Powys County Council has called on the UK Conservative Government to take action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

The County Council voted to back a motion put forward by Welsh Labour Councillors Matthew Dorrance (Brecon, St John) and Sandra Davies (Cwmtwrch) which highlighted the significant pressures families in Powys are experiencing because of the rise in energy, food and fuel prices.

In passing the motion, Powys County Council will now call on Powys’ Conservative Members of Parliament to end the dither and delay on tackling the cost-of-living crisis facing local 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.

The Council also voted to support the UK Labour plan to remove 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.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance said:

 

“Families in Powys are struggling because of rising energy, food and fuel costs. Whilst support from our Welsh Government through the Winter Fuel Support Scheme and the Cost of Living Payment are much needed and very welcome, the UK Government needs to take action too.

 

“The UK Government could give families in Powys security by taking fully-funded measures to save most households around £200 or more and targeting extra support on top of that for families, pensioners and the lowest earners.”

 

Cllr Sandra Davies said:

 

“Labour’s plan to keep energy bills lower in future would see us accelerate home-grown renewables, retrofit 19 million homes to save households an average of £400 a year on their bills, and reform our broken energy system to stop energy companies playing fast and loose with the rules.

 

“It is entirely right that the energy producers which are benefitting from this crisis are asked to pay their fair share.

 

“We will reform our broken energy system so we deliver the green transition we need, energy security, and bills that are affordable.”