Approximately 3,500 pensioners who have lost their winter fuel allowance will get help from Cheshire East – but the council is still working out how it will be distributed.

Council leader Nick Mannion (Lab) told yesterday's (Wednesday) meeting of the full council, the previous government had 'wrecked the economy, leaving a £22bn black hole in public spending'.

"In this context, the government cannot continue to provide winter fuel payments to some of our wealthiest pensioners," he said.

"However, this is difficult for those at the lower end, just above the threshold for qualification, who are losing the payment, that's accepted.

"So, this administration has been working with our officers and partners to help these pensioners who need additional support and I'd advise that around 3,500 pensioners who have their allowances withdrawn will get additional financial help from Cheshire East Council over the coming winter."

The Conservatives had tabled a notice of motion calling for a full debate at yesterday's meeting on how exactly the most vulnerable pensioners would be helped, but this was refused by the mayor who referred it to be discussed at committee next month.

But Cllr Andrew Kolker (Con) did persist at the end of the meeting with a question about the matter.

He asked: "What assurance can the council provide that ensures that the Congleton Widows Group [who have raised a petition against the withdrawal of the allowance for millions of pensioners] and all other pensioners who are entitled to claim pension credit and thus winter fuel allowance, will be proactively informed and supported to do so before the current final application date in December?"

He continued: "Should the final date be extended to April, how will Cheshire East ensure that vulnerable, eligible pensioners are able to keep warm this winter while they wait for that application to be processed."

The Dane Valley councillor also asked where the money was coming from to help the 3,500 Cheshire East pensioners the council leader had referred to.

Cllr Jill Rhodes (Lab), chair of the adults and health committee, said: "The council was notified that there will be a sum of money, around £2.2m, given to this council starting from the first of October, that would be household support fund."

She added Cheshire East would be a 'using a targeted approach, using its council tax support records as a guide to pensioners who may be able to actually claim pension credits' and that officers were still working on how that may be distributed.

Councillors were also told Cheshire East would also be launching its warm places scheme again.