Issue - meetings

That the Committee acknowledged the work undertaken by NEWydd, officers and schools to deliver the Welsh Government’s strategy for the provision of Universal Free School Meals.

In presenting the report Mr Steve Jones, Managing  Director of NEWydd Catering and Cleaning explained that the report centred around universal free school meals. Although this was a positive step by Welsh Government (WG), as a business it had highlighted certain risks as it made the company more of a target for private sector companies. Schools made these decisions themselves, so it was NEWydd’s priority to provide a good service to retain the business.

The roll out of free school meals commenced in September 2022 with reception aged pupils and then with years 1 and 2 after Easter 2023. The service was on target to roll out to years 3 and 4 in September 2023 with years 5 and 6 eligible from April 2024. A significant amount of work had been undertaken in schools which included improvements to infrastructure, equipment, resources and ensuring processes were in place. A cross party project group was established to oversee this which included the Managing Director representing NEWydd and colleagues from across the Council to ensure targets were met. The Group also represented the Council nationally at meetings led by WG or the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to discuss finance and catering implementation.

Members were referred to section 2 of the report which included detail on the improvements to infrastructure with information provided on the central kitchen created 2 years ago and the work undertaken following the roll out with more school meals provided. All meals were fully compliant with the WG Healthy Eating in Schools Regulations with work underway to reintroduce, for example, more home cooked recipes and on-site baking similar to what was provided before the pandemic. Information on the pilot partnership with Well Fed was given with the results due shortly.

In relation to resources, it was confirmed that the revenue funding from WG  was based on a meal unit rate of £2.90 per meal with many Councils including Flintshire reporting that this did not cover the cost of delivery. A Group had been established to review the actual cost of a school meal including all costs not just the food with the Managing Director representing the Council at a meeting on the 17 July. Referring to Capital Funding WG had awarded the authority £3m of capital funding which had enabled improvements to infrastructure, improvements to gas and electricity supplies into kitchens, ventilation works and the purchase of equipment. It had also enabled increased cooking capacity within the kitchens, and he thanked the schools for their support whilst this work was undertaken. There were a small number of schools waiting for the infrastructure works to begin and a schedule of works was planned with the Council’s property team during the summer term to ensure completion by September. An overview of the improved seating arrangements, lighting and crockery was given.

Referring to risks the Managing Director said it was important that families who were eligible for free school meals applied and he outlined how this was signposted across the council. Consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17