Issue - items at meetings - Food Strategy Review

Report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

1.     That Sustainability Cabinet Committee note the review is being undertaken and encourage participation amongst council officers where relevant.

53.1       The Cabinet Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance concerning a review of the Brighton & Hove Food Strategy and Action Plan beingundertaken by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership (for copy see minute book).

53.2       The Sustainability Officer with responsibility for this area was pleased to announce that the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership had been successful in their application to the Big Lottery ‘Local Food’ fund for a Beacon grant of £500,000. The funding would help support ‘Harvest Brighton & Hove’, a partnership project co-ordinating a city-wide approach to producing and consuming food.

53.3       Councillor Steedman welcomed the review and hoped it would highlight where more work could be done. He felt that issues remained around sustainable procurement and that the staff and civic catering contract was an example of an opportunity where the council can take steps in the right direction.

53.4       In response to queries from Councillor Caulfield the Sustainability Officer explained that Harvest Brighton & Hove would include projects looking to work with Tenant Associations wishing to grow food on small areas of land. She also advised that while national legislation meant that profit cannot be made from selling surplus food grown on allotments, any money made can go back into a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

53.5       The Chairman requested a report to the Cabinet Committee on the specific issues around Tenant Associations growing food on housing land.

53.6       In response to questions from Councillor Fallon-Khan on obesity in young people the Sustainability Officer explained that the problem stretched wider than nutritional values of school meals, but working with children on cooking and growing food through the Food for Life Partnership would help to address these issues.

53.7       The Head of Sustainability & Environmental Policy confirmed that the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership would be asked to address the issues raised during the review.

53.8       RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the following recommendations be accepted:

(1)       That Sustainability Cabinet Committee note the review is being undertaken and encourage participation amongst council officers where relevant.