More needs to be done to tackle child poverty councillors have claimed, after new figures showing the extent of the issue in south Aberdeenshire were published.
A report, which was discussed by the Kincardine and Mearns area committee yesterday, revealed that almost 10% of children were living in poverty based on housing data from 2017.
Meanwhile, the report also highlighted that the Mearns had the highest percentage of children in poverty, with 16.72% living below the breadline.
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Councillors were also asked to consider an action plan which the authority is proposing for the future, to help tackle the problem.
North Kincardine councillor Alison Evison, who is a member of the committee, said: “We are looking forward to being able to discuss the Aberdeenshire child poverty Action plan at a future full council, where we hope to be able to see a range of innovative and community based actions to address a situation that should be unacceptable.
“In our SNP/Labour/communities opposition budget in February, we put forward proposals which would have supported the development of community lunch clubs where people of all ages could have enjoyed healthy meals together.
“We sought to address the isolation that rural poverty can cause by supporting more local bus routes. We hope that discussion of the child poverty action plan will allow our ideas to be given further consideration.”
Mearns councillor Leigh Wilson said: “Radical thinking is required if we are to help maximise family income and so support children in our communities.
“We continue to push for the trial of a system of basic income, which could help families manage the impacts of poverty and low wages.
“I know that far too many families across my ward are struggling and children should not keep missing out.”
