Flintshire Councillors Demand Reinstatement of Winter Fuel Allowance

Following the successful passage of a motion at Flintshire County Council, Flintshire People’s Voice (FPV) councillors are ramping up their campaign to reverse recent cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance. These changes threaten to leave many of Flintshire’s 28,000 pensioners, some of the community’s most vulnerable residents, facing difficult choices as energy costs rise.

Councillors Carolyn Preece and Rose are urging the Leader of Flintshire County Council, alongside local Members of the Senedd and MPs, to send letters to the UK Government, calling for the restoration of this crucial support.

The motion underscores the severe impact of the cuts, highlighting how they will deepen financial hardship and increase health risks for older residents. With some pensioners forced to reduce heating this winter, the risk of illness or even death rises. Councillors argue that this decision is a political choice, prioritizing wealthy donors over the welfare of vulnerable citizens.

Flintshire County Council notes:
1. that the new government has made one of its first acts in office an attempt to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners across the UK;
2. that this policy is strongly opposed by charities and other organisations that work with older people, and
3. that this policy will see thousands of Flintshire residents left worse off.

Flintshire County Council believes:
1. that as a direct result of this decision, older people in Flintshire will suffer financial hardship;
2. that some older people in Flintshire will heat their home less than would otherwise be the case this Winter, leading to increased risk of illness and death;
3. that this cut is utterly unnecessary and is instead a political choice made to avoid taxing millionaire donors to big political parties, and
4. that residents of Flintshire deserve their council’s support in seeking to reverse this uncaring policy.

Flintshire County Council resolves:
1. to instruct the Leader of Flintshire County Council to write to the Prime Minister, copying in the leaders of all political groups expressing the council’s strong opposition to this policy, including a copy of this motion, and calling on him to abandon this plan, and
2. to further instruct the Leader of Flintshire County Council to write to both MPs
representing communities in Flintshire, copying in the leaders of all political groups expressing the council’s strong opposition to this policy, including a copy of this motion, and calling on them to set out their views on this matter in reply.
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The Labour group attempted to amend the motion by proposing additional measures, including promoting Pension Credit uptake and expanding warm hubs. However, their amendment was defeated, with FPV councillors emphasizing that the priority should remain on reversing the cuts at the national level. We thought you may wish to read the amendment proposed.

Flintshire County Council notes:
1. Recognises that the UK Government has made difficult choices, including changes to the winter fuel allowance eligibility, as a result of 14 years of economic
mismanagement.
2. That the remove of the winter fuel allowance from many pensioners is strongly
opposed by charities and other organisations that work with older people, and
3. That this policy will see many older Flintshire residents left worse off.

Flintshire County Council believes:
1. That this change will mean that many older people in Flintshire will incur financial hardship and that there are potentially increased risks to health.
2. The commitment to the triple lock and a targeted approach to the Warm Home
Discount is welcome and must be maintained.
3. That given the proposed Government action, the Council should taken positive steps to support affected pensioners, especially the most vulnerable, by disseminating information and advice through its website, social media and Connects Centre.

Flintshire County Council resolves:
1. To write to the Prime Minister, expressing the council’s opposition to the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance and to reconsider this proposed action
2. To write to the County’s MPs to make them aware of our concerns.
3. That if the changes go ahead, to promote the Government campaign to encourage eligible to apply for Pension Credit to ensure low-income pensioners continue to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
4. The chief executive to write to Age UK and other leading age related charities to
ensure there is a greater uptake in Pension Credits across Flintshire heading into
winter, opening up space in our libraries, connect centres and community ‘warm
hubs’ to AGE UK to encourage sign ups and raise and awareness that the £300 winter fuel payment can be paid up until April next year.
5. In addition to this, the chief executive on behalf of all councillors to write to Welsh Government to push for greater funding into the hardship funds and we draw down on funds to support our vulnerable with a one off payment of £x (to be agreed) and to write to our MPs and MSs to push for the threshold for Pension Credit to be uplifted to bring more people into eligibility
6. That locally we will encourage pensioners to find out about the financial support they may be entitled to, including Pension Credit, nationally through Advicelink Cymru, and locally by visiting the Cost of Living Hub on the FCC website, and through our social media feeds and Connects centre network to help eligible.
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