The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To support the investment requirements associated with Recommendation 1 (Invest and introduce new commercial strategies, similar to Birmingham’s City Council’s “City Serve”, to Contract Services Primary School’s school meals catering contracts (Proposed investment over 3 years to still be costed) which is intended to improve customer relationships with schools and to retain sufficient numbers of them buying school catering services in order to maximise economies of scale.

2.    To accept all the recommendations set out in the report in order to ensure that Contract Services achieves a balanced budget position in future.

3.    To note the content of the full Equalities Impact Assessment on the Contract Services.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Divisional Director, Youth and Commissioning (R. Martins-Taylor)

Councillor Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector, introduced the report on recommendations for the delivery of contract services in school meals. She highlighted that financial pressures were not sustainable but that there was an opportunity to revamp the offer to make it most sustainable as an offer to primary schools.

During discussion a number of points were noted including:

·         There was a review being undertaken in relation to the Adult Services part of the work.

·         That the primary school service had very high take up of the dinner provided and it was important to protect that service.

·         It was important to look for opportunities to work with neighbouring boroughs and the Council already worked hard in this area. The Mayor indicated he would welcome a report back to him on this area.

·         The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their comments and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To support the investment requirements associated with Recommendation 1 (Invest and introduce new commercial strategies, similar to Birmingham’s City Council’s “City Serve”, to Contract Services Primary School’s school meals catering contracts (Proposed investment over 3 years to still be costed) which is intended to improve customer relationships with schools and to retain sufficient numbers of them buying school catering services in order to maximise economies of scale.

2.    To accept all the recommendations set out in the report in order to ensure that Contract Services achieves a balanced budget position in future.

3.    To note the content of the full Equalities Impact Assessment on the Contract Services.