Suffolk council to consider motion on winter fuel payments

Green Party member Andy Mellen has put forward a motion which will be discussed at a meeting of Mid Suffolk District Council next week. 

The agenda notes that, if passed, the council resolves to write the Chancellor Rachel Reeves asking her to review the decision to withdraw winter fuel payments and make public any impact assessment that has been done.

It also adds that domestic technologies, such as photovoltaic panels, battery storage and heat pumps, should be more widely welcomed.

Councillor Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council ward member for Bacton (Image: Mid Suffolk District Council) "They are here and working - they are not something in the future," said Mr Mellen.

"We should be making sure all the new homes have them. This is what we need to be doing."

More than 150,000 residents across Suffolk are expected to lose out on the payments following a government decision at the end of July to restrict it to those only on pension credits or other means-tested benefits. 

Figures revealed by this newspaper in August showed it is expected that some 93.53% of residents will lose out in Mid Suffolk. 

Suffolk Community Foundation team with partners (Image: www.simplycphotography.co.uk / SCF) The meeting will resolve to get qualifying residents to take up the offer of free insulation, which is available through the ‘Cosy Homes’ programme.

It comes following the launch of the Surviving Winter Appeal by the Suffolk Community Foundation. 

This year, the charity is asking for donations from the general public. In the past, the foundation would typically ask those who received the winter fuel payments, but did not need them to donate them.

Anna Hughes, interim chief executive at Suffolk Community Foundation, said: “Surviving Winter is now in its 14th year and has raised more than £1.5million so far.

“However, the changes which are being made nationally mean that the need for support is now even greater than ever. Many older people are extremely anxious about the high cost of energy and are having to make difficult choices between heating and eating every single day."