Councillors say they are working hard to address the health inequality issues in Weston.

The Mercury reported last week the town had the third highest level of inequality in the country.

But Cllr Ann Harley, chairman of North Somerset Council’s children and young people scrutiny panel, said the authority is looking at ways to improve the situation ‘all the time’.

She added: “North Somerset is a very responsible and proactive authority, and this has been proven with the setting up of working parties which research issues around inequality.

“Money is tight and it is a very sad situation but some of us work very hard to eradicate these issues.

“We live in a world where it is always going to be unequal, if we put up council tax then elderly people will struggle.

“Inequality is forefront in anything we do.

“We are working all the time to try and ease those pressures daily.”

A poverty hearing initiated by Equality North Somerset took place in July and was attended by support agencies.

The group has a long-term aim of reducing economic and social inequality by tackling the problems which cause poverty.

At the council meeting, some councillors spoke about the work which goes on to tackle inequality.

Cllr Reyna Knight called Cllr Davies’ motion ‘an insult’ to those working hard to tackle the issue.

She added: “A lot has been done to try to get things on a more even playing field.”