West Dunbartonshire’s new Labour council administration have launched a £5m plan aimed at helping residents with the soaring cost of living.
The proposals are set to create a household energy partnership and abolish non-residential care charges.
Under the vision, published yesterday (Monday), the local Labour group have pledged to:
● End non-residential social care charges putting more than £1m back into the pockets of vulnerable people.
● Create an initial £250,000 household energy fund to help residents with the soaring cost of energy.
● Deliver a £1m help for carers package, including respite, to support unpaid carers, kinship carers and foster carers.
● Establish a fund to support community groups and voluntary organisations, such as foodbanks – including a £1m injection of funding in capital projects.
● Support local residents through budgeting for the cost of living crisis, funding additional staff for welfare advice and for business support.
● Offer support for families over the school holidays with £1m to enable free access to activities for children.
Labour were returned to power in May’s local elections, winning all 12 seats in which they stood and replacing the previous minority SNP administration.
Deputy leader of WDC, Councillor Michelle McGinty said: “I believe that everyone gets into politics to try and help improve the lives of the people in their community, that is why I am immensely proud that the Labour administration are able to introduce an initial package of support that will help alleviate some of the pressures that people are facing at the minute.
“We are aware that things are expected to get worse and that is why we cannot become complacent, and we are already putting together a working group that will continue to look at measures that can be implemented to further help local people during this crisis.”
Whilst Labour MSP for Dumbarton Jackie Baillie added: “From tackling poverty to investing in services, ending non-residential care charging and putting money back into peoples’ pockets, this Labour administration is stepping up for the people of West Dunbartonshire.
“This is the difference that Labour in power makes.”
