Waltham Forest Council’s leader has set out her plans for supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis this winter.

An estimated 11,000 residents currently rely on the borough’s food banks, while 25,000 children live in homes that are “struggling to make ends meet”.

At a full council meeting last night, Cllr Grace Williams announced key pledges including breakfast for vulnerable children, heated community “living rooms” and extra funding for foodbanks.

Addressing residents directly, she said: “We understand, we know there’s a crisis, your crisis is our action.

“We’re on your side. We’ll act, we’ll act together and we’ll act now – when it is most needed.”

Addressing councillors, she added: “When I talk to residents, I see a lot of emotions I’ve felt myself: they’re angry and they’re tired. We’re probably all tired of sitting in this room hearing the same story.

“They’re confused by the constant U-turns that we’ve seen [from the national government] and they’re bewildered by a Tory party that puts their interests before the national interest.”

Cllr Williams slammed the “failed government” for cutting the council’s budget by 66% in the last decade and said she was “scared” about the future.

To ensure financial stability in the “tough economic circumstances” ahead, chief executive Martin Esom has been asked to set up an “executive finance committee”.

Cllr Williams said: “We’ve heard about the effect that it may have on some of our capital programs.

“We’ve heard the impact that it’s having on our health and schools and social care, so we must do important work now.

“Public services save lives, they’re not things to be cut as though they’re inefficient.

“They’re not fat to be cut, they are the basis of a functioning society and they have been cut to the bone just when people need them most.”

Responding to Labour’s plans, Conservative group leader Emma Best provoked laughter in the chamber by suggesting a call for a general election would cause “instability”.

However, Cllr Best praised the extra funds for children’s breakfasts as “the way forward”.

Cllr Wiliams said the council has set aside £300,000 to give breakfasts to “our most vulnerable children” at nurseries and schools.

The council’s early help teams, schools and nurseries will be given £250,000 in vouchers that can be spent on “essential goods”, such as food and utilities.

A network of “warm, welcoming and judgement-free” community living rooms will be set up in libraries, community and faith centres across the borough.

To make sure residents are aware of what practical help is available a “well-being directory” is being set up and a pamphlet will be posted to “every household in the borough”.

Wider measures announced at the meeting include £600,000 to help residents retrofit homes through measures such as energy-efficient lightbulbs, reflective radiator panels and loft insulation.

It is hoped that 2,000 households will be able to cut their bills by up to £ 175 a year through the measures, provided by local non-profit The HEET Project and the council’s own company ServiceStore.

The retrofitting budget comes from bumper profits at the Edmonton Incinerator, which is passing them back to local councils by waiving its normal fees next month.

The council website now has a dedicated page listing what support is available here.