A council has approved the use of £3 million to house Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, members arguing it has a “moral duty to do our best to support those in need.”

Thanet District Council (TDC) is set to purchase nine new-build properties using both government funding and borrowing money itself.

Central government is providing £1.19m through the Local Authority Housing Support Fund, and TDC is set to borrow a further £1.996m for the properties.

Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for housing, Helen Whitehead (Lab), told the cabinet: “As human beings and as a council we have a moral duty to do our best to support those in need and those who are vulnerable.

“Providing a new and permanent supply of accommodation will also help to address local housing and homelessness pressures,” she added.

The homes are earmarked to house refugees for an “initial period” of up to three years, after which they will become part of the council’s total housing stock - which Cllr Whitehead told members consists of 3,470 properties.

“We may be providing for a particular purpose at this point but those are properties that will eventually come back into our portfolio,” Cllr Whitehead added.

It was revealed late last year that the number of households in emergency accommodation in Thanet had doubled over the course of a year.

Some 542 individuals or families urgently needed housing in 2021/22 - up from 273 the previous financial year.

The nine properties earmarked for refugees will be in the Westwood Cross area, and purchased by the council from the developer.

TDC also said that the cost of the £1.996 million of borrowing will be made back by the rent from council properties.

Many of the refugees to be homed are already in Thanet.

New council leader Rick Everitt (Lab) told the cabinet: “From my point of view the council can’t be in a position of turning down a grant of over a million pounds towards social housing and I think morally the council can’t be in a position of turning down this offer because it’s directed at refugees, particularly from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

“I understand people in the community saying ‘well what about us?’ I think it’s up to the council to answer that question, and certainly this administration intends to do exactly that,” he continued.

“It’s up to the council to make a success of this and to demonstrate that it’s going to provide more affordable housing for residents who currently live in the area.”

The decision is be ratified by the full council at a future meeting.