What life will be like in Solihull if the government don't reconsider fuel payment cut this winter

Rare cross party support at Solihull Council for fuel payment motion

Solihull councillors have called for a pause on the controversial cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners. Councillors have voted in favour of a motion calling on the Labour government to halt the cutting of the annual payment, worth up to £300, used by pensioners to help pay their energy bills.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insist the winter fuel payment cut - worth around £1.5 billion - is needed to fill a £22 billion ‘black hole’ in the budget left by the previous Conservative government. The motion was debated at the latest meeting of Solihull Council on October 8.

The motion calls for:

• A council-led local awareness campaign - working with charities and community organisations - to alert those eligible for pension credit "which in some respects will help access to the winter fuel payment”
• Requests the authority's leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the cut to be paused whilst a review on how to implement any changes whilst safeguarding the most vulnerable is carried out
• Commit the council to signing Age UK’s 'Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition

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Introducing his motion Conservative councillor Edward Fitter said: “Some people may be wondering why does a councillor at 30-years-old care about the winter fuel payments for pensioners. The government thinks the payment is casually used by pensioners to top up their heating to the high 20C.

"In reality to my nan, my dad, residents across Solihull borough payments help maintain their homes at the safe temperature of between 18C and 21C. I fear too many will be holding back (turning on heating) allowing their homes to grow cold because of the financial fear of losing this payment.”

Liberal Democrat Ade Adeyamo proposed an amendment saying the council should call for the cut to be stopped. “I’m concerned pensioners in the borough are deeply worried about how they will get by this winter," he said.

“We should be calling for these winter fuel payment cuts to be reversed. We must remember 10,972 residents aged over 80 - in just Solihull West and Shirley and Meriden and Solihull East (constituencies) - are currently at risk of losing their payments.

“And 35,478 pensioners in those two constituencies do not receive pension credit. All these pensioners will be affected by this which is why I’m asking this council go further.”

Green Councillor Max McLoughlin said he would prefer the council calls on the chancellor to consider wealth taxes so that “those with the broadest shoulders carry the greatest weight”. "Putting these pressures on to local authorities and the most vulnerable in society isn’t the right way to balance the books,” he added.

But Conservative Councillor Bob Sleigh said he would not support the amendment as he said the motion “summed up” the situation. “We need to support the position of Age UK," Coun Sleigh said.

"What they say is the opportunity for people to adjust has not been given to those in receipt of winter fuel payment. There are many old people in this borough facing the prospect of losing £300 and had no indication it was going to happen.

“The decision has been taken in Parliament. The only way to deal with this is through the Chancellor’s statement on October 30.” Liberal Democrat Laura McCarthy added: “I think it is rare this council pretty much unanimously agrees on something and I’m proud for residents of our borough this is what we are agreeing on.”

When the vote was taken the amendment was defeated but the main motion passed with the backing of the majority of councillors.

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