A Conservative councillor has described the actions of Liberal Democrat-led Chippenham Town Council as “deplorable” in a dispute over Winter Fuel Payments (WFP).

Cllr Nic Puntis said that the decision to not vote for his motion opposing the WFP cuts was “a shocking indictment” of Chippenham Town Council.

Deputy leader Cllr Matthew Bragg argued that the motion was “outside of the scope of the powers” of a town council, maintaining that Chippenham Town Council was concerned by the impact of the WFP withdrawal.

This comes after the new Labour government announced its decision to cut WFP for pensioners who don’t receive pension credit.

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There are more than 8,900 people over the age of 65 in Chippenham.There are more than 8,900 people over the age of 65 in Chippenham. (Image: Trevor Porter) Labour says this is to plug a hole in finances left by the previous government, which the Conservatives deny.

Cllr Nic Puntis said: “We worked out that it would affect nine thousand residents in Chippenham, of which a good proportion of them are literally on that line between getting it and not, and therefore heating or eating is the choice.”

The motion Cllr Puntis proposed to Chippenham Town Council requested recognition of the fact this cut was “wrong” and would “potentially jeopardise the health as well as the finances of huge numbers of older people” in Chippenham over the course of the winter.

It also called for actions such as writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask for the policy to be “halted immediately” and for a new threshold to determine WFP eligibility to be introduced.

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Cllr Puntis’ motion was not seconded, which he claims shows the other councillors on Chippenham Town Council were not “in support of supporting our vulnerable pensioners”, which he describes as “deplorable”.

He concluded: “This was a golden opportunity for them to show some support to our pensioners and they rejected it.”

“It’s a shocking indictment of the Liberal Democrat-run town council of Chippenham.”

However, Cllr Matthew Bragg denies this suggestion.

He said: “Even though the Lib Dems are the largest group I am proud to say that on the whole all councillors from across the political spectrum unanimously work together for the betterment of the residents of Chippenham in the business that is put before us. 

“It is extremely rare that any councillor would choose to use the town council as a platform for their wider political views. 

“On this occasion Conservative Cllr Puntis tabled a motion for the Full Council outside of the scope of the powers that we as a council are able to affect. 

“That would explain why no councillor from any group in a free vote felt they were in a position to second Cllr Puntis’s motion.”

Cllr Bragg added: “This is not to say that as Lib Dem councillors we are not concerned with the potential impact the sudden withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance would have on the over 8,900 over 65’s in Chippenham or the poor uptake of pension credits which would help them qualify. 

“I understand that Cllr Desna Allen has raised this topic with the MP for Chippenham Sarah Gibson when she visited the Town Council recently. 

“It is a matter of record that Lib Dem Sarah Gibson MP voted for the Opposition Day motion supporting the restoration of winter fuel payments, this being Liberal Democrat policy.”

He concluded: “What might be more of a story is the volte-face approach the Conservatives have taken on this issue.

“Whilst in government they dismissed the figures Labour quoted and now in opposition they seem to be using the same contested figures to support their arguments. 

“This remains a matter for Parliament and not this tier of local government for Chippenham."