COUNCIL MEETING, 29 SEPTEMBER 2005

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

EDUCATION

PART II

SCHOOL MEALS PRICES 2005/06

1. The Executive Member for Education has considered the price of school meals. Last year the cost of a school meal rose from £1.45 to £1.50, an increase of 3.4%. For this year, with effect from September 2005, the Executive Member has approved a further increase to £1.55 per meal, an increase of 3.3%.

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. This year the Government announced in March that additional transitional grants would be provided to schools and local authorities to increase both the nutritional content of school meals and their take up by pupils. However, there remains the need to review the price for school meals from September 2005.

3. The Executive Member has accordingly considered cost inflation in catering and food prices, financial effects on schools' budgets and the charges made by neighbouring authorities. Taking those issues into account, the Executive Member has concluded that the price of £1.55 is reasonable.