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Agenda item

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

 

To consider a report on the above.

 

Decision:

To accept the report, and ask the Education Department for regular updates as the new plans move forward.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member and officers from the Education Department were welcomed to the meeting.

 

The Cabinet Member's report was presented providing information on schools' arrangements to seek to ensure that no child faced a day without a dinner at school, as well as the situation with school dinner debts and the processes that were underway in order to respond to that situation.

 

Prior to commencing the discussion, the Cabinet Member referred to the recent letter sent from Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle to parents regarding school dinner payments, noting that he wished to give assurance to members that the Council had not refused a school dinner to any child in the county, whatever their circumstances.  He further noted that the Chair of the School's Governors had asked the Department to re-visit their processes, and he confirmed that the Department would respond to this.

 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

 

Individual members submitted the following observations:-

 

·         Enthusiastic support was expressed to the Government's intention to extend free school meals to all primary pupils. It was noted that this had several advantages, e.g. children would learn better in the afternoon following a healthy lunch, it would tackle obesity, it did not discriminate between those who got free school meals and those who paid as well as removing the problem of families who were eligible for free school meals, but did not claim them for different reasons.

·         Referring to the situation that had arisen at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, disappointment was expressed that this had not been reported to the previous Full Council.   There was wide and general concern amongst councillors regarding what had occurred, and each one should have had an opportunity to ask questions. It was further noted that the report referred to a 'lack of clarity', however, it did not explain what this 'lack of clarity' was and did not offer an apology for what had happened. Claims had been made by the head in charge that the Authority had used him as a scapegoat, and the report did not address the serious questions that needed answers.

·         Concern was expressed regarding any proposal to externalise the service and create regional kitchens and closing school kitchens would lead to unemployment.

·         The importance of providing nutritious, quality meals to schoolchildren was emphasised and it was suggested that there was an opportunity here to use, e.g. vegetables grown on school land / in the community, in school meals.

·         It was noted, although it was obvious that what had occurred at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle had caused pain and embarrassment to the Authority, the Authority had responded to the situation quickly and appropriately, to correct any misapprehension. They had to be sensitive to poverty in responding to the situation, and it also had to be accepted that a small minority would take advantage of any weak systems in terms of collection of school dinner money.  The most important principle was that it was not the child's fault if parents did not pay, even if they had the means to pay. 

·         Confirmation that Gwynedd did not prevent any child from having a school dinner was welcomed.

·         A wish was expressed to have regular updates regarding the Authority's arrangements as the new plans moved forward.

·         It was noted that learning lessons was vitally important, and there was an opportunity to look to the future and ensure the success of this important strategy in terms of free school meals to every primary pupil, and to also lobby for the same for the secondary sector and to do everything within our ability to rectify poverty injustice. 

 

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted:- 

 

·         Regarding the Government’s plans to extend free school meals, it was currently understood that it was proposed to look at this during the 2022/23 financial year, and to introduce the changes gradually and to focus firstly on the youngest children. It was acknowledged that the timetable was very tight, and the Department had already commenced looking at this to be proactive and ensure that its internal arrangements would enable them to address this need as soon as possible. 

·         Under current legislation, a parent had to apply for free school meals, despite possibly being in receipt of benefits. Schools reminded parents of this, and tried to encourage them to submit an application.  Despite this, people were reluctant to make applications for benefits, including free school meals, and it was noted that all elected members had a responsibility to ensure that their constituents submitted these applications. It was also noted that the Council's Welfare Claims Unit had a key role in this. It was further noted that the Government's scheme was a huge step in the context of well-being and our responsibility to children, and removed any stigma associated with such applications.  

·         The Authority had apologised in a press release for the situation that had arisen at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, and also to schools and the elected members. The incident had been unfortunate and had caused concern to many, however, lessons had been learnt, and they had contacted the schools immediately to remind everyone of the Authority's aspiration that no child should go without dinner in Gwynedd schools. Regarding the lack of clarity in the report, it may be fair to say that the guidance was not clear enough at one point, however, this was also a matter of interpretation, and they had acted swiftly to clear any lack of clarity and strengthen and confirm the Council's stance. The main focus in moving forward was to ensure that any arrangement was reviewed. A very open and mature conversation had been conducted with all headteachers, and very positive comments had been received from them, as a system, buying into this principle unconditionally.

·         In terms of externalising the service and the creation of regional kitchens, it was explained that it was currently very early days, and these were only initial considerations. The Department would give detailed attention to each one of the options on the table, and it would also take the comments of the scrutineers into account when undertaking this. 

·         Schools were free to interpret the new curriculum in the context of local issues, and the comment regarding well-being and healthy living, operating healthily and healthy schools were becoming more and more central to the new curriculum.       Therefore, the proposal to continue the conversation with schools was welcomed to ensure that the day-to-day aspects, such as healthy eating and school dinner, were interwoven as part of the curriculum. 

·         The Department was more than willing to provide a further report in due course, and members were also requested to work with the Authority to promote the new plans in their communities.  

 

RESOLVED to accept the report, and ask the Education Department for regular updates as the new plans move forward.

 

Supporting documents: