Westminster City Council has unveiled a budget aimed at helping residents hit by the cost-of-living crisis.
It includes a major investment in temporary housing, a freeze on council tax and free school meals.
The council, which Labour took control of last year, announced it was investing £85m buying up hundreds of temporary properties to provide 270 extra homes in or near the borough over the next three years.
The budget plans will mean a freeze in the authority’s part of the council tax for the next year, which it says means Westminster will continue to offer the cheapest Band D rates in the country.
There will also be free school meals for all state primary school pupils in an investment worth £2.7m over the next 18 months and a £10m cost-of-living package including help for school uniforms.
The council announced £26m of savings through cutting energy costs and getting better deals from suppliers.
Leader Adam Hug said: ‘This significant investment won’t solve the housing crisis, but we can at least help some of those people to live in a more settled home that better meets their needs in Westminster.
‘We want to keep families and communities together in Westminster, rather than strung out away from the schools and people they have got to know.
‘The council is also reviewing its entire housing programme to ensure we make best use of council land and are providing truly affordable homes.’
