Council leader Elaine Murray has dismissed a bid by an energy giant to ask residents to give their £150 tax relief to struggling families.
Households are now receiving large increases in their electricity bills and the Scottish Government is forking out £150 council tax relief to people in bands A to D to help.
Energy supplier Utilita has now written to every local authority in the country asking them to urge residents to give that money to people in “fuel poverty” through various charities.
But Dr Murray said: “I would feel guilty asking people to do that.
“I don’t see it as the council’s responsibility … it is up to each and every individual how they want to use the £150 they receive.
“And I don’t want people feeling guilty because they are not in a position to give it away.
“So many people are hard pressed as it is. There are fuel costs rising, national insurance going up plus council tax increases.
“It is not up to the council to instruct people what to do with their £150 - it’s their money.”
Almost a third of the region’s residents have been plunged into energy poverty, according to a Scottish Government study from almost two years ago.
Dr Murray said: “That is awful but because we have so many people without work or in poorly paid jobs here that it is an unacceptable fact.”
Utilita has urged councils to ask residents to donate their council tax relief to Energy Action Scotland (EAS) to help poverty stricken people make ends meet.
Bill Bullen, founder and chief executive of the energy firm, has slammed the Government’s cost of living support package and says low-income households will be forced further into poverty.
And he insisted they will need to choose between heating or eating in colder months.
Close to two million households in Scotland will be given £150 to help cushion against the cost of living crisis.
Mr Bullen said: “The Chancellor’s cost of living support package is a broad-brush stroke that will hit millions that don’t need it and leave millions of fuel poor households facing challenges that are just unimaginable for those who are lucky enough to afford the energy they need.
“For example, where I live in Winchester, many of the houses are in tax bracket band D but their owners do not need financial assistance – this will be the case in many post codes.
“I have spoken to lots of people who have said they would like to donate their council tax rebate to help the fuel poor but most said they wouldn’t know how to.
“Therefore, I am urging all councils across Great Britain to include links to the National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland charities where donations go direct to fuel poor households.
“We have already spoken to a handful of councils who are very much in support of inviting residents to donate the £150 council tax relief, to those who need it more.
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get – but we need every council in Great Britain to do this now, before council tax bills go out.”
Meanwhile, Frazer Scott, chief executive of Energy Action Scotland, said: “Far too many households in Scotland are struggling with the energy costs and essential food stuff as the cost of living is rising.
“The energy to heat their homes is simply unaffordable and many will simply go without. One in three households in Scotland are now identified as being in fuel poverty. It isn’t right and it isn’t fair.
“If you can donate the value of your council tax rebate because you have the means to stay warm and donate it to an organisation like ours, we will make sure that this goes to help people in the most difficult and challenging circumstances. It could save a life.”
For anyone able to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DonateTheRebate
