30-05-2025
Renfrewshire councillors urged to guard against complacency over food insecurity amid inflation rise
Councillor Jacqueline Cameron said she and her peers shouldn't "get used to this" as she labelled it unacceptable.
Renfrewshire councillors have been urged to guard against complacency over food insecurity as UK food inflation increased to an annual high this month.
SNP depute council leader Jacqueline Cameron said she and her peers shouldn't "get used to this" as she labelled the situation unacceptable at a meeting on Wednesday.
She issued the warning as the topic was discussed at the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee – a task force which focuses support for those affected by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. It came as UK food prices rose 2.8 per cent in the year to May.
Councillor Cameron, chair of the sub-committee and representative for Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: "There was a time when food banks didn't exist and now we seem to be quite used to the fact that food banks exist and the cost-of-living crisis is continuing and continuing.
"It was just a reminder to myself really that we can't be complacent about this because it's still there and people are still struggling but we see the stats.
"It's just a note to self to say, don't get used to this and don't think that this situation is acceptable because it's not, no matter how long it's ongoing."
Councillor Cameron issued the plea after Councillor Graeme Clark, vice chair of the sub-committee and Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, raised the subject at the meeting.
He said: "UK food inflation rose for the fourth consecutive month to a one-year high in May and I just wondered if there are any additional measures which we could take to reduce food insecurity across Renfrewshire and help those who are providing food help at this time? It seems to be a priority because of the way in which things are going."
Annabelle Walter, the council's connected communities manager, pointed to the work of Fair Food Renfrewshire – a partnership of organisations working together to ensure access to good food for all – as she responded.
She said: "I think there's always more that can be done around food insecurity. We are working on a number of things as a priority within the Fairer Renfrewshire programme, which I think will help to contribute to that picture.
"We continue to have these really strong working relationships with our partners that provide food support in the broader sense but particularly ... as part of that sub-group from the Fair Food partnership around partners providing emergency food provision.
"I think it might be beneficial to understand where they are in terms of identifying some of the priorities across those partners and perhaps we could look at bringing something back to this sub-committee around what's emerging from that group and some of those partnerships, as well as some of the priorities that we're bringing forward in terms of breakfast club work and other food provision across the programme and council services."
