Decision Maker: Climate Change Cabinet Sub Committee
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The Community Programmes Manager provided the Sub-Committee with information on the work undertaken since 2020 in relation to Sustainable Food Places and the planned programme of work for 2024-25.
Members’ attention was drawn to sections 6 and 7 of the report, which detailed the significant progress, milestones, and impact of the Sustainable Food Places work.
Following RCT Food Partnership’s achievement of the Sustainable Food Places Bronze, the officer informed the Sub-Committee that the next development phase would concentrate effort towards achieving the Silver Award, with the intention to devise a strategy to support future developments longer term.
The Chair thanked the officer for the comprehensive report and praised RCT service areas for their close partnership working. The Chair spoke of the RCT Food partnership, which was awarded the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award on 8th November 2023, the joint-third (alongside Carmarthenshire County Council) Welsh Local Authority to receive the award since the framework was initiated in 2015. The Chair noted that the partnership was a passionate mix of members from community groups, public bodies and food businesses from all around the County and commented on how professionally it was run.
The Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure congratulated the team on achieving the Bronze Award and was also pleased to note the partnership work to benefit communities. The Cabinet Member raised concerns in respect of out-of-date food and queried if there was capacity for the Food Co-Ordinator to offer support to smaller foodbanks in terms of stock rotation and the prevention, where possible, of out-of-date food. The officer stated that he would be happy to have a conversation with foodbanks to offer further support as the Cabinet Member suggested. Members were also informed of an active offer through the Community Development Team to provide community training, which could be used to offer a training package alongside the community groups in relation to stock rotation opportunities.
The Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity spoke of the position many found themselves in as a result of the pandemic and praised the vast amount of partnership work undertaken by the Council, businesses, community groups and foodbanks to provide support to those who need it most. The Cabinet Member suggested that the Council promote the work further on its website and the officer explained that a new website was in progress, along with a Community Development quarterly newsletter.
The Sub-Committee RESOLVED:
1. To consider the progress reported, the planned expenditure, and how this contributes to the broader objectives of theCouncils Tackling Climate Change Strategy 2022-2025:‘Think Climate RCT’
Publication date: 07/03/2024
Date of decision: 07/03/2024
Decided at meeting: 07/03/2024 - Climate Change Cabinet Sub Committee
Effective from: 13/03/2024
Accompanying Documents: