Denzil Coulson

Last night the Tories ignored my advice to scrap these ridiculous charges and went ahead and passed the paper as a recommendation to Full Council on the 16th October. We vowed to call the paper in to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting due to take place on Monday 29th September.

The Tory Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Richard Wilson, admitted to the meeting last night that the 1047 affected properties have no metered facilities, which means that tenants can neither vary or reduce their energy usage nor can they change their electricity provider. Despite this, the Tories plan to go ahead and levy these unfair charges therby forcing more people into fuel poverty.

A pensioner receiving a basic pension of £124.05 per week would have to pay 15% of his or her income in a 1 bedroom home on heating. This is above the 10% Fuel Poverty standard. Even if you include the Winter Fuel Payment of £250 for couples or single pensioners, this still cuts very close to the 10% line. 

For a single mum aged 25 living in a two bed with 2 kids she would get £91.85 so not only do you get fuel poverty you get child poverty. She would pay 25% of her income on heating!   

For a single person aged 23 in a bedsit, their income support income would be weekly - £47.95. This means that this single person would pay 34% of his income on heating charges. This is way above the Fuel Poverty standard of 10%. Perhaps the Tories would like to live on that for a month and pay their water rates as well. This is even worse for a disabled single person without a Disability Living Allowance. 

71% of affected residents are over 60 and qualify for the winter fuel payment. 29% do not.

Come and listen to the debate on Monday 29th September at 7pm in the Council Chamber.

The Conservative-controlled Woking Council proposes to increase energy charges for council tenants by a whopping 60% from 24 November to balance a council budget! Never mind the fact that:

A tenant in a bedsit will pay £26.43 extra per month!
A couple or pensioners in a 1 bedroom home will pay £29.94 extra per month!
A family in a 2 bedroom home will pay £37.79 extra per month!
A family in a 3 bedroom home will pay an extortionate £40.91 per month!

Never mind the fact that these charges are proposed to be increased right at the beginning of winter! This is when our tenants need heating and electricity the most. Why are they making tenants pay to balance a budget?

Where is the humanity behind this decision?
Where is the morality of this decision?

People – particularly the vulnerable – are already paying higher fuel, transport and food prices. And now this Council is planning to hurt our most vulnerable even more with these ridiculous increases?

Worst of all, Council tenants have not even been consulted about these charges or ways to help them with alternatives?

This is what this Conservative Council is telling tenants.

You are not important enough for us to help you cope with rising living costs. All we are interested in is balancing budgets to provide lower council tax for the most well-off residents of Woking.

This is shameful.

Make your presence felt and oppose these increases by coming to the Council Executive meeting this Thursday 25 September at 7pm in the Council Chamber.