New council role to tackle cost of living crisis fears
A senior Renfrewshire Council officer will be appointed food champion as part of the response to the cost of living crisis.
The move was agreed after a candidate warned people are facing a choice of “eat or heat” at a full council meeting on Thursday.
Alison Ann-Dowling, standing for re-election in Houston, Crosslee and Linwood, urged the local authority to “prioritise food justice” as it seeks to help those in the community struggling to pay bills and feed their families.
The council has committed to doing so by identifying a lead officer as “food champion” and delivering a strategy on developing and maintaining food and fuel partnerships.
Ann-Dowling said: “We all know that the cost of living crisis is starting to bite in Renfrewshire and for many people unfortunately it’s only going to get worse when energy prices rise again later in the year.
“In my own ward I know that more people are struggling with the choice to eat or heat, so I am asking council to prioritise food justice as part of its cost of living crisis response, and to also support the appointment of a food champion in local government.”
A food champion is essentially an individual, who can draw together different works streams in a council, track progress and be a single point of contact for external organisations such as foodbanks.
Council leader Iain Nicolson, standing for re-election in Erskine and Inchinnan, said he completely supported the “intent” behind AnnDowling’s motion at full council and emphasised the importance of a “comprehensive strategy” in an amendment.
The agreement across the chamber on the matter encouraged AnnDowling and her Labour colleague Colin McCulloch, who is standing for re-election in Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank.
She added: “Ihe reality is that even people with reasonable incomes are panicking about how they’re going to pay their bills, before we even factor in individuals or families who don’t have the means to make these increases and are looking at reducing their food intake as a way to cope.
“So, I’m very reassured there is a clear consensusin the chamber today to prioritise this issue.”