North Northamptonshire Council asked to call on Government to reverse winter fuel payments and stop private school VAT

A motion put forward by Conservative members on the council has warned that pensioners may have to choose between ‘heating or eating’ this winter and has called on the Government to reverse its decision to cut fuel payments.

The ruling party has also requested that its leader, Cllr Jason Smithers, write to the Government and question them on their intention to remove the exemption for 20 per cent VAT for private schools.

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) will discuss the two proposals this Thursday (October 17).

The first motion, proposed by Conservative Cllr Russell Roberts, suggests that the decision to axe the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners will impact around 57,000 people in North Northants.

The Labour Government won a vote to make the benefit means-tested in September. The poorest residents across the country will still be entitled to it - including those on Pension Credit. More than 6,100 people in North Northants claim this and therefore should automatically qualify.

The motion reads: “Many pensioners are too proud to ask for means tested benefits or could find it difficult to manage the 22 page application form to apply for pension credit.

“Pensioners have received this payment without means testing since its inception. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fuel costs have increased, and the Government is raising the energy price cap by 10 per cent this winter.

“Pensioners will therefore need the winter fuel allowance more than ever as without it, many vulnerable pensioners will be forced to choose between heating and eating.”

The NNC Conservatives will ask the leader to write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask them to make a U-turn on their decision to stop payments to pensioners.

The second motion of the evening, which has been put forward by Cllr Philip Irwin, calls for the leader to write to the Secretary of State for Education over Labour’s plans to remove the VAT exemption on private school fees.

It raises concerns that the change could have a ‘big impact’ on schools in North Northants as it could lead to an influx of parents taking their children out of private placements and going back into the state system.

Cllr Irwin adds that the county has a shortage of school places, particularly in secondary education, which would further add pressure to overstretched facilities.

The motion lists a number of questions to pose to Government including asking about the estimated numbers of pupils moving into state-sector schools in the area, the extra home to school transport that would be needed and if they would help with extra funding so local authorities can cope with associated costs.

The full council meeting will be held at Corby Cube on Thursday at 6pm.