-cabinet member debate:

“Cutting of Winter Fuel Payments

This Labour government is planning to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) which will impact 10 million pensioners including over 30,000 in Brent, despite promising to protect the benefit during the general election.  One in five winter deaths are directly attributable to cold homes, and one in ten to fuel poverty. While some pensioners currently in receipt of WFP may not require it, many thousands across Brent just sit above the cut off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.

Just weeks after the election, the Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a cut to the WFP which will reduce it by up to £300, money that would have helped pensioners with heating bills during winter.

Between 2010 and 2023, the Conservative Government lifted over 200,000 pensioners out of absolute poverty. The Conservative governments unprecedented cost of living support following Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine also prevented 400,000 pensioners from falling into absolute poverty in 2022 to 2023.

The WFP was introduced in 1997 by Gordon Brown. Ironically it is now a Labour government that is withdrawing the same WFP.  Previously paid to all pensioners it is now being restricted to those on income related benefits or tax credits to ease fiscal pressures. This is a shameful betrayal of British pensioners.

For two and a half years, Labour have accused the Conservatives of making people choose between ‘eating and heating’. As a pensioner you are now being penalised for not claiming benefits. Labours policy will mean more pensioners will unnecessarily die in Brent from the cold this winter.

This Council therefore notes:

·            The Labour government decision to restrict the WFP to only pensioners in receipt of means tested benefit, which disproportionately affects Brent’s most vulnerable residents.

·            That all pensioners deserve to live in warm safe homes, and that removing support will increase the risk of cold related illnesses and excess winter deaths among the elderly population.

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

This Council therefore resolves:

(1)           To request the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor, urging a review of the decision to means test the WFP and to ask the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit are protected from fuel poverty.

(2)           To condemn the removal of WFP from pensioners who do not claim means tested benefits recognising the disproportionate impact this will have on our most vulnerable residents.

(3)           To write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to seek funding for local advertising and outreach campaigns to raise awareness about Pension Credit and other benefits, targeting pensioners who may be eligible but are not currently claiming.

(4)       To recommend that provision is made in Brent Council's finances to support struggling residents with ‘top-ups’ to the loss of the WFA either through the Resident Support Fund or similar provision.”