School meal charge skyrockets - in move that calls for a review

A 43 per cent increase in the price of North Lanarkshire school meals has triggered calls for a review from SNP councillors.

SNP group leader Councillor Tom Johnston has written to the leader of the council, Jim Logue, seeking cooperation with the Labour administration to review the increase which was agreed during February’s budget process.

Setting this year’s budget was described at the time as a “difficult task” by Councillor Logue as NLC had to find £31 million in savings on top of cuts made every year for a decade. Ultimately a council tax increase of almost five per cent was agreed. The increase in school meal costs was one of the additional measures implemented although it has only recently come into effect.

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Councillor Johnston said:  “North Lanarkshire residents are now facing increases in school meal charges from £2.10 per meal to £3.00 per meal because of the Council Budget decision of February 2020. This is a 43% rise and can be £9.00 per week if you have two children.

Parents are complaining about this massive hike of 43%. It is a big worry for parents relying on furlough income and worried about job security.  The SNP Group’s  alternative budget in  February called for a very gradual increase in school meals to soften the  impact. We called for a rise from £2.10 to just £2.20 for this current year,with two similar rises to reach just £2.45 two years later.

“Unfortunately, Labour called for a 43% rise to £3.00 in this single year. Their budget was passed with Tory support to get it over the line.

“This massive rise has to be cut, to relieve hardship for many families

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“Also, a proposed alteration to the Council’s current budget has now been postponed because new cash has arrived from the Scottish and UK governments in early October.

“The SNP Group wants this harsh price rise reviewed,given the changed circumstances since the February Budget.

Council leader Jim Logue said “ The Council agreed in February 2020 that as a result of continuing cuts in grant funding from the Scottish Government, the Council would have to increase the charges for a whole range of services including School Meals.   Refusing to do so would either result in the cessation of the service or a significant reduction in the quality of the res services.  As such, Tom Johnston should, rather than send an email to myself, write to the Scottish Government outlining the impact of cuts.”

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