INCREASING the cost of school meals in Ceredigion has seen a reduction in income of over £50,000, county councillors have heard.

Figures from the council show that the 5p increase in the cost of school meals introduced in September 2016 had seen fewer people paying for school meals, with figures estimating that it would lead to the authority receiving over £50,000 less income.

The increase in the cost of school meals was one of the measures imposed to try and reduce the authority’s spending in its catering service, along with a range of reduced hours for staff and job cuts imposed to make savings totalling over £220,000.

A further 10p increase in the price of school meals will be introduced in September 2017, taking the cost up to £2.45.

A report to the council’s thriving communities scrutiny committee said that the authority had wanted to make savings of £300,000 in the catering service and had introduced changes to reduce the per-pupil cost of school meals, a change in working hours for staff, axeing free meals to staff, changes to staffing levels and changes to where meals were produced for some schools and care homes.

The figures show that the number of pupils receiving school meals had dropped from 2,499 each day in April 2016 to 2,332 in September 2016 following the price rise. That equates to a yearly reduction in income of over £50,000.

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