Agenda Item No. 18
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING 4TH JULY 2007
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW OF SCHOOL MEAL
PRICES
Purpose of Report
1. The purpose of
this report is to advise Members of the need for price increases in
the School Meals Service, and to seek approval for the proposed
increases.
Background
2. The Council has
managed to maintain the existing cost of school meals in both
primary and secondary schools since 2005. However, at the end
of the 2006-07 financial year the School Meals Service had a net
operating deficit of £115,000. Efforts are now in hand to
address the deficit position during the 2007-08 financial year.
3. A key cost
driver for the School Meals Service is the requirement to meet
relevant nutritional standards. Standards required by the
Welsh Assembly Government as defined in Education (Nutritional
Standards for School Lunches) (Wales) Regulation 2001 define
the food groups and set out the daily minimum nutritional standards
for primary and secondary school pupils. The Welsh Assembly
Government has also issued guidance ‘Nutritional Standards for
School Lunches’ Circular 03/2002, which recognises that, the
guidance needs to be reviewed and that the standards need to be
made more stringent. These standards have been introduced within
the Vale. Additional nutritional requirements in the consultation
document “Appetite for Life” issued by the WAG in 2006 are
also in place in the Vale of Glamorgan.
4. The current
pricing framework is no longer sufficient to meet the additional
and rising costs of nutritional
standards.
Relevant Issues and Options
5. The current
prices for school meals in the Vale of Glamorgan are summarised
below.
|
Primary
Secondary
Adult Meal
|
£1.40
£1.50
£2.00
|
6. As a comparative
exercise the current price charged for meals in neighbouring
authorities is summarised below.
|
Local
Authority
|
Primary
£
|
Secondary
£
|
Adult
£
|
|
Cardiff
|
1.50
|
£1.70
|
2.00
|
|
Rhondda Cynon Taf
|
1.35 Infants 1.40
Jnrs
|
1.85
|
2.20
|
|
Torfaen
|
1.50 Infants 1.60
Jnrs
|
1.75
|
2.45
|
|
Bridgend
|
£1.60
|
1.90
|
2.95
|
|
Newport
|
1.60
|
1.90
|
2.60
|
(All
authorities are planning increased from September 2007)
7. It is proposed
that the school meals prices are set from September as
follows:-
|
Primary – Infant
Primary - Junior
Secondary
Adult Meal
|
£1.40
£1.50
£1.60
£2.50
|
8.
Parents will receive letters via the children’s schools before the
end of the summer term to notify the new prices. Children
eligible for free school meals will continue to receive them
without charge.
Resource Implications (Financial and
Employment)
9. The proposed
prices will enable the School Meals Service to maintain nutritional
standards as well as addressing the deficit on the School Meals
Budget. The new prices will not fully address the deficit
position.
Legal Implications (including Human
Rights implications)
10.
There are none directly arising from this report.
Crime and Disorder Implications
11.
There are none directly arising from this report.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to
include Welsh Language Issues)
12.
There are none directly arising from this report.
Corporate / Service Objectives
13.
The report supports the Council objectives as outlined in the
service plan.
Policy Framework and Budget
14. This is a matter for
executive decision.
Consultation ( including Ward Member Consultation)
15.
Consultation is not necessary.
Appropriate Scrutiny Committee
16.
Lifelong Learning.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
That approval is given to the proposed
prices of school meals in primary and
secondary schools from 1 September 2007.
Reasons for Recommendations
1.
To enable the Catering Services to operate more effectively and
continue to meet
nutritional requirements for school meals.
Background Papers
None.
Contact Officer:
Rita Hicks
Head of Catering
Officers Consulted:
Dawn Sugden, Accountant, Finance, ICT &
Property
BRYAN JEFFREYS
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT