Issue - meetings

Report of the Bi-Borough Executive Director of Children's Services

Recommendations

Due to the Cost-of-Living Crisis, it is recommended that Cabinet approves (subject to approval of the Fairer Westminster investment proposal) a total of £2,781,784, for January 2023 to July 2024 to enable schools to develop a universal meal offer to primary pupils. This will be funded from earmarked reserves.

The provision of a universal meal offer for all primary pupils will be reviewed in 2024 and any continuation of the provision from September 2024 will be embedded in the Children’s Services base budget as part of the medium-term financial planning process.

UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR CHILDREN IN WESTMINSTER

Report of the Bi-borough Executive Director for Children’s Services

Councillor Adam Hug and Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis excused themselves from this item. Councillor Matt Noble took the Chair for this item and invited Councillor Tim Roca to introduce the item as Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure.

Cabinet heard that around 31,000 households are particularly at risk from the cost-of-living crisis in Westminster, many of these households are families with young children. 

Councillor Roca went on to say that we know families are struggling with the cost of living and that children face going hungry at school as a result. The proposals set out in this report propose free lunches for all Westminster children in Years 3 to 6. This means that from January 2023 all Westminster children attending our primary schools will receive a free, healthy lunch.   

Councillor Noble invited Sarah Newman, Bi-borough Executive Director of Children’s Services to speak to the report. Sarah told Cabinet that eligibility for FSM as set by the government is low (see section 5.2 of the report which sets out eligibility criteria) with many people currently finding themselves just above the existing threshold for FSM. Attainment and attendance are affected by food insecurity. Attendance figures have slipped through COVID and are not where we want them to be. This proposal is encouraging and schools are very much in favour and appreciative of the decision

Councillor Noble invited comments from Cabinet.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg told Cabinet colleagues that he was very much in favour of this decision and has already had positive feedback from residents and other stakeholders following the announcement that Westminster would provide FSM to all primary school children.  In particular, he had received a message from one constituent to say how much this supports her and her family. Councillor Dimoldenberg concluded by saying that although this is a direct benefit for young children it also indirectly benefits parents as well who may have foregone food to provide for their children.

Councillor Noble told Cabinet that he had recently visited West London Synagogue and children there had asked what the Council is doing to support FSM and he was able to respond with good news, this decision supports our children and will have a positive impact on their wellbeing.

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECCOMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 3, PAGE 56.