SALFORD COUNCIL RELUCTANTLY RAISES THE PRICE OF SCHOOL MEALS AMID EVER INCREASING FOOD PRICES

The cost of a school meal in Salford is set to 'reluctantly' rise for the first time in three years.

Members of the city council’s cabinet agreed a rise of 10p to which will make the new cost £2.20 when the change takes effect on January 1st 2023. Despite the rise the cost of a school meal within Salford will remain the lowest in the Greater Manchester region.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods and community safety, said:

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“We have kept prices fairly stable for the last seven years, and this would be the first increase since April 2019.

“It is something we are considering very reluctantly but the loss of income during the pandemic combined with increasing costs has affected the service very badly.”

 

She cited that increasing costs of food and fuel could see the service as unviable if things do not change.

Councillor Bentham went on:

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“We know that for some of our children, the school meal is the main meal of the day, and with this in mind, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards and will not compromise on the quality or quantity of food we serve to our children.”

She said that with school meals at £2.20 they are priced joint lowest of the 10 authorities in Greater Manchester.

Some 11,000 school meals a day are delivered to 57 schools across the city for 190 days a year. Some 300 permanent staff are employed on a turnover of £6 million a year.

 

Councilor Bill Hinds, said of the increase:

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“I don’t think we’ve any real choice. We are living in unprecedented times.

“When we’ve raised prices before there hasn’t been any fall off, but this time there could be.

“People who are paying now are really struggling in many cases. People may decide to walk away [from taking meals].”

Councillor Tracy Kelly, responded by saying:

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“This is being done reluctantly, but there is a role for us all to play in talking to parents and staff and supporting them where necessary.”