Councillors urge government to reconsider winter fuel allowance cut

Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP announced in late-July that winter fuel payments will now be restricted to those on pension credits or other means-tested benefits, rather than being made available to all pensioners.

In response to this, Somerset Council has passed a cross-party motion calling for this decision to be reversed as part of Mrs Reeves’ first budget, which will be delivered on October 30.

The council has also pledged to use a sizeable proportion of its household support fund to support the elderly and vulnerable over the winter.

Councillor David Fothergill, the leader of the opposition Conservative group, introduced the motion when the full council convened in Bridgwater on September 26.

Mr Fothergill (who represents the Monkton and North Curry division) said: “Whoever is responsible for the £20bn black hole that the government claims to exist is not really the subject of today’s debate or discussion.

“I hope there’s one thing we can all agree on – and that is that you can’t fill a black hole by throwing vulnerable pensioners into it.

“The withdrawal of winter fuel payments without a full risk assessment has sparked universal condemnation, with the very sad exception of those who are trying to defend the indefensible.

“However, it’s been reassuring to see the coming together of so many to condemn the withdrawal of the winter fuel payments.

“I have to say, I never thought that I’d see myself on the same side of an argument as Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, or most of the large unions. But it’s good to see people uniting over this issue.”

Cllr John Hunt. Councillor John Hunt (Independent, Bishop’s Hull and Taunton West), seconded the motion, stating: “This government needs to dump its cruel winter fuel policy.

“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision, and needs to be reversed.

“We need a vision where pensioners are not the first to face a new wave of cuts – those are the words of Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite at her speech at the Labour conference.

“I, like most of us here today, have many residents – both pensioners and their families – who have been in contact, wondering how they are going to cope without this vital fuel allowance.

“There are so many slightly above the qualification mark for pension credit, who will be choosing between heating and eating this winter.

“The forms for pension credit are a total nightmare and take forever to complete.”

Around 110,000 older people across Somerset were eligible for the winter fuel allowance – with many of the richer pensioners choosing to donate theirs to charity.

Council leader Bill Revans.

Under the agreed motion, council leader Bill Revans will write to Ms Reeves before the budget, urging her to postpone the winter fuel allowance cuts and undertake an impact assessment.

The council will also sign the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK, and encourage pensioners to apply for pension credit by working with local charities and community organisations.

Furthermore, the council will work with its partners across the voluntary sector to ensure that “a substantial proportion” of its household support fund (which has been extended to March 31, 2025) will be “awarded and utilised to help people in Somerset who were struggling with fuel poverty”.

Around 40 per cent of this fund (amounting to just over £1m) will go to the Somerset Community Foundation’s surviving winter fund).

Councillor Sarah Wakefield, portfolio holder for adult services, housing and homelessness, said: “We hope the government will listen to the concerns of so many, so that older people and families who were struggling with fuel bills do receive effective relief.

“Our letter will no doubt emphasise this if the winter fuel allowance is not restored in full.”

The motion passed by a margin of 87 votes to zero, with three abstentions.