Councillor M Wilkes to Move
Council notes and is deeply concerned by the Government's decision to end universal Winter Fuel Payment. Across County Durham, 89,275 pensioners will be financially worse off due to this change.
Council is concerned that around 37% of those eligible do not take up Pension Credit, which will now be required for entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment. This could potentially push thousands of County Durham pensioners into fuel poverty. Furthermore, many pensioners not entitled to pension credit but on low and middle incomes will also be affected.
Council resolves to:
· Request that the relevant portfolio holders write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and County Durham’s MPs, calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payment to Pension Credit receipt, removing 89,275 County Durham pensioners from eligibility to be immediately scrapped.
· Request all Group Leaders within Durham County Council sign this letter to indicate their support.
· Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credit.
Councillor R Crute to Move
This council has concerns about the impact on some County Durham pensioners of the government’s decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment to those pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit.
Consequently, this council calls on the government to reverse its decision to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment from non-Pension Credit pensioners pending the outcome of an options appraisal and a comprehensive equalities and impact assessment.
Minutes:
The Chair informed Council that there was one Motion for consideration, as Councillor Crute had withdrawn his Motion.
Moved by Councillor M Wilkes and Seconded by Councillor C Hood
Council notes and is deeply concerned by the Government's decision to end universal Winter Fuel Payment. Across County Durham, 89,275 pensioners will be financially worse off due to this change.
Council is concerned that around 37% of those eligible do not take up Pension Credit, which will now be required for entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment. This could potentially push thousands of County Durham pensioners into fuel poverty. Furthermore, many pensioners not entitled to pension credit but on low and middle incomes will also be affected.
Council resolves to:
· Request that the relevant portfolio holders write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and County Durham’s MPs, calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payment to Pension Credit receipt, removing 89,275 County Durham pensioners from eligibility to be immediately scrapped.
· Request all Group Leaders within Durham County Council sign this letter to indicate their support.
· Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credit.
An Amendment was Moved by Councillor F Tinsley, Seconded by Councillor R Crute, as follows:
Council
notes and is deeply concerned by the Government's decision
to end universal Winter Fuel Payment. impact of ending
universal Winter Fuel Payment. Across County Durham, 89,275
pensioners will be financially worse off due to this
change.
Council
is concerned that around 37% of those eligible do not take up
Pension Credit, which will now be required for entitlement to
Winter Fuel Payment. This could potentially push thousands of
County Durham pensioners into fuel poverty. Furthermore, many
pensioners not entitled to pension credit but on low and middle
incomes will also be affected.
Council resolves to:
·
Request that the relevant portfolio holders write to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer and County Durham’s MPs, calling for the
policy on linking Winter Fuel Payment to Pension Credit receipt,
removing 89,275 County Durham pensioners from eligibility to be
immediately scrapped.
·
Request all Group Leaders within Durham County Council sign this
letter to indicate their support.
·
Urgently commence a significant awareness campaign to maximise
uptake of Pension Credit.
- Request Cabinet to immediately set up and fund a unit specifically to organise and run a Pension Credit awareness campaign in conjunction with relevant voluntary organisations in County Durham.
Councillors J Quinn, R Ormerod, A Shield spoke against the amendment.
Councillors L Hovvels, E Adam, O Gunn spoke for the amendment.
Councillor M Wilkes requested for a named vote which was supported.
For the Amendment
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Anderson, V Andrews, J Atkinson, A Batey C Bihari, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, D Hall, C Hampson, A Hanson, L Hovvels, M Johnson, R Manchester, D McKenna, J Miller, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, S Quinn, T Smith, P Taylor, F Tinsley, S Townsend, C Varty, E Waldock, J Watson, M Wilson, S Wilson.
Against the Amendment
Councillors A Bell, R Bell, J Blakey, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Charlton, I Cochrane, J Cosslett, B Coult, M Currah, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow , D Freeman, K Hawley, P Heaviside, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, D Howarth, J Howey, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, N Jones, C Lines, E Mavin, L Mavin, B McAloon, M McGaun, P Molloy, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, A Shield, J Shuttleworth, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton, A Watson and M Wilkes.
Abstentions to the Amendment
Councillors D Boyes, B Kellett, L Maddison and I McLean.
The Amendment was lost.
The Council then voted for the Original Substantive Motion as follows:
For the Original Substantive Motion
Councillors A Bell, R Bell, J Blakey, D Brown, L Brown, J Cairns, J Charlton, I Cochrane, J Cosslett, B Coult, M Currah, T Duffy, J Elmer, K Fantarrow , D Freeman, A Hanson, K Hawley, P Heaviside, L Holmes, C Hood, A Hopgood, D Howarth, J Howey, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, N Jones, C Lines, L Maddison, E Mavin, L Mavin, B McAloon, M McGaun, P Molloy, J Nicholson, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, J Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, A Shield, J Shuttleworth, A Simpson, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, D Sutton-Lloyd, M Walton, A Watson and M Wilkes.
Against the Original Substantive Motion
Councillors V Anderson, D Boyes, C Hampson, B Kellett, D McKenna, I McLean, T Smith and C Varty.
Abstentions
Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, A Batey, C Bihari, R Crute, S Deinali, K Earley, C Fletcher, J Griffiths, O Gunn, D Hall, L Hovvels, M Johnson, R Manchester, J Miller, D Nicholls, P Pringle, J Purvis, S Quinn, P Taylor, F Tinsley, S Townsend, E Waldock, J Watson, M Wilson and S Wilson.
The Substantive Motion was Carried.