Decision details

The Director of Education and Inclusion Services advised the Cabinet of the outcome of the recent consultation in respect of the proposals for the future of the Council’s Community Meals Service.   

The Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and Welsh Language expressed his gratitude to officers in both the Education service area and the consultation team for conducting the consultation; and to those who engaged during the consultation period.

The Cabinet Member spoke of the challenging financial climate and the rise in inflation, which had prompted the review and subsequent consultation. The Cabinet Member went on to emphasise the challenge of delivering the service in its current form with the increase in costs and fall in numbers of users.

In response to the consultation responses, the Cabinet Member explained that Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council was one of few Local Authorities in Wales to offer a community meals service and noted that the responses had emphasised the importance of maintaining it. Although regrettably, the Cabinet Member was of the view that Option 3 would be the best way forward to ensure a sustainable service. The Cabinet Member stated that the 50p compared favourably to other providers, particularly private providers.

In response to concerns raised from members of the public in respect of the hot or frozen meal option, the Cabinet Member emphasised that the users currently in receipt of a hot meal would see no change in the service; and explained that those who opt for a frozen meal would have the flexibility of when they wish to have their meal. The Cabinet Member added that Members recognise the importance of maintaining the welfare checks, which is a positive step to tackling loneliness.

The Cabinet Member concluded and requested that, should Members be minded to choose Option 3, officers conduct a review of the service users, to ensure they have the necessary equipment in their homes to warm the meals, should they wish to choose the frozen option.

The Deputy Leader was in support of Option 3 and emphasised the importance of the welfare checks and praised the staff for their work. The Deputy Leader noted the comments of the Scrutiny Committee, which were also of the view that Option 3 was the preferred way forward.

The Leader pointed out that the Community Meals Service was not statutory but explained that the administration had endeared to protect it throughout the years of austerity. The Leader explained that the budget gap was much larger than previous years and as such, all areas of the Council had to be reviewed.

The Leader noted that one option was to remove the service but felt it important to maintain an in-house service, where possible. The Leader echoed the Cabinet Member’s comments around the need for a vulnerability assessment to ensure users have the correct, working equipment, should Cabinet agree the way forward; and recognised that the 50p increase could seem a lot, but noted that a neighbouring Local Authority currently charged £6 for the service, which would likely increase as part of its budget.

The Leader also referred to comments within the consultation regarding the quality of the meals procured and asked the Director for a further explanation. Members were assured that the higher quality meals would be offered to service users, with a combination of both meal and dessert. It was explained that officers would conduct taste testing to ensure the best meals are chosen and offered to the service users.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the information contained within the Consultation Report, which included feedback received from the online survey, emails and telephone calls, the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 14^th December 2022 and the frequently asked questions posted out to service users;

2.    To agree the preferred service change option moving forward, in respect of the Community Meals Service:

Option 3: to reorganise the existing internal service and provide a hot/frozen Community Meal Home Delivery Service with increased service user charges thus reducing the subsidy per meal; and

3.    To delegate authority to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services, in consultation with the Director of Human Resources, to undertake and conclude necessary actions to implement the preferred option.