There are nine warm hubs so far across Wirral with more expected as Wirral Council prepares to use its libraries.
Due to rising energy costs and the cost of living crisis, Wirral Council announced a warm hub strategy in August which will offer those cutting back on heating over the winter a space to warm up.
Nine warm hubs are already in operation through a mix of community and church groups. These warm hubs are all on the east side of the Wirral in Moreton, New Brighton, Beechwood, Seacombe, New Ferry, and four in Birkenhead.
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The council plans to use its libraries too as warm hubs though sites are to be confirmed after a review of any ventilation issues is finished.
However the council said people are “always welcome” to use the Williamson Art Gallery, libraries, and leisure centres which are open to the public.
At the warm hubs, things like food and warm drinks, WiFi and computer access, as well as benefits and housing advice are provided if people need it. More details can be found through the Wirral InfoBank.
Wirral Council has also supported community groups with £1.2m of funding to “support cost of living challenges and can be used to support operation of warm places.”
The council says that feedback from communities show the “current offer is sufficient” though they will “review the levels of demand over the winter period and adjust these plans accordingly.”
The NHS, Merseyside Fire Service and the council are working too with vulnerable people who don’t want to attend public hubs due to health reasons and "provide help to their homes.”
At the same time, costs to heat and run council buildings have continued to go up putting more pressure on the council’s budget. Costs for leisure centres alone are expected to be more than £1.8m, around 92% of all energy costs and nearly £1m more than the previous year.
Councillors will also be discussing next week how else the council will support residents over the winter.
£1.17m is still to be allocated from more than £5.7m of financial support for people across Wirral. A report said it will be reviewing schemes such as fuel top-ups, whether support can be given out more often, and additional support to help people stay warm at home.
The report said the council’s action group on the cost of living is “in the process of evaluating insight and evidence to determine where the allocation of funding would be the most beneficial for residents.”
Support like 100% council tax support for the most-vulnerable and up to 87.5% discounts for those on low incomes with a capacity to work is still available as well as schemes like discretionary housing payments, £150 fuel rebates, as well as grants to reduce energy bills from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Planning for housing payments which helps people in rent arrears due to shortfalls in the benefits and Universal Credit system has been “difficult” due to varying support from the government, a report said.
The council is allowed to top this support up to 1.5 times the amount given by the government. While £1.1m was given in 2020, the government contribution in 2022 was more than £300m less than in 2018.
The council is also currently reviewing all earmarked reserves, money set aside for a particular purpose, to see what money can be reallocated to limit the impact of the rising cost of living.
Both the Conservatives and the Greens have proposed using more council reserves to support residents with the Conservatives proposing more than £8m of public health funds to be used.
However Labour criticised this accusing the Conservatives of putting jobs at risk by “raiding vital ring-fenced public health reserves” calling the proposals short-sighted and cruel.
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