Cheshire West and Chester Conservative Group members are furious at the Labour-run Council after testing scenes in the Council chamber on Thursday 17 October 2024.
The Conservative Group submitted a motion to the Full Council Meeting, highlighting the disastrous local impact on 66,000 local pensioners who are no longer eligible for crucial Winter Fuel Payments over the coming months.
The Conservative motion called for joint working with the Age Friendly Partnership to help those struggling to keep warm and healthy by ensuring sufficient Warm Hubs are available, helping to reduce loneliness, isolation, and fuel costs; starting a Council-led campaign to alert those of pensionable age to seek advice on their eligibility to claim Pension Credit and to commit the Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition run by Age UK. Leading Labour lights voted down to even debate this important matter.
Proposing the Conservative motion, Councillor Gaynor Sinar (Davenham, Moulton and Kingsmead, Con), described before the meeting:
“I was astonished to find one of the first policies of the new Labour government was to take away the Winter Fuel Allowance that so many pensioners rely on. As it seemed the consequences on over 66,000 local pensioners have been ignored, I wanted the chance to ask the Council to write to the Chancellor to urge a review of the policy and commit the Council to supporting the Age UK petition. Disappointingly, we were not even given the chance to make our case.”
The seconder, Councillor Phil Marshall (Marbury, Con), called out the Labour group afterwards by saying:
“It was a shameful display this evening. By refusing to debate our motion while supporting their own, Labour’s brass neck to focus on the national figures and not the local impact this will have on residents is beyond a joke.”
Submitting their own, separate Winter Fuel Motion, the Labour Administration focused on national figures and refused to comment on the number of local residents affected by the change. Trying to paper over the cracks, they offered support to 3,000 pensioner households through a pot of funding provided by national government for more general discretionary support for a wide range of families and residents.
During the robust debate on the matter, Councillor Lynn Gibbon (Marbury, Con), and Leader of the Cheshire West Conservative Group, highlighted the lack of detail during the debate:
“It’s helpful to see that while 3,000 pensioner households might receive a one-off payment of £200, crucial details about how to claim this assistance remain shrouded in uncertainty. Who knows! This approach is anything but equitable. The funds we’re discussing were allocated from continuing the account set up by the Conservative Government, yet fully spent by non-pensioner residents. What about those residents? They’re left high and dry, with the cupboard bare.”
Later, summarising the Group position, Councillor Gibbon stated:
“Tonight’s debate showed local politics at its most farcical. While the Conservative motion was refused debate, Labour attempted to pin the blame on national government.”
“And it is national government’s decision! This new Labour government, including former members of Cheshire West and Chester Council, have callously voted to remove Winter Fuel Payments from 66,000 pensioners in our borough, all while giving inflation busting pay rises to their union paymasters.”
“Their vote to provide £200 to 3,000 pension households is a welcome reprieve, but merely papers over the cracks and does not help more than 63,000 residents locally. These funds will come from a vital budget to support a large number of families and residents as it already is. Why are they cutting locally to try and spare the blushes of their national government? A decision for the few, not the many!”
“While Labour might have nominated themselves as an Age Friendly Borough, they have proven they don’t run an Age Friendly Country.”
