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At a meeting on Wednesday, April 9, the Plaid Cymru-led council committed to supporting a potential anti-poverty Multibank initiative.
The council called for action to eradicate the need for food banks in Wales and the UK.
Council cabinet member Alun Lenny said: “We realise that the journey out of austerity, and its impact on poorer families in particular, will not be achieved overnight, but UK Labour Government policies are making things worse.
“By slashing disability benefits, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is trying to balance the books on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our communities.
“This will inevitably increase pressure on food banks.”
The expansion of the Swansea-based Cwtch Mawr Multibank – which provides clothes, bedding, and furniture to those in need – into Carmarthenshire was discussed.
Mr Lenny said: “Any partnership aimed at helping families and individuals going through difficult times is obviously welcome.
“The County Council will give full support to the Multibank as long as it’s not to the detriment of existing successful ventures in Carmarthenshire.”
Councillor Hefin Jones also emphasised the importance of local organisations and charities in combatting poverty, saying: “We must not underestimate the role of local organisations and charities in our county that have been working for years – decades even – to alleviate the pain of deprivation and poverty.
“Food banks do fantastic work in towns.”
However, Mr Jones accused the Labour Party of hypocrisy, saying they both supported the Multibank and created more poverty through their policies.
He said: “As well as the benefits cuts, the National Insurance changes introduced by the UK Government will result in job losses, in particular amongst the lowest paid, as the threshold at which employers have to start paying NI is lowered to £5,000.
“This will hit people in urban and rural areas.
“Meanwhile, the Welsh Government’s own impact assessment on the last set of Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals foresees a direct loss of 5,000 jobs in rural Wales.
“This does not include job losses in the wider supply chain and associated industries, many of which are based in towns and larger villages.
“While we strive as a council to tackle poverty, Labour is pulling the carpet from under our feet.”
The council has asked its cross-party Tackling Poverty Advisory Panel to develop costed proposals associated with the Multibank, including options for securing external funding.
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