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The amendment proposed by Councillor Baines
and seconded by Councillor  Enright was
lost with 13 votes in favour, 37 against and 1 abstention.
 
The amendment proposed by Councillor Levy and
seconded by Councillor Ley was accepted by the proposer and
seconder of the original motion and by Council.
 
The motion as amended was carried with 35
votes in favour, 13 against and no abstentions.
 
This Council notes the government’s decision
to means-test Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs). Age UK estimates that
such changes could affect hit  2 million people across the country, some of whom
may badly need the money to stay warm this
winter.
 
This Council resolves to:
 
1. Request that the Cabinet
requests a report from officers with proposals for promoting a
District awareness campaign working with our local works
with NHS, District Councils, partners, Parish
Councils and charitable, civic and religious
groups, to promote the full range of available support for
low-income pensioners, including the Resident Support Scheme (RSS)
and Better Housing Better Health. encourage elderly
residents who are eligible for means-tested benefits such as
Pension Credit to register and claim them to ensure that they
continue to receive WFPs this Winter and that those in need are
sign-posted to the continuing Recent Household Support
Fund allocations have enabled these programs to expand and
directly assist pensioners impacted by WFP changes, with libraries
participating in the Warm Spaces initiative positioned for outreach
to high-footfall pensioner areas.
 
2. Request that the Leader of the
Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging
calling for an impact assessment and transitional
measures for pensioners affected by of the
government’s decision to means testing WFPs and
asking HM Treasury to examine transitional measures to ensure that
vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are eligible for, but
who do not – or cannot – claim, other benefits under
current thresholds, are protected from fuel
poverty.  This outreach should
address barriers to Pension Credit access and advocate for
simplified application processes to ensure equitable
access.
 
3. Request that the Cabinet
to include addressing fuel poverty among low-income pensioners
in the priorities of the council when allocating
resources,  for example using
the  Household Support Fund. Priority
should be given to strengthening existing high-demand support
programs and partnerships to maximize local resources.
reprioritises monies within the Council’s budget for
2024/5 held within the Budget Priority Reserve and/or within other
relevant contingency funds or reserves, with a view to establishing
an Oxfordshire Winter Fuel Payment Protection Fund, akin to
the Oxfordshire Resident Support Scheme, to ensure that
pensioners who are in genuine hardship, but who are not eligible
for other government support, are helped through the
Winter.