Glenrothes councillors have described their anger at the need to establish a foodbank in the town.
Representatives, although unanimous in their support for the initiative, said that the need to establish such an enterprise in the 21st Century was a “tragedy” and “a scandal”.
They were venting their frustrations after granting funds to assist with the establishment of the foodbank, which is to be located at Pentland Court in Rimbleton.
Much of the money required will assist with rental costs for premises and while councillors were keen to back the project, there was widespread concern that some people are having to utilise foodbanks to survive.
SNP councillor Peter Grant said: “I would go beyond calling it a tragedy and say it is a scandal. We should feed people first and sort out the details later.
“If the only way to get this up and running immediately is to give £12,000 in rent then we should give £12,000 in rent. We can’t have people going hungry while we sort out procedures.”
The SNP’s Ross Vettraino added: “It’s a crying shame that, in the 21st Century, we are required to establish a foodbank. We should be ashamed of ourselves and it is only going to get worse.”
Meanwhile, Labour councillor Ian Sloan described the need for a foodbank as a “tragedy”. The initiative will be spearheaded by Glenrothes YMCA and supported by local churches and charity organisations.
Mary Hill, director of the YMCA, addressed committee members, warning of a projected 62% increase in the number of food parcels distributed in the current financial year compared to last year.
As well as food for those who urgently require it, support services will also be made available for some of the town’s most vulnerable people.
Working with the Trussell Trust charity, which opened a foodbank in Leven this week, the organisers hope to run the Glenrothes project for an initial two-year period.
With the formation of a formal foodbank service, councillors were also keen to ensure that the system could not be abused and that those in true need of help would receive it.
Some councillors were also concerned that Fife Council could not further assist in providing premises for the initiative, despite those behind the foodbank seeking help.
Councillor Vettraino added: “There does need to be a way of assessing who can get help but at the moment if people need fed, it is because they are desperate.
“The credentials of the ‘Y’ are of the highest order but what concerns me is that Fife Council can help and, in my experience, can be most unhelpful.
“There are premises sitting empty that they cannot get. The council’s raison d’etre is to help the community.”
Labour councillor Kay Morrison added: “The ‘Y’ has been working on this for months and already has a great deal of experience in this field.
“This will help people in urgent need and provide food for those that desperately need it.”