Two groups on Oxford City Council are urging civic chiefs to oppose the cuts to the winter fuel payment for pensioners. 

Labour ministers insist the measure is necessary in order to fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances which they say was left behind by their Tory predecessors.

But some backbenchers had said they feel unable to back the cut, which will see millions of pensioners lose the payment and only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits continue to receive help with their energy bills this winter.

Two motions will be presented to the full council meeting on Monday, October 7. 

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The Liberal Democrat group wants the leader of the council to write to the chancellor of the exchequer calling for the policy on linking winter fuel payments to pension credit receipt to be revised. 

The motion, proposed by Chris Smowton, said: “Though many agree that universal winter fuel payments are not necessary, council is deeply concerned that many pensioners on lower incomes will now not receive the payments.

“In Oxford the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 15,285. That means 88.9 per cent of pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

“Council believes that a better, and cost-neutral, way to recover the cost of the universal payment would be to levy an appropriately sized tax on pensioners who either receive the highest incomes, have the greatest wealth, or both. This would mean the benefit is in effect withdrawn where there is positive evidence that they have the means to pay, rather than negative evidence drawn from non-registration for Pension Credit or other benefits.”

The second motion, proposed by Ajaz Rehman on behalf of the Oxford Independent Group, is calling for the cut to be scrapped entirely. 

The motion said: “This council is shocked and angered a Labour government would even contemplate a financial attack on pensioners just as we approach winter. The cost-of-living payments also ending this will have a devastating on some of most vulnerable in our society. Those who have given service their whole lives to this country, are being abandoned at the time of need.

“This council writes to the prime minister and home secretary requesting the winter fuel payment to be re instated.”

A total of 125,194 received the winter fuel payment last winter.

The breakdown per constituency is as follows: Henley and Thame - 21,500, Banbury - 19,078, Witney - 18,569, Didcot and Wantage - 18,160, Bicester and Woodstock (Lib Dems) - 18,125, Oxford West and Abingdon - 17,089 and Oxford East - 12,673.