Issue - meetings

The Chair of the Children, Education and Communities Scrutiny & Policy Committee to present the final report of the Task Group set up to review support for children’s food during school holiday times, including the recommendations to Executive arising from the review.

Resolved:  (i)      That the recommendations of the review, as set out in paragraph 6 of the cover report, be approved.

Reason:     To conclude the scrutiny review in line with the City of York Council’s scrutiny procedures and protocols.

                   (ii)      That the Executive Leader, the Leader of the Labour Group and the Chair of the Scrutiny committee write jointly to the relevant government Minister on the need for additional government funding and support, enclosing a copy of the review report.

Reason:     To continue to lobby government on a cross-party basis for funding to support children and families, against the background of the cost of living crisis.

Cllr Daubeney, as Chair of the Children, Education and Communities Scrutiny & Policy Committee, presented the final report of the Task Group set up by the committee to review support for children’s food during school holiday times.

The six recommendations arising from the extensive consultation and key findings of the review were reproduced in paragraph 6 of the cover report.  They had been approved by the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 3 May 2022.  In respect of Recommendation 4, it was reported that an additional £50k had been recently been allocated to food vouchers at the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Finance & Performance.

Members welcomed the report and thanked the Task Group for their work, whilst highlighting the need to continue to lobby the government for funding to support children and families.

Resolved:  (i)      That the recommendations of the review, as set out in paragraph 6 of the cover report, be approved.

Reason:     To conclude the scrutiny review in line with the City of York Council’s scrutiny procedures and protocols.

                   (ii)      That the Executive Leader, the Leader of the Labour Group and the Chair of the Scrutiny committee write jointly to the relevant government Minister on the need for additional government funding and support, enclosing a copy of the review report.

Reason:     To continue to lobby government on a cross-party basis for funding to support children and families, against the background of the cost of living crisis.