South Ayrshire increases school meal prices

Jan 23 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

SCHOOL meal charges in South Ayrshire have been hiked by 10 per cent.

But prices in the canteen for councillors and officials remain unchanged.

Councillors approved a price rise for a traditional school meal from £1.65 to £1.82.

Seven Labour councillors opposed the rise, but were outvoted 23-7 by Conservatives, the SNP and Independents.

Labour’s Councillor Phil Saxton said: “If we want our kids to stay healthy we’ve got to keep the price healthy. I think 10 per cent is a bit much.”

Councillor Saxton pointed out: “I don’t see any increase in our own canteen prices.”

Labour’s Councillor Helen Moonie said: “The price of food is all over the place. It went up, but it came down again.”

She asked: “If it comes down will there be a reduction in school meal prices?”

A council report shows a 17 per cent rise in groceries and provisions bought for school meals.

And the cost of frozen foods purchased has gone up 12 per cent.

The 10 per cent rise, which took effect on Monday, also applies to individual food items in schools where there’s a cash cafeteria.

Supporting the hike, the SNP Councillor’s Nan McFarlane said her grandson spent about £4 a day on school meals.

And she insisted: “We provide a very nutritious meal. I know my food bills have gone up considerably.”

Councillor Hywel Davies for the Conservatives said: “Our school meals are excellent. £1.82 is very good value for money, and if we don’t put the price up we’ll have a deficit.”

But Councillor Saxton came back: “If there’s three children in a family, there’s a bit more hardship.

“And kids tend to spend more in secondary schools with cash cafeterias.”

Councillor Saxton moved that the price rise be referred to a working group.

But council leader Councillor Hugh Hunter’s amendment that charges should go up as recommended, was carried 23-7.