Around 30,000 pensioners could lose the winter fuel allowance in Redbridge, councillors say.
There are an estimated 36,350 pensioner households in the borough but, under the new rules, only about 6,250 could qualify, based on the latest figures.
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in July the £200-£300 boost would only go to those who received a means-tested benefit, rather than everyone over the pension age.
Those benefits include pension credit, universal credit, jobseeker’s allowance, or income support.
Deputy leader Vanisha Solanki said that, in February 2024, an estimated 6,253 were in receipt of pension credit.
Speaking at a full council meeting last night (21 November), Conservative group leader Paul Canal said there would be “uproar” on the Labour benches if it was a Tory policy and accused the town hall of “supine hypocrisy”.
He said it was an act of “egregious harm against the poorest in the borough” and called on the leadership to lobby the government to change course.
Cllr Solanki, also the cabinet member for finance, said it was a “tough decision” but the result of “14 years of austerity” under the previous Conservative government.
The council will also host drop-in sessions to give residents advice on how to apply for pension credit, she said, and an “awareness drive” had been her focus.
Conservative councillors across east London have attacked the Labour government’s policy.
Keith Prince, the former leader of Redbridge Council and now the head of Havering Conservatives, called it “Scrooge-like”.
According to the government’s own figures, around 10million pensioners will lose the allowance this winter.
Kemi Badenoch, the new national leader of the Conservative Party, has called for it to be restored.
Earlier in the meeting, the Redbridge administration was challenged on the efficiency of mobile CCTV cameras in the borough.
Fellow Conservative councillor Ruth Clark, for Fairlop, said that people had “given up” reporting incidents after CCTV vehicles were not being relocated to their ward.
She said: “They are giving up reporting incidents, as they feel no one is listening and nothing is being done about their complaints.”
Council leader Kam Rai said the positioning of cameras was based on the number of crimes reported in an area, and was assessed weekly.
He added: “If the numbers are falling, that does not correlate to anecdotal evidence given by one councillor in the chamber.”
During the meeting, the town hall also confirmed the election of Emma Shepherd-Mallinson as the new Labour councillor for Wanstead Park.
Official confirmation was also given that Claire Hamilton will take over as chief executive in March. She will replace Adrian Loades, who is set to retire in January.
Julian Ellerby will be the acting chief executive for the two months in between. He is set to be the fifth to hold the position in four years.
