A MSP has urged South Lanarkshire Council to tap into reserves to help support the people of East Kilbride through the cost of living crisis.
Collette Stevenson MSP has written to SLC urging them to do all they can to help local residents struggling to make ends meet.
It comes as energy regulator Ofgem announced today that the typical household energy bill will hit £3549 a year from October 1 - with warnings of costs skyrocketing into next year.
Figures on an online report show that SLC "have around £150m in reserves" in a 2021/22 statement, and Ms Stevenson wants to see some of that utilised.
The MSP told Lanarkshire Live : "People in East Kilbride are struggling with their finances, as a result of high inflation and the skyrocketing costs for food and energy.
“Glasgow City Council have made available Scotland Loves Local gift vouchers worth £105 to 85,000 eligible residents.
"Seven hundred businesses have signed up to the scheme and the benefits are huge.
"I am keen to understand if our local authority have considered a similar scheme here – it would be great to see it happen.
“Additionally, I believe that with the significant pressures on people, regardless of their council tax reduction status that SLC should look into some form of energy voucher as a means of offering further support."
SLC's chief executive, Cleland Sneddon, said they "absolutely understand" the pressures facing people, saying the council have "worked hard to create a wide range of supports" to help.
He added: “An additional £4.6m has been allocated to provide these support measures, including the provision of direct financial assistance from a range of hardship funds and energy vouchers from September 1 to those on prepaid meters.
"This supplements the support already offered
“It is important to note we are providing this extensive support to local people despite the significant financial pressures being faced by local authorities.
"We have had to find savings of more than £155m in the last 10 years and currently face a £32m budget gap in the next financial year."
Mr Sneddon also said the Scottish Government told the authority to expect a flat cash settlement in terms of its grant, despite "inflation driving our own costs up by 10 per cent, and rising".
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