Agenda item

To pre-scrutinise proposals prior to consideration by the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services.

The Committee pre-scrutinised a report regarding the future options for the Education Catering (EC) service ahead of a decision by the Executive Member for Education.

The report outlined the financial pressures on the EC service which provided school meals and catering equipment maintenance, repair and replacement services to schools. Members noted that the EC meal price was higher than the Government meal funding to schools as a result of inflation in recent years. This had meant a loss of business for the service and it was forecast to be in financial deficit of over £1million a year. The Committee reviewed the options which had been identified for future provision and agreed that the most suitable solution would be a managed outsource as set out within the report.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         Smaller, rural schools would be supported as part of the outsource and that grouping schools together would be more commercially viable.

·         The school food standards legislation would continue to apply to all school meals meaning that quality and nutritional value would be maintained.

·         The private catering sector would likely have international purchasing powers meaning that high quality food could be sourced at a lower cost.

·         Schools were advised to continue to plan for routine maintenance of kitchen equipment and allocate the necessary funds as part of their budgeting processes.

·         Schools were responsible for the provision of school meals and providing lunch for pupils who were eligible for free school meals however there was no requirement for the County Council to provide an in-house school catering service.

·         Regular communication with schools was ongoing regarding the proposed changes and online briefings had been arranged to ensure that all stakeholders were being kept informed. 

·         Private catering providers had the option of investing in school kitchens to provide any additional or upgraded equipment required to fulfil their contract.

·         The benefit of having a consortium of schools and staff was that flexible arrangements could be made to cover any staff shortages (such as a mobile group of staff) or to transport meals between schools as a temporary setup in case of unexpected circumstances.

·         The existing County Council Framework for catering providers would remain which provided assurance and information for schools regarding private providers’ performance and quality.

The Committee noted the value and importance of the EC service and the significance of the work they had provided over many years. Members shared their disappointment given their pride in the service but understood the reasons behind the recommendations. There was also some discussion regarding linking with local colleges who provided catering training.

Members voted on the recommendations. The outcome of the vote was:

For: 14

Against: 0

Abstain: 1

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Young People Select Committee support the recommendations being made to the Executive Member for Education, as set out below:

      i.        That the County Council ceases to provide an in-house EC service and supports schools in providing alternative arrangements to meet schools’ statutory responsibility for school meals through a managed outsource of the EC service, with a target outsource completion date of end March 2026.

    ii.        That authority is delegated to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Education and the Head of Legal Services, to make all necessary procurement and contractual arrangements to outsource the EC service.

   iii.        That the County Council provides guidance and advice to those schools which choose not to join the outsourced arrangement on how to procure, or directly provide, a school meals service.

   iv.        That the County Council discontinues the Catering Support Service Level Agreement pooled fund for catering equipment maintenance, repair and replacement from the date that the EC service is outsourced and that the County Council provides guidance to schools on managing their catering equipment.

    v.        That the County Council continues to offer the online eligibility checker for income-based free school meals (FSM) as a traded service to schools.

   vi.        That the Director of Children’s Services provides the Executive Member for Education with regular monthly briefings on progress with the above recommendations.