A motion to extend free school meals for primary school children will be discussed by the Full Council on 21 April.
The motion was submitted by Cllr Geoff Lumley who is calling on the full council to support “the extension to the free school meals for all primary children pilot, by reducing its media and communications operation to one commensurate with a small local authority”.
Thousands of primary school children to benefit from free school meals
Back in February, Ed Balls invited all local authorities across the UK to bid for cash to provide free school meals to primary school children.
Pilot schemes are currently running in Durham and Newham and Wolverhampton and although the schemes have only been running since September 2009, we understand that there has already been very positive feedback.
We’re told that Isle of Wight Council (IWC) did look into the scheme, but as it has to be match funded to the tune of £400,000, they decided against it.
Cuts to Comms can feed the kids
Cllr Lumley is calling for a large chunk of the IWC’s Media & Communications budget to be diverted to match fund the successful pilot scheme, of which Rob Rees MBE, Chair of the School Food Trust board said,
“Nutritious, tasty school lunches have an important part to play in improving children’s health, wellbeing, performance and in tackling poverty – issues at the heart of the agenda for so many local authorities. We very much look forward to working with the new pilots as they roll out.”
VB is aiming to cover the meeting live, so if you can’t make it along to hear the discussion, check back on VB next Wednesday evening from 6pm for a blow by blow account.
Image: Bruce Tuten under CC BY 2.0
