Agenda item - School Meals

This report considers the following issues:

The school meals price to be charged from September 2009
The allocation of the School Lunch Grant

RESOLVED: (i) That the Executive Member approves option 3 (a selling

price of £2.15 per primary meal) and the grant be used to fund one off initiatives in accordance with the criteria shown in paragraph 13 of the report including:

· The contingency required to fund the shortfall between the contract price and the cost of providing school meals if take up is lower than that predicted, approximately £20k.

· To fund the introduction of dishwashers in all schools (whether in the catering contract or not) that do not have them (19) as these save on staff time, water and energy consumption, approximately £160k.

· Other one off initiatives at the request of schools or arising out of work with the School Food Trust leaving a modest carry forward for 2010/11.

(ii) That officers be requested to look at ways in which it may be possible in the future to provide assistance to families in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

(iii) That officers continue to work with schools to promote the take-up of meals and to ensure that who are eligible are aware of their entitlement to free school meals.

REASONS: (i) To allow for the purchase of equipment to improve

the working conditions and efficiency of staff and to enable a lower than anticipated selling price increase (10p instead of 15p).

(ii) To promote the take-up of school meals.

The Executive Member received a report on School Meals and was requested to consider:

· The school meals price to be charged from September 2009

· The allocation of the School Lunch Grant.

Officers stated that it was recognised that school meals were an important part of the school day and were keen to ensure that affordable, nutritious and high quality meals were provided.

In July 2007, the Schools Forum had been consulted on the school meals prices from September 2009. The Executive Member was asked to confirm the uplift in school meal prices as agreed in July 2007, or to allocate the School Lunch Grant in such a way as to vary the agreed uplift in school meal prices given alternative calls on this grant funding.

The Executive Member gave consideration to the following options:

Option 1 (freezing the selling price) would require most of the grant to be used to subsidise the contract in 2009/10, leaving very little funding for other initiatives/equipment
Option 2 (a 5p (2.4%) increase in the selling price), would leave a significant amount available for equipment, but leaves no carry forward into 2010/11
Option 3 (a 10p (4.9%) increase in the selling price), would leave a target amount for equipment, and leaves a small carry-forward into 2010/11
Option 4 (a 15p (7.3%) increase in the selling price to the price set out in the last Schools Forum report), would leave an amount for equipment, and leave a significant carry-forward into 2010/11.

The Executive Member questioned officers on the proposed price increase. The questions raised and officer responses are attached at Annex 1 to the minutes.

The Executive Member expressed concern at the situation that would be faced when the School Lunch Grant came to an end. She stated that she was also mindful of the difficulties that families were facing because of the recession and urged that everything possible be done to promote the take-up of free school meals.