This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2001. Please could you send me the following information in response to these questions?
Warm Banks have been described as ‘warm spaces' to provide heated sites for those unable to afford their energy bills', which will be rolled out through the winter as a response to the energy crisis of 2022.

1. Has the council approved plans for any council-run ‘warm banks’, ‘warm spaces’, or locations where people can access warmth as a result of the energy crisis at no cost since April 6th 2022?
Yes

2. If so, how many?
There will be at least 6 to be located in libraries where they have space available. Others will be run by our VCS partners.

3. How is your authority funding or intending to fund these warm banks? (i.e. were any grants sought, or is the council providing grants to third-sector organisations to do so)
These are being funded out of existing budgets.

4. If the council has approved any warm banks or similar, did the authority acquire grants in order to fund them and - if so - what were the names of those grants?
We have been unable to secure external funding sources for council-run provision.

5. If there are warm banks in the local authority area, how many are run by the council and how many are run by external organisations?
There will be at least 6 run by the council and a further 12 are in the process of being established with voluntary, community and faith sector partners.

6. If the council has approved any warm banks or similar, what is or will be the eligibility criteria to access them?
We are not currently establishing any overarching eligibility criteria to restrict use of the warm spaces.

7. How much funding has been approved for providing ‘warm banks’ or similar since April 6th 2022?
No additional funding has been provided yet, but we are crowdfunding in order to provide support to voluntary, community or faith sector partners where needed.

8. If there are warm banks operating or set to operate in the local authority area – how many of these will operate or do operate from within council-owned buildings? Can you state which buildings they are?
Warm spaces within libraries will operate from council-owned buildings, some of the voluntary sector offer will as well to utilise assets currently leased to them. This is being mapped out for launch in coming weeks with several venues yet to be approved.