A South London council has vetoed an idea to give heating money to community groups and said cold residents can hang out in libraries instead.

A motion was raised to create a £400,000 fund to support charities operating “warm banks” in the borough at a Bromley council meeting on Monday (October 10).

If approved, 100 warm centres could have applied for heating bill grants of up to £2,500 each under the plans. 

Speaking to move the motion, Councillor Simon Jeal said: “This council has an opportunity, arguably an imperative, to act and support these charities that have given so much support to our residents, and in many cases supported housing officers who have turned to them to support those in need.”

It was said at the meeting that the fund would equate to about four or five warm banks being set up in each ward.

In response, Councillor Colin Smith, leader of Bromley Council, said five centres per ward would be a “waste of electricity” and “waste of gas” and one to two hubs would be more preferable.

It was suggested that residents could keep warm in libraries which are within a mile and a half of 95per cent of residents.

 Cllr Smith said: “The council’s 15-strong fleet of libraries will be acting as warm places over the course of the winter,” before adding that they would be a “good place to start”.

However, Cllr Jeal said that the number of libraries in the borough does not equate to one per ward, and that they are not used to providing such support. 

Currently, each library across the borough has different opening times, with Hayes Library only opening three days a week and Biggin Hill Memorial Library opening every day.

Cllr Smith said: “Opening 100 warm centres, effectively for £2,500 each, without knowing how many people they are going to attract, who will go there, whether some of the people attending can afford, isn’t a good use and isn’t a well-targeted means of going about what I think we all agree is a very, very important job for our various homes this winter”

The motion also included improving council communication on how people can seek help from local food banks and support them. Cllr Jeal said the charities had been hit with a “triple whammy”, with the cost of living crisis forcing people to choose between heating and food and reducing donations, as well as rising energy costs for the charities themselves.

The opposition leader said Bromley Foodbank had seen their demand double, alongside donations dropping by 40pc.

Councillor Chris Price, who seconded the motion, said: “We all want Bromley to be an even better borough, an even better place to live. That means for the poorest, as well as for the richer.”

Concerned about the cost of the initiative, Cllr Smith said: “In three years’ time, even Bromley will be struggling to balance the books on current rate projections. £400,000 is not a small amount of money.”

The council leader praised the charity volunteers, and urged locals to come forward for the Household Support Fund and Hardship Fund if help is required.

Prior to the vote, Cllr Smith said: “I am sorry, because there have been some fantastic impassioned speeches opposite, all of which I know are sincere and from the heart.

"But we will not be supporting either the Labour motion, or the Liberal Democrat amendment.”

Cllr Jeal said at the meeting : “I am disappointed to hear that the Conservative group will not be supporting this motion.

"I am even more disappointed that they didn’t amend the motion to something which they could have supported.”

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