Council unites to add more ‘warm spaces’

Collins added the term “warm bank” to their dictionary this year, meaning a place where people who cannot afford to heat their own homes can go to warm up.

In the West Country, a different term, “warm spaces” is often used, but the meaning is the same.

Now, Bath and North East Somerset councillors from all sides look set to work together to enable more “warm banks” this winter after Labour councillors’ five-point plan was backed unanimously by a meeting of the full council.

Council deputy leader Richard Samuel, inset, said: “We will find the solutions. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that organisations who run warm spaces are not financially out of pocket from doing so.

“I applaud all the work that’s been done, and we will stand behind that financially as far as we can.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council had previously announced £250 grants, so-called “hublets” in libraries and a map of approved warm spaces, which Labour considered inadequate.

Labour councillors in Bath say that their conversations with community groups and churches, who know their residents better than anyone, show that they can’t run “warm spaces” without greater council help in a range of areas.

Labour group leader Robin Moss said: “We know money’s tight, but working together, we can build on the council’s first steps. “Vulnerable people are anxious, at home in the cold, and it’s only mid-november.

The Labour motion demanded that their Lib Dem colleagues should maximise the council’s experience gained from the pandemic to prioritise keeping people warm and safe this winter.

Cllr Moss said: “Without their support, community organisations across B&NES wouldn’t get the specific help they need, and benefit from our council’s impressive expertise and scale.

“We are very relieved that the administration agrees that as a council we can do much more than the current offer.

“We look forward to rapid results for community groups and churches who must get the help they need as fast as possible.”

The Labour team developed a practical five-point action plan to address community groups’ concerns, and reached out to their Liberal Democrat colleagues for help to implement it.

The plan to help community organisations asks the council to set up a network that will meet by November 30, and whose goal is to:

■ Work with partners to ensure that vulnerable residents have the shortest possible journey to a warm space;

■ Help residents access community transport that enables access and safe travel home;

■ Place other useful facilities like foodbanks onsite;

■ Build community organisations’ capabilities and capacity to help with volunteer training, DBS checks, refreshment facilities, insurance, secure fuel storage, risk assessments and more;

■ Provide secure and hygienic facilities which take Covid and flu into consideration, as well as facilities outside of office hours.

“I am glad Labour’s effort has brought about this result – because support is always about more than funding,” said Mr Moss. “It’s advice, expertise, shared endeavour, and being a community.”