Chaotic debate at Thanet council over Winter Fuel Allowance is cut short – The Isle Of Thanet News

A movement about elevating consciousness of pension credit score and asking the federal government to evaluate the choice to means-test the winter gasoline fee for pensioners turned chaotic at a council assembly final night time (October 10).

The movement was introduced ahead by Conservative councillor Phil Fellows who represents Birchington.

However points over when a Labour modification ought to have been added, what that modification contained, whether or not officers had been appropriate so as to add it earlier than the assembly and squabbling over the political background to the brand new authorities’s coverage ended when a closure movement was put ahead and the amended model was voted by.

Confusion started when officers added a Labour modification to Cllr Fellow’s movement earlier than the assembly, resulting in questions over why he would learn out one thing that had been modified by an opposing political group.

Conservative chief Reece Pugh mentioned it was ‘nonsense’ and council chief Rick Everitt mentioned Democratic Companies had ‘made a mistake,’ and Cllr Fellows “should have the best to introduce his movement” with the modification happening as a part of the next debate.

Cllr Fellows lastly learn out his movement, first saying: “The Labour Authorities’s not too long ago determined to limit the Winter Gas Fee to solely pensioners in receipt of means-tested advantages like Pension Credit score.

“In Thanet alone 26,648 pensioners will lose the winter gasoline allowance. In my village 60% of our residents are retired so that is one thing that I’m involved about.”

The movement was:

• Requests to convey ahead a council-led native consciousness marketing campaign utilizing TDCs communication channels and social media platforms to alert these eligible of Pension Credit score which in some respects will assist entry to the Winter Gas Fee for these most in want.
• Requests that the Council Chief write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a evaluate of the choice to means-test the Winter Gas Fee and asking the federal government to make sure that susceptible pensioners, notably those that don’t declare Pension Credit score, are shielded from gasoline poverty.
• Commit this Council to signing the ‘Save the Winter Gas Fee for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK and write to all council members providing them the chance to signal the petition themselves.
• Encourage native efforts to advertise Pension Credit score uptake by this council’s partnerships with native charities and group organisations to make sure that all eligible pensioners in Thanet are supported in claiming their entitlement.

On the assembly, council chief Rick Everitt responded, saying: “This can be a matter of real public concern and we within the Labour group share that concern.

“Our aged residents ought to be capable to put their heating on all through the winter no matter their monetary circumstances and the council will do what we will to make sure that’s potential.

“We’re already working, and proceed to work, to boost consciousness of pension credit score in order many individuals as potential can obtain it and the winter gasoline fee.”

Cllr Everitt mentioned there was additionally work to make houses power environment friendly and the council would foyer authorities to verify there was safety for pensioners who wanted it.

However, he added: “I can not say means testing the winter gasoline fee is improper as a result of everyone knows there are some pensioners who don’t want it and have by no means wanted it.”

He went on to say: “We have now a document variety of dad and mom counting on meals banks to feed their younger households. There are 4.3m youngsters residing in poverty within the UK and Thanet has the third highest proportion of kids residing in absolute low revenue households within the south east. There may be an pressing must rebalance priorities in our society.”

He added that the choice by the Labour authorities had been made as a result of the earlier authorities ‘made no effort’ to steadiness the books, forsaking ‘a monetary black gap.’

He mentioned a report on the state of affairs for Thanet can be delivered to Cupboard members in November.

Helen Whitehead

Cllr Helen Whitehead put ahead a Labour modification which retained the request to put in writing to the Chancellor about reviewing the means testing coverage and inspiring native efforts to advertise pension credit score eligibility. As a substitute of committing to signal Age UK’s petition the modification mentioned council would acknowledge it and council members would have the chance to signal it.

One other change was to say the council will ‘proceed’ to make use of communication platforms and social media to boost consciousness of pension credit score moderately than ‘convey ahead’ a marketing campaign.

Nevertheless, three adjustments to the modification have led to accusations of political hijacking and level scoring.

These had been so as to add that the outgoing Conservative authorities had left billions of kilos price of spending commitments unfunded which means Labour has to steadiness the books; that Conservative coverage since 2010 has discriminated towards individuals under pension age forcing tens of millions to make use of meals banks and driving youngsters into poverty; and that winter gasoline funds to the wealthiest pensioners should not justified when youngsters are going hungry.

Extra disturbance was created when Cllr Kristian Brilliant spoke to say there must be context within the modification about why the means-testing was launched attributable to a “huge £22bn hole” in public spending as a result of earlier authorities ‘ignoring issues.’

He added: “Let’s all acknowledge the utter neglect of this nation’s younger individuals over the past 14 years since 2010.

“In 2010 when the Labor authorities left officer there have been 35 meals banks on this nation. As of February this 12 months there are 2,800 foo banks on this nation, utilized by 3.1m individuals. That’s a sign of how profitable your occasion (Conservative) was in destroying the material of our nation.

“The Conservatives failed our youngsters to such an extent that as European friends had been rising ours are actually shrinking attributable to poor diets and NHS cuts.

“When our modification talks concerning the social justice of giving money by way of the winter gasoline fee to individuals who don’t want it just like the Rolex carrying chap within the newest Conservative assault advert, I feel we will all agree that our new authorities of service must be extra focused with the restricted funds they’ve inherited.”

Following this Labour councillor Will Scobie famous Cllr Fellows had introduced the movement for good causes however it was a really political concern and the monetary straits had been highlighted by points reminiscent of £6.4bn for asylum wanted however not funded and £9bn wanted for public sector raises which had additionally not been budgeted for by the earlier authorities.

He then proposed a closure movement of the talk in order that councillors may transfer on to the next movement on Millmead Youngsters’s Centre.

The amended movement was agreed regardless of some anger, with Cllr Becky Wing interrupting to say: “A few of us had palms up earlier than that time of order. Once more our occasion has sat right here quietly and tried to not get entangled in what’s principally a white man’s bear pit down there and now a movement is offered that stifles the talk of different individuals on this room and it’s totally unfair.”

Cllr Wing was requested to observe her “phrasing” by the chair however was shut down when she tried to reference an earlier insult which was not disciplined.

Chairperson Cllr Debra Owen-Hughes then instructed the chamber “we’re voting on a closure movement, the query shall be put.” A vote agreeing the modification adopted after a summing up by Cllr Fellows the place he requested members to not convey their political feedback into his movement.

‘Hijacked’

Following the assembly Cllr Fellows mentioned he was upset that the movement had been ‘hijacked.’

He mentioned: “I purchased the movement to council as I’ve a excessive proportion of retired residents in my village. I’m involved that the withdrawal of the winter gasoline allowance will depart many susceptible residents struggling because the climate turns colder.

“I simply wished TDC to convey a marketing campaign of consciousness of Pension Credit score and the assistance that’s on the market for these which can be severely affected by the lack of the Winter Gas Allowance. However the Labour administration hijacked my movement and used it for some political level scoring by attacking the Conservatives which was completely pointless when all I need to do is assist our older susceptible residents.”

Labour chief Cllr Everitt mentioned: “The Labour group was largely supportive of the unique movement and is respectful of the seriousness of this concern for some older residents, however the wording didn’t replicate what the council is already doing or reference why the choice was taken by authorities. I don’t suppose that’s being political, I feel it’s solely honest.”

MP Polly Billington

East Thanet MP Polly Billington says she shall be organising a drop-in specializing in pension credit score assist for pensioners.

She mentioned: “I proceed to have interaction with constituents concerning the assist that’s out there for pensioners this winter and am at the moment within the technique of organising a drop-in surgical procedure in assist of the federal government’s marketing campaign to get all eligible pensioners signed up for pension credit score.

“I might urge anybody who believes they could be eligible to verify on-line at https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility or to name the Pension Credit score Declare Line at 0800 99 1234, Monday – Friday 8am-6pm.”

Winter Gas Allowance

In September, Parliament  voted to chop the winter gasoline funds for many who should not claiming pension credit score or different means-tested advantages.

The controversial coverage was supported by 348 MPs with an opposition movement to dam the minimize receiving 228 votes. Fifty-two MPs didn’t vote, though the explanation why should not given.

Previous to the vote the fee to assist with gasoline payments was out there to anybody over the age of 66 no matter revenue ranges, which means rich households had been additionally entitled to the sum.  The fee is £200, rising to £300 for these over 80.

The minimize will save the federal government about £1.5bn a 12 months because it makes an attempt to fill a claimed “black gap” in funds of £22bn.

The variety of winter fee recipients will drop from 10.8 million to 1.5 million.

Thanet, with roughly 33,686 over 65s, has one of many highest proportions of aged individuals in Kent.