Urgent calls will be made to the Scottish Government requesting a “winter break” on evictions to keep people off the streets at the coldest time of year.

Glasgow councillors have unanimously supported a motion, proposed by the city’s Green group, which demands action from the government.

It follows calls from campaigners at tenants’ union Living Rent for a winter break.

The motion, put forward by councillor Tanya Wisely, stated there are a “variety of ways” the policy could be achieved.

These range from an eviction ban, similar to France, a requirement to re-house, stronger pre-action requirements which consider people’s situation or a stronger emergency housing safety net.

Glasgow’s authority will now write to the government’s housing minister, Kevin Stewart, asking him to consider ways to reduce evictions.

Green councillor Jon Molyneux said: “At present, the solutions we have aren’t working or the improvements we need aren’t being delivered as fast as we would wish.”

He said the motion would “reduce the risks of people being homeless in the coldest part of the year”. “It is clear that more must be done.”

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Ms Wisely said nearly 700 people had presented themselves to Glasgow Night Shelter last winter.

Labour councillor Elaine McDougall said: “I hope that all of us in this chamber could agree that housing is a right, not a privilege.

“A roof over your head and a warm home to call your own is something that every single person in our city is entitled to.”

SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly said evictions are “always a last resort”. “A lot of people find this time of year extremely difficult, with huge financial stresses.

“Added bills and stresses on top of a move to Universal Credit can put people in serious financial difficulties which may well lead to the possibility of eviction.

“The threat of eviction is the last thing people need.”

The SNP agreed to support a Labour amendment to the motion after it was changed from “expresses disappointment” at the absence of plans to examine a winter break law in the recent Programme of Government to “notes” the absence.

However, Green councillor Dr Martin Bartos said: “There’s a role for speaking truth to power. I don’t think it sends a good message to delete it.

“Do you really want to be insisting on disappointment being removed on this topic, which is so important?”

SNP representative Graham Campbell had said he would be happy with the original amendment.