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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED 1. That the Cabinet accepts Option 2 and continues to provide the Scheme previously provided by Welsh Government during the school Summer holiday period in 2023 only. 2. The sum of £280k is vired from the central Risk Budget to the catering budget.
There were no declarations of interest reported.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED 1. That the Cabinet accepts Option 2 and continues to provide the Scheme previously provided by Welsh Government during the school Summer holiday period in 2023 only. 2. The sum of £280k is vired from the central Risk Budget to the catering budget.
Cabinet considered a proposal to support the continued payment of the Free School Meals vouchers through the summer holidays. On 28th June 2023, all Local Authorities in Wales received a letter from the Welsh Government advising that the scheme to provide Free School Meal vouchers for learners eligible for a free school meal. Cabinet considered that the late confirmed notice of the cessation of the voucher scheme would have a particularly detrimental impact on low-income families as they would not only lose out on the voucher scheme but would also have very limited time to adjust their finances to overcome their withdrawal. It was therefore proposed that the Council continue the scheme over the summer holidays at a cost of £280k, to be vired from the central Risk Budget. It was emphasised that this would be for the period of the summer holidays only and that the Council would not be in a position to repeat this. County Councillor Joy Jones, the Council’s Anti-Poverty Champion welcomed the proposal. The Economy Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee had considered the proposal and whilst expressing concern at the late notice given by Welsh Government, had supported the recommendations to continue the scheme. The Leader of the Opposition, County Councillor Aled Davies asked why the decision had not been taken sooner which would have given the ERC Scrutiny Committee more time to consider the proposal. He was reminded that Welsh Government had only confirmed on 28th June. He asked about the cost of administering the scheme and was advised that it would be managed within existing resources and that all of the £280k would go towards the vouchers. The Chair of Economy Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee, County Councillor Angela Davies, joined the meeting to explain that she had sought advice from the Monitoring Officer on the position regarding call-in. The Chair of Economy Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee and the Monitoring officer having confirmed that the decision was urgent Cabinet resolved as follows: RESOLVED 1. That the Cabinet accepts Option 2 and continues to provide the Scheme previously provided by Welsh Government during the school Summer holiday period in 2023 only. 2. The sum of £280k is vired from the central Risk Budget to the catering budget.
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