Archived decisions

SCHOOL MEALS PRICES 2004/05

1. The Executive Member for Education has considered the price of school meals. Last year the cost of a school meal rose from £1.40 to £1.45, an increase of 3.6%. For this year, with effect from September 2004 the Executive Member has approved a further modest increase to £1.50 per meal, an increase of 3.4%.

2. School meals budgets have since April 2002 been delegated to all schools, but the decision about the price of the school meal remains to be taken by the County Council because of the need to ensure that the cost of providing free meals is taken into account in setting school budgets. The Executive Member for Education has accordingly reviewed factors such as cost inflation in catering and food prices, financial effects on schools' budgets and the charges made by neighbouring authorities. In the latter connection it appears that a price of around £1.50 per meal will be commonplace, so the County Council will be in line with its neighbours. The Executive Member has therefore concluded that the price of £1.50 is reasonable.