18.05.2022

With the cost of living crisis spiralling out of control and hitting people hard in Warwickshire, Labour County Councillor for Clarendon, Sarah Millar has found out that the Government may not be giving local councils enough to support those in need.

Cllr Millar says:

“On the 3rd of May on Good Morning Britain, the  Prime Minister said he wanted people in need to be looked after by the local councils.  That led me to ask how much Warwickshire County Council was expecting to receive to help local residents.”

“The answer was given was that around £8 million of extra support from central government has been provided since 2021  Going on the Governments own latest fuel poverty figures in 2020 (before the cost of living crisis really hit) this would break down at just over £200 per household in Warwickshire.”

“Energy bills alone are rising by around £600 on average according to industry experts and we know many households in Warwickshire  are struggling to cope with rising food and energy bills as inflations heads to 10%”

“The Prime Minister has passed the buck to local councils but isn’t giving us what we need.”

“If the Council is being tasked to help, then Warwickshire needs a very significant uplift in support or we are not going to be able to help people in dire need.”

“The Government has got it wrong on an energy windfall tax. The extra money from a windfall on the profligate profits of energy companies could support Warwickshire families in the greatest need.”

Ends

Note to editors :

Details on extra support to Warwickshire Country Council:

£4,093,080 in 2021/2022

£3,474,259 for 6 months in 2022/2023

£644, 000 on Covid funding

£8,211,339 total

35, 781 Warwickshire households in fuel poverty in 2020 (14.3%)

£229.46 per household

Fuel Poverty – England 2022

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1072034/fuel-poverty-sub-regional-2022-tables.xlsx

Which –  energy bills rises article:

Energy bills to rise by £693 for 22 million people in April 2022 – Which? News