County Councillor Daniel Grimley for Birstall reports:
Welcome to the latest round up of news from Leicestershire County Council.
I recently met with Police and Crime Commissioner, Rupert Matthews, on Wanlip Lane, to discuss various issues including local burglaries, speeding traffic, and dangerous / unsociable parking throughout the village.
Greengate Lane Flooding
I have received reports of incidents of flooding at Greengate Lane during the recent heavy rainfall. Whilst accepting other areas have been worse affected, I have asked officers to investigate the issue here to see what can done around the railway bridge at Greengate Lane.
Winter Fuel Payments
At the Leicestershire County Council meeting on 25th September 2024 the full council passed a motion requesting that the government review its decision to end the winter fuel payments to the majority of pensioners.
In Leicestershire the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 129,537, which means that 92.5% of pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.
The motion noted that this Council believes that the Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for Winter Fuel Payments far too low. Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week (or £332.95 a week for couples) are eligible for pension credits.
This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.
The motion also supports the criticism from Age UK, other charities, highlighting the social injustice and potential health risks posed by this abrupt policy change and believes that decision to means-test Winter Fuel Payments, is deeply unfair and will disproportionately affect the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable older residents.
For those interested Age Uk Petition’s Winter Fuel Payment petition can be found here:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/save-the-winter-fuel-payment/
You can follow me on Twitter @county grimley, email [email protected], facebook: Cllr. Daniel Grimley or tel. 0116 305 5689 Post C/O Members' Secretariat, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA
