Agenda item

This draft final report presents all of the information gathered in support of this review together with some draft review conclusions and recommendations.  The Learning & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee is asked to agree the recommendations prior to the report being submitted to Cabinet.

Members considered the draft final report  arising from the School Meals Scrutiny review together with some review conclusions and draft recommendations.  The Committee were asked to agree the recommendations prior to the report being submitted to Cabinet.

Members were reminded that soon after starting the review, the Government had made its announcement that from September 2014 all Key Stage 1 (Infant) children would be entitled to free school meals. The Chair of the Task Group drew Members attention to the review conclusions (page 47) which found that the majority of schools wished to remain within an Local Authority contract . The Head of School Services advised that the local authority had been in negotiations with the contractor as the current contract was due to end in July 2015 with an option to extend the contract by two years. He advised he was confident that they would see a significant reduction in the school meal price.

The Chair explained that from the visits they had undertaken, it was clear that all schools visited had the capacity to provide the additional school meals from September 2014. The Head of School Services confirmed that there was sufficient space within all York schools and funding was being made available to the local authority to make changes to the kitchen areas of schools where necessary.

Members noted that the main barrier against take up of school meals was their price and that York had the most expensive meal price in Yorkshire and the Humber and this was a significant influence to parents on take up.

It was agreed that the list of school visits be amended before presentation of the final report as not all the planned visits had been undertaken.

The Committee thanked the task group and scrutiny officer for their hard work on the review.

Resolved: (i)      That the report be noted.

                   (ii)      That the draft review recommendations at paragraphs 68 & 69 of the report be endorsed.

Reason:  To conclude the review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols, and to enable the review final report to be presented to Cabinet in early April 2014.