NORTH Ayrshire councillors have today approved a £4 million package of support to help communities through the current cost of living crisis as the authority pledged its commitment to "doing its share" to tackle soaring bills.

The council's leader told a meeting of the NAC cabinet that "there is no greater priority for us as an authority right now than helping people through" the current crisis.

However, opposition members have claimed the new measures do not go far enough in abating the "perfect storm" of rising inflation and prices.

The wide-ranging steps agreed this afternoon will focus on providing extra payments to more than 3,000 families on low income while developing a much-needed scheme to help people reduce their energy bills.

Council leader Marie Burns said: “There is no greater priority for us as an authority right now than helping people through what are likely to be difficult months ahead.

“We have a perfect storm of soaring energy bills and rising inflation and prices increasing for everyday goods.

“The measures approved by cabinet are aimed at supporting our communities through these challenges, protecting, in particular, families on the lowest incomes.

“We all have a part to play in helping one another and North Ayrshire Council is committed to doing its share.”

The £4 million package will include:

  • £2 million for an energy support scheme which aims to offer advice and support to help people lower their energy bills, as well as practical help to install energy-saving features in homes. This support will be directed to those that need it most and more details on this initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
  • Two separate Scottish Government Child Bridging Payments of £130 for families of children who are eligible for a free school meal - due to be distributed in October and December - will be topped up by a further £100 per child for both months. The £100 payments will also be extended to low-income families of children of pre-school age with approximately 3,300 families across North Ayrshire (5,700 children) in line to receive the payment.
  • £500,000 to build on the existing community food network to ensure basic food provision is available to anyone who requires the support, recognising the growing membership and the anticipated increase in demand due to the impact of the expected rise in the energy cap.

NAC chiefs say these measures will build on the decision taken by cabinet in June to approve the allocation of £2.154 million of Scottish Government funding, providing a range of supports for low-income households and measures to stimulate economic recovery.

This includes a Public Transport Travel Scheme to support travel to work, support for the delivery of the council’s Modern Apprentice Programme, new Skills for Life work placements and Employer Recruitment Incentives, among other initiatives.

Labour councillor for Irvine West, Louise McPhater, who in her day job runs a local community centre, says the level of need in communities means that the proposed action falls short of what is needed.

She said: “After months of telling us they will ‘do all they can to support residents with the cost of living crisis’, finally we see some help being offered.

"However, the proposed package remains wholly inadequate when considered in the context of the deepening crisis.

“There are no fresh ideas in the package, just investment in existing schemes. Many of them were started by the last Labour administration so we are not against the package. It just simply is not enough.

“All of us who work in frontline community work are seeing people’s desperation increase every day as bills continue to soar and there is real worry about the winter ahead. Despite that, we have a package on the table which is over £1 million less than Labour proposed in June.

“If the council is to step up and deliver a package that meets the challenges local people face, then the council will need to show the political will to make big decisions.

"More funding, from different sources, is available. It shows a lack of initiative and ambition to simply divert the small proportion of the Investment Fund, that Labour created, that remains uncommitted to a specific project.

"But if that is all that they are going to do, they need to be honest and explain where the money is coming from – it is being diverted from the internationally-acclaimed Community Wealth Building initiative.

“Alongside my Labour colleagues, we will continue to make the argument for more support.”