6 SCHOOL MEAL PRICE PDF 303 KB
Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Cemlyn Williams
Additional documents:
Decision:
Not to raise primary, special and all-through school meal price in
January 2021, and to commission the Head of Education Department to look at a
long-term policy for school meal price and to report back to the Cabinet.
Minutes:
The report was presented by Cllr Cemlyn
Williams
DECISION
Not to raise
primary, special and all-through schools’ meal price in January 2021, and to
commission the Head of Education Department to look at a long-term policy for
the price of school meals and to report back to the Cabinet.
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted
noting that although it was a brief report, it spoke volumes about the
Council's priorities. It was noted that the costs of providing school meals had
increased in 2020/21, and to meet those costs, the price of school meals would
need to be increased to £2.60, an increase of 4%. Attention was drawn to
Appendix 1 which compared Gwynedd school meal prices with the remainder of
Wales highlighting the fact that Gwynedd was the fifth highest county in terms
of school meal prices.
It was expressed that
without increasing the price of school meals, the education department would be
under additional pressure to fund the financial deficit. Nevertheless, the
challenges that families had been facing over recent months were highlighted
along with the Council's priority of reducing inequality.
It was expressed that this report was now
submitted every year. The need to look at the matter in the long-term was noted
and that further work was needed to look at the price of school meals.
Observations arising from
the discussion
¾ The report was welcomed
and it was noted that the decision not to increase the price was to be
welcomed. Sadness was expressed that there had to be an income target for
school meals whilst 1 in every 3 children lived in poverty. It was emphasised
that for some children, this was the only hot meal they ate during the day.
¾ The need to look at the matter in the long-term was noted and to go a
step further perhaps and to aim to provide free school meals for every child..
¾ It was expressed that
a number of children were eligible for free school meals noting that the
process might be a barrier for some. The need to promote free school meals was
highlighted. Attention was drawn to free school meals arrangements noting that
further work was needed to ensure that all those who were eligible were
receiving it.
¾ It was noted that it
would be great to be able to offer everyone free school meals. However, there
was a need to consider long-term plans for the future.
¾ It was expressed that the
department had flexibility this year in moving forward but there was a need to
look at the budget when considering options.
Awdur: Bethan Griffith