A Stirling councillor has called for the council to act “with greater urgency” on the cost of living emergency, claiming that an action group set up to discuss the ongoing crisis has failed to meet since its formation in June.
The cross-party group was established at June’s full council meeting to respond to the deteriorating economic situation facing Stirling households, with many facing spiralling energy costs.
However, Stirling SNP group leader at the council, Councillor Scott Farmer says that the group has not yet met to discuss the crisis.
Councillor Farmer said: “At the June council meeting, councillors heard all about the Tory-Labour administration’s so-called urgent approach to combat the unfolding cost of living crisis blighting our communities. And yet, months since it was agreed to reconstitute the cost of living action group – there’s yet to be a single meeting.
“The people of Stirling expect governments at all levels to be working closely to address the cost of living crisis. I warmly welcome news that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stepped up regular resilience meetings to address the coming crisis this winter, which is far more than we’ve seen from the rudderless UK Government currently.
“I’d urge the Tories and Labour members to pull themselves together and get this action group moving, to begin addressing the serious concerns our residents have going into a bleak winter.”
Responding, council leader< Labour councillor Chris Kane said that Councillor Farmer had not raised his concerns with the administration, accusing the SNP member for Stirling West of failing to engage group leaders’ meetings.
Councillor Kane said: “This is the first time I’m hearing Councillor Farmer’s concerns. He doesn’t engage with me at the council and refuses to attend group leaders’ meetings if Councillor Neil Benny is also invited. If he were to engage more, he’d both see, and be welcome to influence, the hard work that is being done every day by the Labour administration and council officers to help address the cost of living crisis.
“The council allocated almost two million pounds for cost of living support this year, which in recent weeks has, among many things, helped low-income families feed their kids during the summer holidays and provided £200 towards school uniforms.
“Our advice services are ensuring people are maximising the assistance they’re entitled to from all levels of government, and I would urge anybody struggling to get in touch. We must and we will do more. This is a national emergency, and our citizens expect politicians at every level of government to work constructively rather than play petty politics while people worry about how they are going to heat their homes in the coming months.”
Leader of the Scottish Conservative Group, Cllr Neil Benny said: “Given the previous five years of inactivity, complacency and ineptitude displayed by Cllr Farmer when he was council leader his call for action is the perfect definition of irony. We would welcome a meeting being organised by the Labour administration and would engage constructively as we always do.”
