Spotlight Powys

Fuel Poverty

Motion or resolution considered by Powys County Council

This motion was heard on 03/03/2022. It was proposed by Matthew Dorrance and seconded by Sandra Davies .

Motion as voted upon

This Council notes that its own Well-being Assessment of 2017 records that approximately 9,500 households in Powys (17%) are in fuel poverty.

This Council notes research by the Resolution Foundation think-tank which reveals the number of UK households suffering from ‘fuel stress’ – those spending at least 10% of their family budgets on energy bills – is set to treble to 6.3m when the new energy price cap comes in on 1 April 2022.

This Council agrees with the well-respected ‘Money Saving Expert’ Martin Lewis that ‘it is not an exaggeration to say there are people in the country who will be choosing between heating and eating come April.’

This Council notes and welcomes the Welsh Government’s Winter Fuel Support Scheme which provided eligible households with a one-off £200 payment towards paying winter fuel bills.



This Council calls on the UK Government and our local Members of Parliament to end the dither and delay on tackling the cost-of-living crisis facing Powys families and take immediate and substantive action to support households who are struggling with the recent sharp increases in household energy costs and the increases to come in the weeks and months ahead.

This Council resolves to call on the UK Government to take immediate action to support families in Powys by at least: removing VAT on energy bills for at least one year; increasing the Warm Home Discount from £140 to £400 per year and expanding the number of eligible households to 9.3 million; and introducing a year-long increase to corporation tax for North Sea oil and gas producers in order to secure a £1.2 billion windfall from their increased price rise profits to help mitigate household energy bills.

For - 26
(50.0%)
Against - 21
(40.4%)
Abstained - 5
(9.6%)

Result: Passed
Vote Requirement: Simple Majority

  Voting Record

Below is the individual voting record for all councillors on this motion/resolution.

Name Group Vote
Alexander, Myfanwy
Banwy
 Independent Group Against
Barnes, Mark
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn West
 Non-Aligned Did not vote
Baynham, Beverley
Presteigne
 Independent Group Did not vote
Berriman, Jake
Llandrindod North
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Breeze, Graham
Welshpool Llanerchyddol
 Independent Group Did not vote
Charlton, Jackie
Llangattock and Llangynidr
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Corfield, Linda
Forden
 Independent Group Against
Curry, Kelvyn
Rhayader
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Davies, Aled
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Davies, Bryn
Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn
 Plaid Cymru Group Did not vote
Davies, Dai
Berriew
 Independent Group Against
Davies, Phyl
Blaen Hafren
 Welsh Conservatives Against
Davies, Sandra
Cwm-twrch
 Welsh Labour Group For
Dorrance, Matthew
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For
Durrant, Emily
Llangors
 Plaid Cymru Did not vote
Evans, David
Nantmel
 Independent Group Against
Evans, James
Gwernyfed
 Welsh Conservatives Did not vote
Fitzpatrick, Liam
Talybont-on-Usk
 New Powys Group Did not vote
George, Les
Caersws
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Gibson-Watt, James
Glasbury
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Harris, Rosemarie
Llangynidr
 Independent Group Against
Hayes, Stephen
Montgomery
 Independent Group Abstained
Hulme, Heulwen
Rhiwcynon
 Resigned Against
Jenner, Amanda
Trelystan and Trewern
 Welsh Conservatives Group Did not vote
Jones, Arwel
Llandysilio
 Independent Group Abstained
Jones, David
Guilsfield
 Independent Group Against
Jones, E. Michael
Old Radnor
 Independent Group For
Jones, Emyr
Llanfihangel
 Independent Group Abstained

  Abstained
Jones, Joy
Newtown East
 Non-Affiliated Did not vote
Jones, Michael J
Churchstoke
 Independent Group Abstained
Jones-Poston, Diane
Llanbrynmair
 Welsh Conservatives Against
Jump, Francesca
Welshpool Gungrog
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Laurie-Parry, Karen
Bronllys
 New Powys Group For
Lewis, Hywel
Llangunllo
 Independent Group For
Lewis, Karl
Llandinam with Dolfor
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Lewis, Peter
Llanfyllin
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Mackenzie, Maureen
Llanelwedd
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
McIntosh, Iain
Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
McNicholas, Susan
Ynyscedwyn
 Welsh Labour Group For
Meredith, David
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For

  For
Morgan, Gareth
Llanidloes
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group Did not vote
Morris, John
Crickhowell
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Powell, Rachel
Beguildy
 Independent Group Against
Powell, William
Talgarth
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Price, David
Llanafanfawr
 Independent Group Did not vote
Pritchard, Phil
Welshpool Castle
 Independent Group For
Pugh, Gareth
Dolforwyn
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Pugh, Jeremy
Builth
 Independents for Powys Group Did not vote
Ratcliffe, Gareth
Hay
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Rijnenberg, Liz
Brecon East
 Welsh Labour Group For
Roberts, Lucy
Llandrinio
 Welsh Conservatives Group Did not vote
Roberts, Pete
Llandrindod South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Roberts-Jones, Kath
Kerry
 Independent Group Against
Roderick, Edwin
Maescar and Llywel
 Independent Group Against
Rowlands, Daniel
Newtown Llanllwchaiarn North
 Welsh Conservatives Against
Selby, David
Newtown Central and South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Silk, Kathryn
Bwlch
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Skilton, Les
Newtown South
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Thomas, David
Tawe Uchaf
 Welsh Labour Group For
Thomas, Gwynfor
Llansantffraid
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Van-Rees, Tim
Llanwrtyd Wells
 Independent Group Did not vote
Vaughan, Elwyn
Glantwymyn
 Plaid Cymru Group Did not vote
Weale, Martin
Llanbadarn Fawr
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Wilkinson, Jonathan
Llangyniew and Meifod
 Welsh Conservatives Group Against
Williams, Ange
Knighton with Beguildy
 Independents for Powys Group For
Williams, Gwilym
Disserth and Trecoed
 Action for Powys Group Did not vote
Williams, Huw
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group For
Williams, Jon
Llandrindod East/Llandrindod West
 Non-Aligned Did not vote
Williams, Michael
Machynlleth
 Independent Group Did not vote
Williams, Roger
Felin-Fach
 Welsh Liberal Democrats For
Williams, Sarah
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group Did not vote

Source: Voting Record