Taskforce recruited by council to tackle poverty
Warm packs with hot water bottles, blankets and slow cookers will be handed out
Perth and Kinross Council will hand out blankets, flasks and hot water bottles to struggling local people this winter.
The move is part of unprecedented plans to tackle the “misery” caused by the cost of living crisis.
The ‘warm home’ packs will be issued and buildings opened up for freezing residents to heat up.
An anti-poverty taskforce will also be formed as part of action to address the dire local need.
And an emotional council leader Grant Laing said he was “angry” that local residents were in such a plight.
“What a position to be in in Perth and Kinross – and other places across the country – in 2022,” he said, as members unanimously vowed to stand up for those on the brink.
Labour councillor Brian Leishman added that the “misery” facing local people was “disgraceful” stating “we are one of the richest countries in the world”.
Approximately one in four children in Perth and Kinross are living in poverty – more than 5155 children. There are 13,000 Perth and Kinross residents who earn less than the living wage of £9.50 an hour – and 24,000 are in lower paid employment.
As a result of the spiralling cost of living the average household in Perth and Kinross had been forecast to see its annual budget stretched by £2958.
SNP councillor John Rebbeck reminded members that poverty does not discriminate at the meeting on Wednesday and said: “I think it’s important to know that being an elected member and having lived experience of poverty are not mutually exclusive.
“There are members of this chamber just now who have experienced poverty in the past or indeed currently still do.”
While Perth and Kinross has the reputation of being a wealthy area a report put before councillors explained “closer examination paints a different picture for a large part of our local communities”.
The new Anti-poverty Taskforce will be made up of five councillors – one from each of the political groups represented in the council – SNP, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour – four representatives from other public sector agencies; three representatives from the voluntary sector; three from the private sector/business and three from Perth and Kinross communities including one young person.
As members united to approve the plans, chokedup council leader Grant Laing said: “I am normally pleased to move a report but I am actually angry that we’re having to move this report. What a position to be in in Perth and Kinross – and other places across the country - in 2022.
“I’m relieved and assured we’ll get full council approval for this because we’re trying to do this for everybody who’s out there.”
The Strathtay councillor added: “We are all very aware of rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and increases in the cost of food, fuel and energy – basics of life – that are squeezing household budgets more and more. This affects all of us.
“Although many people will see Perth and Kinross as an affluent area, we know there are pockets of real poverty and that even in areas of high employment, many are on low wages.”
Cllr Laing said: “We need to act now. We are on the precipice of a crisis that will hit our most vulnerable residents the hardest. Those who are already struggling to make ends meet could easily find themselves in an impossible situation.”
It was seconded by Labour councillor Brian Leishman who said it was “imperative” PKC helps and works alongside local organisations to be the “caring compassionate council our residents desperately need”.
The Perth City North councillor said: “The misery and destitution people in our communities are living in is disgraceful when we bear in mind we are one of the richest countries in the world and there should be no reason for poverty to exist and be tolerated.”
He called for a need to give residents “hope” and added: “We need to show them that we are in solidarity with them, that we genuinely care and that their troubles are ours too.”
As part of the motion an additional investment of £470,000 – taken from Covid reserves – will be used to provide support for warm spaces, community food and warm homes packs with Cllr Laing saying it was “only a start”.
In response to a question from Conservative Strathallan councillor Keith
Allan, Depute Director of Communities Clare Mailer told councillors the warm homes pack will include blankets, hot water bottles, thermos flasks and slow cookers.
The council report stated £170,000 would be given “to community groups/ organisations to purchase and distribute warm home packs as well as the provision of community food”.
It is not clear yet how many warm home packs will be distributed.
The rest of the £470,000 will be split as follows: £150,000 to organisations providing warms spaces for the public; £120,000 cost of living crisis payment to kinship and foster carers; £5000 to cover engagement payments for those with lived experience, and £25,000 of funding to local business networks “to lever in support for businesses to tackle poverty”.
Conservative group leader John Duff said: “It is apparent that the challenges of the cost of living crisis requires us all to work together at local, regional and national levels to address the serious consequences facing us.
“While I understand the need to use some of our resources now to try and alleviate some of the immediate pain we must also keep one eye to the future. Yes, this council has a duty to help but we [as a council] too are also facing a cost of living crisis.
“We must recognise the stark fact every penny spent from reserves will have a future impact for our services and our workforce.”
Lib Dem councillor Liz Barrett – who set up South Perth Community Food Share – said: “Need is rising and I really do fear the coming of this winter.”
Provost Xander McDade (Independent) welcomed the cross-party consensus as “very positive”.
Councillors unanimously agreed to establishing the taskforce.