Councillors have approved a financial support programme to help East Dunbartonshire residents cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

The council is to put £2.1m of its financial reserves into the programme to fund a range of support measures including winter fuel support payments, food vouchers, donations to food banks, welfare payments, energy vouchers, free swim and gym access, “warm hubs” in community facilities and grants for community organisations.

A report on the proposals stated: “The cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact across our communities. The cost of living is predicted to continue to increase during 2022, affecting many families and residents, making it more difficult for low-income households to make ends-meet.

“The cost-of-living crisis is such that the First Minister has recently been quoted as saying the crisis is a ‘humanitarian emergency which could cost lives'.”

Although welcoming the proposals, councillor Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat, Kirkintilloch North and East and Twechar) said that during the 15 years the SNP had been in power at Holyrood there had been no reduction in the number of Scottish children living in poverty and called for specific support to help older people as well as children and families despite the constantly growing demands on social work services and the fact that pensioners’ incomes would be “decimated” by energy costs.

In response, council leader Gordan Low said that a number of the proposed measured would potentially support older people in East Dunbartonshire, especially the warm hubs and welfare funding which is open to all eligible residents. Many older people are also council tenants.

“In terms of the council using its resources to do this I think it is entirely right that all branches of Government should step up,” he added.

Councillor Vaughan Moody (Liberal Democrat, Bearsden South) also welcomed the scheme, highlighting the free access to swimming could potentially help address the disruption to swimming lessons caused by the pandemic, while also creating demand which could benefit the leisure trust which is also facing financial pressure.

Councillor Alan Moir (Labour, Bishopbriggs South) said that the crisis would persist for a considerable amount of time and he expected new initiatives to emerge. He also called for the Scottish Government to improve funding for councils.

Following further discussion, councillor Low confirmed he would be lobbying both the Scottish and UK Governments seeking more money for local government.

The proposals were unanimously agreed by the full council.