A clear food poverty action plan for North East Lincolnshire is being pushed for, as more people live below the breadline. Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe wants it to identify the food poverty challenges, solutions, and partners for the council to collaborate with. She has stated there is not such a plan currently that councillors are aware of. Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer, stronger communities, is the council's food poverty champion. He indicated a plan exists, but the council will have a rewritten food poverty action plan policy by the summer. Read More: The big change coming to bin collections in northern Lincolnshire, as councils awarded millions of pounds to prepare Grimsby's food bank co-ordinator under threat as council tries to find fresh funding "Last year in North East Lincolnshire, 35 per cent of children were living in poverty," said Cllr Aisthorpe. Recently published government figures show there were 12 million people in absolute poverty in the
UK in 2022/23. A report on community food provision was discussed at March's full council, prompted by a council motion a year before . This stated the council would "continue with the successful food poverty action plan". "I uncovered that not one single councillor has seen this action plan," said Liberal Democrat Cllr Aisthorpe. "There are many other councils who are already ahead of us on this." "We cannot afford to delay the matter any longer, but due to tribal politics between Conservatives and Labour, our area is left behind yet again when stronger action could have started last March." An amendment for immediate drafting of such a plan by Cllr Aisthorpe was deferred until July because the overall food report was objected to. Stock image of tins of food at a food bank (Image: PA) Cllr Shepherd committed, though, to a food poverty action plan appearing before councillors in the summer. "We're in the process of re-writing our policy." "One of the things that's really difficult at the moment is establishing true figures from those who present at food banks," explained Cllr Shepherd. People presenting at the borough's food banks with no fixed abode do not have to register the first time. All the borough's food banks had reported an increase in such users. The new policy will include reporting of this as part of new procedure. Reasons people are appearing at food banks are trying to be established. "Then we may be able to deal with some of those reasons," he said, such as individuals who lack the facilities to feed themselves. "Both We Are One and Rock Foundation do 300 hot meals a day," said Cllr Shepherd, referring to the two largest food bank providers' demand. "The biggest worry for us is the provision of food, and the volunteers who actually run it," he said of resources needed. Food bank volunteers did "sterling work in a very difficult situation". Cllr Shepherd said Cllr Aisthorpe, an East Marsh Ward councillor, had not visited We Are One's food bank in her ward. "She has one of the biggest food banks in the borough in her ward. Why has she never visited?" A volunteer at The Rock Foundation food bank, one of ten different food banks in the borough (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) Cllr Aisthorpe did not directly dispute, but said: "My colleagues and I do talk to the food banks regularly outside of the facilities themselves. We also have regular discussions with our residents who use the food banks, and we direct them accordingly, who are often in despair, don't know where to turn, and are often in floods of tears as well." A colleague recently visited The Rock Foundation, and ward councillors had been in contact with We Are One when it needed a new home. "We are very much giving as much support as we can to food banks." Join the FREE Grimsby Live
WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp - all you need to do is click the link . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Dismay at delay Cllr Aisthorpe expressed dismay her amendment for a food poverty action plan was deferred. This was caused by
Labour and Co-op Cllr Karl Wilson's objection to the food provision report, and legal uncertainty on how to proceed. Cllr Wilson said he objected as he felt it did not give information relevant to the original motion that called for it. "I challenged the validity of the report as it was agreed that a progress update would be given to council in six months time." All party group leaders agreed deferral after immediate legal clarity on if his challenge was correct was not possible. "This was just a technical point of order, which would allow the council to fulfil its obligations." Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe, pictured, is concerned the government's Household Support Fund is still due to end this year (Image: Copyright Unknown) Cllr Aisthorpe was unhappy with the delay because funding for a community food coordinator role would be up by then, and there are only two months left of the government's Household Support Fund. This has funded not only 8,000 free school meals, but also more than 25 warm hub spaces in the borough this winter. "Unfortunately, there isn't a Plan B if this funding disappears." She also called at full council to work with local MPs to lobby for its further extension, or the council to find a more sustainable solution. The food coordinator is employed by Support Sector NEL, run by local charity Forum CIO. Its deputy chief officer Pippa Robson said: "Sector Support North East Lincolnshire has welcomed the opportunity to host the community food co-ordinator post since 2020. While the funding for this role is coming to a close, we will continue to offer advice and support to community groups that provide free or low-cost food to those in need."