EVEN though our economy is doing well, we should still be concerned about poverty.

Last week the council held another in its series of meetings to discuss how we can all tackle increasing levels of poverty.

In the previous week the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, had also called a meeting of key stakeholders to discuss this issue.

In Tim’s meeting, several of the organisations that assist people in poverty described how levels of poverty are increasing.

One foodbank described the rise in the number of referrals by 34 per cent in 2017 compared to 2016. The levels of referrals are continuing to rise. For the first two months of 2018 referrals are up by 19 per cent over the same period in the previous year.

Concern was also expressed at the impact of the roll-out of the new Universal Credit system which, it is feared, will impact thousands of households in the area. The freezing of most in-work benefits, when coupled with the current three per cent inflation, is applying a squeeze on the disposable income of the financially challenged. The way the system is administered is also causing hardship.

Child poverty is particularly problematic. Even though we have one of the lowest rates in Cumbria, official figures show that in the constituency child poverty (after housing costs) now exceeds 15 per cent. That is about one in every seven children.

Fortunately, there are organisations devoted to mitigating the potentially terrible consequences of poverty. The Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK, the credit union, the lunch clubs, Manna House, foodbanks, the churches and so many other organisations, together with the MP and local council, are determined to help.

There are several things we can do. Tim Farron is lobbying for a change in national policy which will improve and inflation-protect the delivery of benefits to those in need.

Locally, we are working to ensure all partners collaborate effectively. We want to make it easier for residents to access education to upgrade their skills. We will increase awareness of the support that is available, and we want to ensure that there is food provision during the school holidays for those that need it.

Due primarily to the national benefits system, the number of officially poor people is rising and is forecast to continue to rise. Poverty is awful. Working with other tiers of government and some wonderful voluntary organisations, I am determined that we will do all we can to mitigate its effect.