Schools in Moray: Cost of universal free school meals causing concern
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Moray Council may write to the Scottish Government to say it can't provide more free school meals if full funding is not forthcoming.
Younger children now get free meals, but concerns have been raised about rolling out the key SNP policy for older pupils in primary six and seven.
Plans to introduce the last phase of universal free school meals in August have been pushed back because of the costs to councils.
Discussions on the final funding pot are ongoing.
Delivering the extra 1852 meals a day is expected to cost Moray Council around £1.17 million a year.
It would involve re-instating servery kitchens at Portgordon and Findochty, as well as expanding dining areas at Aberlour, Bishopmill in Elgin and Cluny in Forres.
Additional equipment required also includes ovens, fridges, freezers, food mixers, dishwashers, potato rumblers, a food steamer, mobile hot and cold trolleys, seats and tables.
Frank Brown (Elgin North, Conservative) called for both the council's leader and chief executive to write letters to outlining concerns.
Cllr Brown said: I"f we don’t get that funding from the Scottish Government it puts us in breach of our statutory duty or we have to make savings elsewhere.
"Roads, social care, economic development – it could be anywhere.
"And there is already £20million in savings we have to find.”
Graham Leadbitter, the council's leader, disagreed.
Instead, cllr Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) said the council should hold off from writing letter until the funding for implementing free school meals for pupils in P6 and P7 is agreed.
He said: "Discussions are continuing between the Scottish Government and Cosla on what the capital requirement would be.
"That’s a negotiation, as you would do if we (the council) were giving money to a project. It’s due diligence.
"I don’t think we should be hamstringing a new council into this."
However members of the education committee voted by eight to five for the letters to be written and sent.
That decision will now go to full council for consideration.
