Agenda item - School Meals Contract

Report of the Executive Director Families, Children and Learning.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed –

      i.         To grant delegated authority to the Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning to take all necessary steps to enter into a

          contract for the provision of school meals for an initial term of four   years with an option to extend for a further two periods of 12 months.

     ii.         To grant delegated authority to the Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning to extend the contract subject to satisfactory

          performance of the contractor.

11.1    The Head of School Organisation introduced the report which outlined proposals to re-tender the school meals contract to take effect from August 2024.

11.2    Cllr Allen raised questions regarding the percentage of schools that buy into the centralised contract for school meals, the available data on what percentage of Pupil Premium children take up their free school meals and what was done to increase that number.

11.3    Cllr Hill raised points regarding best practice from other local authorities, health and safety concerns and considerations to conditions of outsourced workers compared to in-house.

11.4    Cllr Daniel quiered how the contract would help maintain a sustainable food approach.

          11.5    Cllr Shanks raised points regarding secondary schools and the lack of           information about children with allergies and requested that the report that   went to the Procurement Advisory Board was shared and a further report          came back to Committee once the contract was agreed.

11.6    RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed –

      i.         To grant delegated authority to the Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning to take all necessary steps to enter into a

          contract for the provision of school meals for an initial term of four   years with an option to extend for a further two periods of 12 months.

     ii.         To grant delegated authority to the Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning to extend the contract subject to satisfactory

          performance of the contractor.