CER14 - Financial Savings 2021-22 - School Meal Charges
| Title | CER14 - Financial Savings 2021-22 - School Meal Charges |
|---|---|
| Council Resource | Community and Enterprise |
| Aims and Objectives | The purpose of this assessment is to consider the impact of increasing the cost of school meals. It is proposed that the price of a school lunch is increased by £0.20, from £1.75 to £1.95. This will not affect those pupils in Primary 1, 2, & 3 who receive free meals through the government initiative and those in Primary 4 to 7 and High School pupils entitled to free meals through national entitlement. The Council will continue to be one of only a few Councils to provide a 3 course lunch for primary school pupils, and will also continue to have the lowest price charged across Scotland for both Primary and Secondary school meals (based on 2020/2021 school meal prices across other Councils). This will result in additional income of £0.320m being generated in 2021/2022. The increase in cost will bring the charge to pupils closer to other authorities. |
| Conclusion | It is proposed that the price of a school lunch is increased by £0.20, from £1.75 to £1.95. The service is used by primary school pupils aged 4 to 12 years old and secondary school pupils aged 12 to 18 years old. There is no impact on Primary 1 to 3 pupils, and their parents and carers and those who are entitled to Universal Free School meals and children and young people, parents and carers from low income families who are entitled to a free school meal. South Lanarkshire Council continues to have the lowest price across Scotland at £1.75 for both Primary and Secondary school meals (based on 2020/2021 school meal prices across other Councils) and is one of only a few Councils to provide a 3 course lunch for primary school pupils. The increase in cost will bring it closer to other authorities and compares favourably to our neighbouring authority North Lanarkshire Council of £3.00. There is a potential negative impact on families with low income however the availability of free school meals will help to mitigate that impact. The current charge to parents is low compared to other authorities and does not meet the cost to produce the lunches. The impact of the proposed increase will not be fully known until it is put in place. Monitoring of the impact will be via the complaints procedure and school meal uptake levels. Meal uptake levels are monitored on a 4-weekly basis. Impacts will be reported to the Resource Management Team. This will result in additional income of £0.320m being generated in 2021/2022. |
| Completion date | 24/2/21 |
| Contact Email address | equalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk |