Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has agreed on a number of propositions to explore options for support in the cost-of-living crisis.
The proposal came as one member highlighted the Tory party’s apparent indifference to ordinary people saying: “It seems if granny freezes to death this winter, she should have bought another coat.”
During a specially convened meeting to discuss the issues impacting on communities, some members took aim at Westminster, whilst others criticised the absence of a Stormont Executive.
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly told members: “We are receiving calls every day from people fearful of what the implications of this winter will mean.
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“We also need to get real to the crisis facing the third [charity/voluntary] sector and charitable organisations and what happens when they fall under pressure, while looking after those who are themselves under pressure.
“We have to be realistic, in the only way we can respond to this is through the re-establishment of our devolved institutions, with the ability to act pragmatically, ensuring we have a local voice when dealing with the UK government, particularly in relation to the need to upgrade benefits in line with inflation.”
Sinn Fein’s Councillor Sheamus Greene said: “We look at the chaos in Westminster and the complete farce of trying to govern by the toffs of the Tory party, whose only interest is themselves.
“They don’t care about ordinary people, and anyone who thinks any different is fooling themselves.
“Over the last two years they put out adverts about, ‘Don’t visit granny, save her life, stay away’.
“Now it seems if granny freezes to death this winter, she should have bought another coat. I fear for people this winter. It’s shocking.”
He referenced the Fuel Support Scheme run by Derry and Strabane District Council, of which £200,000 was funded by a regional support one-off allocation for 2021/22, as well as £40,000 saved from elected representatives’ allowances, and £68,000 from re-allocated year-end surplus.
Councillor Greene proposed if a similar system could be explored within Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, adding: “It could be essential in saving lives this winter.”
Chief Executive Alison McCullagh pointed out scoping viability would be on top of additional savings the council is already working to identify.
Seconding the proposal, Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan said: “We are severely concerned about the cost-of-living [crises] impact on our community; however, we are in no doubt this council will leave no stone unturned in doing what we can.
"We saw the power of the community, voluntary and other sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be more difficult, because we need resources.
“We cannot do this alone. We need help from central government, and in turn from Westminster.
“If we don’t get that help, people will lose their lives. We need the [Northern Ireland] Executive back up and operating, for funding and special measures.”
Councillor Matthew Bell, Ulster Unionist, remarked: “This crisis didn’t sneak up on us. We knew it was coming. It’s been a year since Councillor [Diana] Armstrong and myself proposed a Fuel Poverty Taskforce.”
He felt there isn’t enough information around schemes on the council website which “would make it easier for members, when asked exactly what the Council is doing for people who are struggling”.
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Councillor Bell acknowledged the one-off payment for those on benefits but proposed writing to Westminster seeking clarity on whether this can also be available to ‘the working poor’.
Seconding this, Sinn Fein Councillor Patrick Withers also highlighted the impact on businesses and suggested exploring additional measures for financial assistance.
He said: “While I’m aware of Stormont’s limited ability to respond to this crisis, there is an overspend of £960 million, and I propose contacting the Chancellor of the Exchequer to seek additional funding to be made available from the Treasury.
“That’s where the financial firepower lies. It would allow help for the most vulnerable and enable greater investment to public services which are also under pressure.
“There’s also £300 million which cannot be accessed because we don’t have an Executive, nor an ability to re-allocate resources through financial monitoring rounds.”
Democratic Unionist Councillor Errol Thompson told the Chamber: “None of us have escaped [these financial crises] over the years, but this is certainly the worst. It’s a very worrying time.
“Everyone is affected, not just those on benefits or ‘the working poor’.
“We need to get our heads around that. My party wants back into the Executive and others know what has to be done to make that happen.
“Anything we do must be fair and across the board, and of benefit to all age groups.”
All proposals passed unanimously.
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