Jim Parker: Food banks belong to Dickensian times - but only we can change that

Look, I know I keep going on about regeneration schemes and Building a Greater Torbay but I really do make no apologies for that. I am obliged to my former Herald Express colleague and now Local Democracy Service reporter Guy Henderson for some astounding figures which just show why.
They reveal the number of people in the Bay struggling to make ends meet and who have needed help just to keep them and their families going.
The numbers and staggering amounts involved relate directly to the cost of living crisis. But this is a problem which goes far deeper that that with some people who have never experienced life on the breadline before and having to rely on food banks and wondering where the next meal is coming from.
Yep, a lot of that is down to bigger fuel bills and the spiralling cost of food. But much of is down to our poor economy, low wages, skills shortage, retaining young talent and bigger and bigger pockets of deprivation and poverty.
The cost of living figures show that more than 74,000 households have so far received around £13 million between them under a variety of schemes funded by the government and run by Torbay Council.
Over £8 million has been distributed through council tax rebates, with 55,000 households in bands A to D getting £150 each.
The figures are in a report due to go before Torbay council’s overview and scrutiny committee who will be asked to review the funding they’ve received.
They will also discuss whether they met the objectives to help local families last year.
In addition to the £8 million, the council distributed a further £373,000 in council tax rebates to 7,376 households who were not eligible for the money under the main scheme.
More than 10,000 households receiving council tax support got a further £150 off their bills, at a cost of £1.5 million. Just over 700 households who do not use mains gas received a total of £263,000 from the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
The council also administered four schemes to provide financial support for those households hit hardest by the escalating costs of food, fuel and other essential items.
Support provided included vouchers and direct awards.
Since October 2021 more than 73,000 payments have been made from those support schemes, costing around £3.75 million. They will continue at least until next March.
This gives you an idea of the challenges we face in the Bay, in many ways just the tip of the ice-berg.
Let's make it clear that this is not a Torbay-centric problem. There are many other places in the same boat especially Victorian-inspired seaside resorts such as the English Riviera.
But we are different to lots of other similar towns. We are in a better place.
We have more than £40 million to invest in our town centres and we have been identified by the government together with 19 other places as a 'Levelling Up partner'. A £400million fund has been linked to the partnerships but we are being told that that means nothing. Wer may get our share, we may get more than our fair share or we could get nothing!
What the government will do is offer us advice and guidance on delivering some of those schemes earmarked for the town centres in Torquay and Paignton, help us to prioritise and get some of them delivered after far too long in the making. I have always maintained 'deliver one and the rest will follow'.
But there has to be a will to accept change, to welcome developers and developments. And quickly. Only then will we transform our town centres, make them safer and more welcoming. They are in a sorry state at the moment and desperately need footfall, new footfall, to change the dynamics and make-up of the area. Only then will be able to offer better, higher paid jobs and homes for our young people, hope and a better future for people from all walks of life without the need to queue up at a food back which is more suited to Dickensian times rather than the 21st century!
Now is the Time!