PRESS RELEASE
Issued by: Councillor Paula Southwood
Date of Issue: February 14th 2008
Contact numbers:
0151 6534975
07718 582397
FUEL PRICE HIKES PROMPT CALL TO STEP UP FUEL POVERTY ACTION
Recent price hikes in fuel costs have prompted a Wirral Councillor to call for increased efforts to combat fuel poverty in the Borough, and for local MPs to back a review of the energy market.
Councillor Paula Southwood, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Oxton Ward said,
“The recent rises in fuel prices will hit those on fixed incomes the hardest.
“Since Wirral has a higher than average older population and some of the most deprived wards in the country, this situation will leave many more Wirral residents in financial hardship and facing fuel poverty.
“We need to step up our efforts to protect the most vulnerable people.
“As a first step we want all the information on reducing fuel costs, from grants for insulation to advice on saving energy, to be available from one source, and better disseminated through all the Council's outlets.
“Work on bringing all vulnerable households up to Decent Homes Standard also needs to be intensified.
“Councillors also have an important role to play. Through their surgeries and ward work they're well placed to point vulnerable people in the direction of appropriate advice and support, so we'd like training to be provided for them to carry out that role.
“Finally we think that it's time for a review of the energy market by the Competition Commission to ensure that it is competitive and working properly in the interests of all consumers. We'll be calling on our local MPs to support that review.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg recently called on Gordon Brown to ‘end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs' as fuel bills were predicted to hit £1000 or more, and warned that an estimated 25,000 people were predicted to die from the cold this winter. Councillor Southwood's proposals will be debated at Monday's meeting of Wirral's Full Council.
Councillor Southwood's motion to February 18 Full Council follows.
Notice of Motion - Liberal Democrat Group
FUEL POVERTY
(1) This Council notes:
(i) the large recent increases in the price of gas and electricity;
(ii) that figures from the House of Commons Library show that since 2004/05, and taking into account the recently announced price rises:
for a typical pensioner household aged 65-74 with gas central heating, gas bills have gone up by £260pa and electricity by £160pa - a total of £420;
for a typical pensioner household aged over 75 gas bills are up £200pa and electricity bills up £150pa - a total of £350;
the value of the Winter Fuel Payment per household for those aged 60-79 is £200, and £300 for those aged over 80;
the £300 rate for the over 80s was introduced in the winter of 2003/04 and has not risen since;
(iii) that a recent Newcastle Building Society study revealed that older people face an inflation rate of 7%. This compares with a retail price index of 4.3% and consumer price index of 2.1% and largely arises because they spend a higher proportion of income on rising food and energy bills;
(iv) that other vulnerable people on fixed incomes, such as the disabled and those in receipt of benefits, are similarly affected by rising fuel prices.
(2) This Council concludes that the recent fuel price increase more than wipes out the value of the Winter Fuel Payment and adds to the burden of inflation.
(3) This Council also notes that, since Wirral has a higher than average older population and some of the most deprived wards in the country, this situation will leave many more Wirral residents in financial hardship and facing fuel poverty.
(4) This Council acknowledges and applauds the considerable efforts already being undertaken by its staff and its partners to help alleviate fuel poverty and protect the health of vulnerable residents in the Borough and, in the light of the recent increased risk of hardship, resolves to further strengthen those efforts through:
(i) providing easier access to all energy efficiency advice, support and grants through one database via the Council website homepage; and improving the availability of information in all Council outlets throughout the borough;
(ii) as part of a drive to bring all vulnerable households to Decent Homes Standard, supported by the Local Area Agreement Partnership Board, giving particular emphasis to improving energy efficiency working in partnership with Merseyside Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, Wirral Home Improvement Agency, the Disabled Facilities Grant team and other financial assistance providers;
(iii) providing training for elected members in order that they may identify, advise and refer to energy efficiency schemes members of the public with whom they come into contact in their wards and surgeries;
(iv) requesting Wirral's MPs to support a review of the energy market by the Competition Commission to ensure that it is competitive and working properly in the interests of all consumers."
Proposed by Councillor Southwood
Seconded by Councillor Holbrook
