Agenda item

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Rob Reiss, and seconded by Councillor Richard Shaw, that:-

this Council notes:-

(a)      the announcement by the new Government to end universal Winter Fuel Payments and restrict eligibility to those in receipt of Pension Credits or other benefits;

(b)      that under the new policy, only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 per week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for Pension Credits, significantly lower than the Living Wage rate;

(c)      that only 63% of families entitled to Pension Credits claim them, meaning the 800,000 households across the country missing out on this payment will now also not receive Winter Fuel Payments;

(d)      that data from the Department of Work and Pensions indicates almost 75,000 pensioners in Sheffield will lose access to Winter Fuel Payments under the revised policy;

(e)      that the Energy Price Cap will rise by 10% in October;

(f)       that the 12-month Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot scheme in the Liberal Democrat-chaired South Local Area Committee (LAC), designed to support the most vulnerable, is projected by October 2024 to generate £93,814 in additional income and savings for residents, through helping them claim benefits they are entitled to or reductions in their bills;

this Council believes that:-

(g)      universal Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 have been an essential support to pensioners;

(h)      the ending of universal Winter Fuel Payments combined with the increased Energy Price Cap will push thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty, including in Sheffield;

(i)       the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify has been set too low and many on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments;

(j)       it is important to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credits, to ensure people access the support they are entitled to;

(k)      projects like the Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot in the South LAC are demonstrable success stories in placing money in residents’ pockets;

this Council resolves to:-

(l)       request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider building on the success of the South LAC Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot scheme by requesting officers bring a proposal to the Committee on introducing a similar scheme that covers the whole of Sheffield;

(m)     also request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider commissioning other relevant services to urgently commence an awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credits; and

(n)      request group leaders sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new Winter Fuel Payment policy to be suspended and reviewed.

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Mark Rusling, and seconded by Councillor Nikki Belfield, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following new paragraphs (a) to (h):-

(a)      acknowledges the significant challenges facing our national economy, including the reported £22 billion budget shortfall inherited by the new Government, and notes the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) announcement that the previous Government was spending more than they had revealed to the OBR;

(b)      believes that, after 14 years of economic mismanagement by previous governments, the scale of the task facing the new Government to rebuild Britain is significant;

(c)      notes that the Government has committed to protecting the ‘triple lock’ pension, which saw the state pension rise by £900 this year and notes that a further rise will be announced at the budget in October;

(d)      believes that the Government has had to make some difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy due to the dire state of the public finances;

(e)      notes that around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments, and welcomes the Government’s efforts to boost take-up of Pension Credit to ensure low-income pensioners continue to get this help;

(f)       welcomes this Council’s work with partners to raise awareness about Pension Credit and to boost take up, and thanks the Council’s Cost of Living team for their work to proactively identify all households in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, but currently not receiving Pension Credit, and to contact them providing information and support about how to apply;

(g)      encourages all elected members to share Pension Credit information with residents; and

(h)      welcomes the Government’s extension of the Household Support fund which will enable support to continue to be provided to struggling households.

6.3

It was then moved by Councillor Paul Turpin, and seconded by Councillor Marieanne Elliot, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.       the deletion of the words “Liberal Democrat-chaired” in paragraph (f);

2.       the addition of new paragraphs (j) and (k) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (j) and (k) as new paragraphs (l) and (m):-

(j)       the cut to Winter Fuel payments and retention of the Two Child Cap on benefits shows that the new Government have made a political choice that the cost of austerity will fall on those who can least afford it;

(k)      instead of imposing renewed austerity, the new Government has the power to raise public spending and investment, increase taxes on the wealthy and polluters, and properly regulate big businesses and financial institutions;

3.       the addition of a new paragraph (n) as follows:-

(n)      we desperately need the Government to act urgently on home insulation schemes to keep people safe, warm and out of poverty, and instead of cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance, it would make more sense to give pensioners the option to use it to help finance the installation of insulation measures and solar panels to reduce their energy bills permanently;

4.       the re-lettering of original paragraphs (l) and (m) as new paragraphs (o) and (p).

5.       the deletion of original paragraph (n) and the addition of a new, re-lettered paragraph (q) as follows:-

(q)      notes that the Green Group has written to the Chancellor calling for the restoration of Winter Fuel payments to all pensioners and urges other political groups to do the same.

6.4

Following a contribution from another two Members, it was RESOLVED: On the motion moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that Council Procedure Rule 17.6 be suspended to enable the time limit for debate on this item of business to be extended to allow for contributions to be made by a further speaker from each Group.

6.5

After contributions had been made by a further three Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Rob Reiss, the amendment moved by Councillor Mark Rusling was put to the vote and was lost.

6.5.1

The votes on that Amendment were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

For the Amendment (33)

-

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Safiya Saeed) and Councillors Matthew Dwyer, Karen McGowan, Talib Hussain, Mark Jones, Ruth Milsom, Minesh Parekh, Mary Lea, Zahira Naz, Craig Gamble Pugh, Fran Belbin, Nikki Belfield, Abdul Khayum, Rob Bannister, Elle Dodd, Laura Moynahan, Tony Downing, Nighat Basharat, Ibby Ullah, Mia Drazaic, Ben Miskell, David Barker, Mike Drabble, Dawn Dale, Mark Rusling, Mike Chaplin, Gareth Slater, Janet Ridler, Mark Whittaker, Tom Hunt, Laura McClean, John Wright and Mick Rooney.

Against the Amendment (41)

-

Councillors Richard Shaw, Sophie Thornton, Kurtis Crossland, Ian Horner, Ann Woolhouse, Denise Fox, Maleiki Haybe, Brian Holmshaw, Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau, Martin Phipps, Tim Huggan, Qais Al-Ahdal, Joe Otten, Martin Smith, Robert Reiss, Alan Woodcock, Barbara Masters, Shaffaq Mohammed, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Alexi Dimond, Marieanne Elliot, Paul Turpin, Steve Ayris, Mohammed Mahroof, Christine Gilligan Kubo, Toby Mallinson, Henry Nottage, Terry Fox,  Glynis Chapman, Gail Smith, Dianne Hurst, Garry Weatherall, Penny Baker, Will Sapwell, Julie Grocutt, Alan Hooper, Mike Levery and Ann Whitaker.

Abstained from voting on the Amendment (1)

-

The Lord Mayor (Councillor Jayne Dunn).

6.6

The amendment moved by Councillor Paul Turpin was then put to the vote and was lost, except for Parts 1 and 3 of the amendment, which were carried.

6.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 12 Members; AGAINST - 62 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.  Although Labour Group Members voted against, they voted for Part 1 of the amendment. Although Liberal Democrat Group Members voted against, they voted for Parts 2 and 3 of the amendment. Although Sheffield Community Councillors Group Members voted against, they voted for Part 3 of the amendment.)

6.7

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That:-

this Council notes:-

(a)      the announcement by the new Government to end universal Winter Fuel Payments and restrict eligibility to those in receipt of Pension Credits or other benefits;

(b)      that under the new policy, only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 per week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for Pension Credits, significantly lower than the Living Wage rate;

(c)      that only 63% of families entitled to Pension Credits claim them, meaning the 800,000 households across the country missing out on this payment will now also not receive Winter Fuel Payments;

(d)      that data from the Department of Work and Pensions indicates almost 75,000 pensioners in Sheffield will lose access to Winter Fuel Payments under the revised policy;

(e)      that the Energy Price Cap will rise by 10% in October;

(f)       that the 12-month Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot scheme in the South Local Area Committee (LAC), designed to support the most vulnerable, is projected by October 2024 to generate £93,814 in additional income and savings for residents, through helping them claim benefits they are entitled to or reductions in their bills;

this Council believes that:-

(g)      universal Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 have been an essential support to pensioners;

(h)      the ending of universal Winter Fuel Payments combined with the increased Energy Price Cap will push thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty, including in Sheffield;

(i)       the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify has been set too low and many on lower and middle incomes will now not receive the payments;

(j)       it is important to increase awareness of benefits such as Pension Credits, to ensure people access the support they are entitled to;

(k)      projects like the Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot in the South LAC are demonstrable success stories in placing money in residents’ pockets;

(l)       we desperately need the Government to act urgently on home insulation schemes to keep people safe, warm and out of poverty, and instead of cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance, it would make more sense to give pensioners the option to use it to help finance the installation of insulation measures and solar panels to reduce their energy bills permanently;

this Council resolves to:-

(m)     request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider building on the success of the South LAC Cost of Living In-Person Support pilot scheme by requesting officers bring a proposal to the Committee on introducing a similar scheme that covers the whole of Sheffield;

(n)      also request the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider commissioning other relevant services to urgently commence an awareness campaign to maximise uptake of Pension Credits; and

(o)      request group leaders sign a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the new Winter Fuel Payment policy to be suspended and reviewed.

6.7.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote on the Substantive Motion was FOR - 41 Members; AGAINST - 33 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 1 Member.)