Posted: Thu 6th Jul 2023

Merthyr school meals price freeze at £2.70 in secondary schools

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jul 6th, 2023

School meal prices in Merthyr Tydfil are set to remain the same as the council prepares for roll out of free school meals for primary school children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A report to cabinet on Wednesday, July 12 recommends it approves freezing school meal prices in Merthyr Tydfil from September 2023 with primary school meals set to be free from April 2024. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It said that due to the very recent recovery of school meal sales in secondary schools to pre-pandemic levels and considering the cost-of-living crisis as well as the fact the service budget delivered a surplus in 2022/23, it is proposed that the current price freeze continue from September 2023. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The prices of school meals is usually set in either April or September each year and they were most recently increased in April 2019 by 20p across all schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This set prices at £2.30 in primary schools and £2.70 in secondary schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

No price increase was considered during the financial year 2020/2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic and the interruption to the service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prices were frozen during financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 due to the impact post pandemic with reduced demand and take-up of meals alongside the cost-of-living crisis, the cabinet report said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report said that of the eighteen councils across Wales responding to thee School Meals Prices Survey, ten have frozen prices across both primary and secondary schools for 2023/24.
It said the council’s current charge for primary school meals of £2.30 ranks as the joint third lowest meal price together with Caerphilly and Torfaen and only Bridgend and Anglesey have lower prices at £2.20. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s current charge for secondary school meals of £2.70 ranks as the sixth highest charge of authorities participating in the survey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The difference between the price of primary and secondary meals in Merthyr Tydfil of 40p is the joint second highest across Wales with the average price difference across Welsh councils being around 20p to 30p. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report said that with the roll out of free school meals for primary school pupils from April 2024, it is reasonable that any review of school meal prices
during this academic year period should only consider secondary school prices. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Universal free school meals for primary schools have been rolled-out across Wales in phases since September 2022 and from April 2024 onwards, all primary school meals will be provided free of charge to pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report said that the council is on track to meet the roll-out dates and has received Welsh Government grant funding of £1.1 million to upgrade kitchen facilities including upgrading ovens, fridges and freezers, extractor fan canopies, increased electrical capacity, new flooring, plates, utensils, and other light equipment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales



More from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Bar in Merthyr Tydfil Granted Extended Hours for Alcohol and Music Despite Local Concerns

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Leisure Services in Merthyr Tydfil Returning to Council Ownership

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Significant drop in long patient waits for treatment in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Council Proposes Expanding Welsh-Medium Education in Merthyr Tydfil for Children with Additional Learning Needs

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Bar in Merthyr Tydfil Seeks Extended Hours and Alcohol Sales License

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Merthyr Tydfil Council “Still Confident” in Resolving Future of Leisure Services

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Latest from News.Wales

Plans to turn fire-damaged Rhondda pub into care home under consideration

Rhondda Council

Councillor and Priest Attends Council Meeting While Driving

Monmouthshire Council

Second Homes Council Tax Premiums in Pembrokeshire to Drop amid Concerns of Higher Rates

Pembrokeshire Council

Excitement Builds for Community Cafe as Swansea Council Renovates High Street Shops

Swansea Council

Gwent Crematorium Use Questioned Amid Opening of Private Facilities

Torfaen Council

Tories Oppose Pay Rises for Council Chiefs, Decline Committee Involvement

Monmouthshire Council