RULING cabinet members have been urged to ‘put children first’ after a trade union claimed Barnsley Council is set to formally scrap its in-house school meals service later this month.
Senior officers at the council are considering a report which recommends its existing service is abolished - because it does not expect to make a profit. It means the 49 schools currently using the service would need to find someone else to provide meals to 8,000 children across the borough.
Trade union UNISON, which represents the council’s catering workers, says it is ‘surprised’ council officers are recommending a supposed managed exit, rather than following the recommendation of a private consultant that they should invest in the service to maintain its viability.
Robin Symonds, from UNISON, said: “The council commissioned a report by a catering expert but appear to have ignored its recommendation.
“UNISON has long since questioned the use of public money on private consultants but we are staggered that Barnsley Council has chosen to ignore the recommendations of a consultant in this instance. We are yet to find out how much the report cost but at 142 pages we expect it to be a considerable sum.
“Council officers also appear to have disregarded the views of Public Health experts who last year wrote a report espousing the benefits of keeping the service in-house.
“We are bitterly disappointed that officers are recommending scrapping the service and we know that schools share our disappointment as a number of them have asked us how they can support our campaign.
“We hope that cabinet members will ask officers why they have ignored expert advice and that they throw out the plans to scrap the service.”
UNISON claims the matter will be discussed at the cabinet’s May 29 meeting at the town hall, and Barnsley Trades Union Council plans to lobby the meeting from 9am.
Coun Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesman for communities, said: “As part of a task and finish group established for this review several options were discussed and shared with trade unions.
“The group have considered the information and officers will present a number of options available to cabinet in due course. No decision has been made.
“We would also like to reassure parents that children will not be losing their school meal provision. Many schools across Barnsley already receive school meals from a range of providers and schools can choose who they use to deliver this service.”
