Agenda item

               That members note the report and contents.

The Healthy Schools Officer provided an update on recent developments within Flintshire Schools in relation to the Healthy Schools Scheme. 

The Welsh Government launched Healthy Schools in 2010 which was a national framework, from pre-school to secondary school to encourage healthy ifestyle choices.  All schools in Flintshire have now signed up to the initiative as well as 13 pre-school settings.

It is expected that by summer 2013, 50 Flintshire schools would be awarded Healthy school status.

Councillor P. Shotton asked if all beef products for consumption within schools had been checked in the light of current concerns about the quality of meat products.    Councillor Shotton also asked if healthy foods were stocked in school vending machines.   The Director of Lifelong Learning said that the procurement department had ran checks with the supply chain and that there was no evidence to suggest that beef products contained any other meat other than beef.  He said that the council would continue to monitor the supply chain.  The Healthy Schools Officer said that she would be conducting an audit of all secondary school vending machines and noting all non compliant items.  She accepted that schools may resist controls as long as possible as they gained financially from the use of vending machines.  She said that the most unhealthy items would be removed first such as energy drinks and sweets and that schools should start to run down stocks from Easter onwards and explain to pupils and parents that this was a national decision.

Councillor S. Jones said that there was a danger that vending machines stocked with healthy food only would be rejected by pupils and that   there should be more cookery lessons in school to promote healthy eating. The Secondary Phase Officer said that food technology was a compulsory subject at Key Stage 3 and the Healthy Schools Officer said that  food technology formed part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum.

Councillor M. Bateman said that the quality of school meals in her local schools was exemplary, but asked if schools could use separate plates for main courses and second courses rather that the two in one tray in use in many schools.  The Healthy Schools Officer said that there could be cost implications in using two plates, but that a neighbouring council had implemented this so she would look into the matter.

Councillor N. M. Matthews said that vending machines provided funding for schools and that parents also had a responsibility to encourage health eating.  The Director of Education said that it was all about a balance of personal, family and school responsibility.

The Healthy Schools Officer encouraged the committee to access the Appetite for Life web site which was currently seeking public consultation about healthy choices.

Mr D. Hytch said that if pupils were kept on site at lunch times that this would minimise unhealthy food choices although this was not practically possible on some school sites.  He expressed concern at a forthcoming planning application for a retail outlet which would be very close to a Flintshire secondary school.  The Chair suggested that the Board of Governors consult local planning policy and made their concerns known to the Council.  The Healthy Schools Officer said that Wrexham Borough Council had established a planning measure which forbid the approval of fast food/retail establishments within a 100 metre radius of schools.

               RESOLVED:

That members note the report and contents.