Motion 1 - Winter Fuel Allowance
Council are asked to consider the following Motion on Notice from Councillors Wells, Candon, Smith, Flaxman-Taylor, Plant, Bensly, P Carpenter.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council notes that:
The Labour Government's recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to only pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, as announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This decision is estimated by Age UK will mean that 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. Winter Fuel Payments play an important role by helping older residents of Great Yarmouth and across the UK afford heating during the coldest months, thereby preventing 'heat or eat' dilemmas and safeguarding health. It had been broadly agreed that this decision will place on vulnerable pensioners, many of whom do not claim Pension Credit despite being eligible, further exacerbating their financial hardship. This news has been followed by announced that the energy price cap will raise costing the average family an additional £149.
Council believes:
That the Winter Fuel Payment has been a lifeline for many older people across the UK and that restricting its availability solely to those on Pension Credit risks leaving many pensioners in financial hardship.
While some pensioners currently in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment may not require it, many thousands across Great Yarmouth sit just above the cut off for Pension Credit and will now lose their allowance.
The decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, especially with such short notice and without adequate compensatory measures, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and well-being of our poorest older residents.
The government's approach fails to consider the administrative barriers and stigma that prevent eligible pensioners from claiming Pension Credit, leaving many without the support they desperately need.
Council resolves to:
Bring forward a Council-led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible of Pension Credit which in some respects will help access to the Winter Fuel Payment for those most in need.
Request that the Council Leader write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision to means-test the \A/inter Fuel Payment and asking the government to ensure that vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who do not claim Pension Credit, are protected from fuel poverty.
Commit the Council to signing the 'Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners' petition being run by Age UK and write to all members offering them the opportunity to sign the petition themselves.
Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations to ensure that all eligible pensioners in Great Yarmouth are supported in claiming their entitlement.
Motion 2 - New Hospital Program - James Paget Hospital
Council are asked to consider the following Motion on Notice from Councillors Candon, Wells, Smith, Plant, Bensly, P Carpenter.
To call on the Government to fast track its review of the New Hospital Program and honour the commitment to rebuild the James Paget Hospital.
This Council notes:
That the James Paget was amongst the hospitals earmarked for a rebuild as part of the New Hospital Program, since then considerable work has been undertaken by the Department of Health and Social Care, the James Paget University Hospital Trust and local Stakeholders to progress this plan. During the recently General Election, concerns were raised regarding the Labour Party's plans regarding this program, and the Labour Candidate explicitly claimed that the rebuild would take place under a Labour Government.
The Council further notes that:
This work and plan has been placed at jeopardy, after the Chancellor The Rt. Hon Rachel Reeves MP, has announced a review of the scheme. This is extremely regrettable, as a new facility is much needed.
The Council resolves
To instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and The Chancellor to highlight the need for the James Paget rebuild to go ahead and request an urgent decision