RESIDENTS who own businesses in Basingstoke and Deane deserve better in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis, a councillor has said.

As previously reported, a scheme to support residents facing financial difficulties due to the rising cost of living was introduced by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) in August this year.

Approved by councillors in July, the £1m Cost of Living Assistance Fund helps households in the borough struggling to pay bills, with grants available to help pay for food and energy costs.

READ MORE: How to apply for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cost of Living Assistance Fund

During a full BDBC council meeting held on Thursday, October 20 the leader of the Independent group Cllr Paul Harvey called on the council to see what else they can do to help those struggling to pay their bills.

He said: “Colleagues from across the chamber have been discussing the needs of businesses and our residents coping with the cost-of-living crisis. When we submitted this motion at the beginning of the month the political world was in a very different place.

“All of this is just one huge soap opera, but it is so serious because our residents and our business community deserve better than the damage that we're seeing."

He went on to say that residents’ energy prices and mortgages are directly affected by former Prime Minister Lizz Truss's decisions.

Ha also called on Maria Miller, the MP for Basingstoke, to do more to help.

He continued: "This motion asked us to consider what we can offer to the business community that faces the energy crises who are frightened. For many of them, it is pushing them to breaking point. I am not saying there is a magic wand to solve the crises, but we can look at what we can do.”

The motion was welcomed by many councillors in the room.

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Cllr Hannah Golding said during Covid BDBC were “consistently” one of the councils to get grants out to business.

She added: “I saw and heard from people about the difference that made for them so, of course, I am going to support this and how we can support businesses with a difficult time going forward."

Cllr Gavin James, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group agreed, adding: “This is something that the central government should be doing.

“I have spoken to town centre traders and the biggest problem is not housing problems is parking.”

He said some traders are being forced to spend over £70 to park their cars because they can’t get a business permit.

The motion was passed.