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It was moved by Councillor Shaw, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:

Pensioner Winter Fuel Payments

Council notes:

1. The recent announcement by the Labour Government to end universal winter fuel payments and to restrict eligibility only to those in receipt of Pension Credits and other similar benefits.

2. That the Government's own figures indicate that, across England and Wales, the number of pensioners eligible for winter fuel payments will fall by around 10 million (down from 11.4 million to only 1.5 million).

3. That locally, the same Government figures indicate that in Sefton Borough around 51,600 pensioners will lose out, equating to 86% of the 60,000 Sefton pensioners who previously received the winter fuel payment.

Council expresses its concern:

1. That many thousands of local pensioners, particularly on lower and middle incomes, will suffer genuine hardship as a result of the loss of the £200 or £300 annual winter fuel payment; in general only those below the pension credit limits of £218.15 a week (£11,300 pa) for a single pensioner, or £332.95 a week (£17,300 pa) for pensioner couples, will remain eligible. These income levels are significantly lower than the living wage rate.

2. That the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10% in October, which combined with the removal of winter fuel payments will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.

Council accordingly resolves to:

1. Authorise the Chief Executive to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for the policy on winter fuel payments to be rescinded.

2. Also authorise the Chief Executive to write to the three MPs representing the Sefton Council area asking them to give their formal support to halting the changes to the winter fuel payment eligibility.

Following debate and in accordance with rule 95 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution, the voting on the Motion was recorded and the Members present at the time, voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION:

Councillors Brodie-Browne, Brough, Carlin, Dodd, Doolin, Evans, Keith, Lloyd-Johnson, Morris, Prendergast, Pugh, Sammon, Shaw, Thompson and Sir Ron Watson.

AGAINST THE MOTION:

Councillors Atkinson, Danny Burns, Byrom, Carragher, Conalty, Corcoran, Desmond, Dowd, Doyle, Duerden, Grace, Hansen, Hardman, Harrison Kelly, Hart, Harvey, Hinde, Howard, John Kelly, Sonya Kelly, Killen, Lappin, Lunn-Bates, McGinnity, McNabb, Moncur, Myers, Neary, O’Brien, Catie Page, Chris Page, Parker, Porter, Richards, Robinson, Roche, Roscoe, Spring, Webster and Williams.

The Mayor declared that the Motion was lost by 40 votes to 15.