Free breakfast pledge for kids

Published 11 Feb 2010 09:38 7 Comments

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PLANS: Council leader Jim Fletcher and finance director Norie Williamson with the pre-Budget proposals

By Ewan McInnes

A FREE breakfast for school kids up to primary three age has been promised by council bosses.

Last week the Barrhead News met with East Renfrewshire Council leader Jim Fletcher and Norie Williamson, director of finance, for a pre-budget briefing.

And Councillor Fletcher revealed that if the council's proposed budget gets the go ahead at tomorrow's (Thursday's) full meeting then Barrhead's youngsters will be entitled to a complimentary morning meal from August.

At last week's meeting Councillor Fletcher said the council had the choice of giving the P1s-P3s a free lunch or breakfast and they have decided to go with the latter.

He said the proposal is for the kids in East Renfreshire who are most in need of a free breakfast and all Barrhead primary schools will qualify.

Meanwhile, at the meeting the council insisted the re-designing of its frontline services means they will not be forced to make any cuts.

The council has seen 99 members of its staff accept voluntary redundancy from its 4,300 full-time workforce and hope another 100 employees will agree to step down.

To make up for the reduction in staff the council insist that relevant workers will be retrained to ensure the changes run smoothly.

Councillor Fletcher said: "We have had to make staffing cuts but not the front line services.

"I have to commend council officers for getting the job done in a streamlined fashion which has enabled us to protect front line services.

"We need to make savings of £2.3m this year and £1.6m of that will come from staff [cuts].

"The other £0.7m will come from remodelling our front line servicesfand doing things more efficiently.

"There will be some changes but nothing major."

He added: "There is no point in expanding services if you know in future budgets you won't be able to maintain them in the years to come."

The Conservatives are expected to offer the meeting their own budget which, if passed by councillors on the night, could scupper the council's plans.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 10 Feb 10

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Kevin
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Feb 11, 10:43
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This really helps me out. I work the night shift and I've got three kids. My wife is a nurse, and although we try our best to give them a good meal to start the day, it can be really hard because I'm just in the door and she's struggling to get out. The fact that I can just nip in the house, get the kids and walk over to the school and know they're going to get some healthy food is great. Even if I only use it twice a week, it'll be a big help.

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Gemma Hardy
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Feb 11, 10:46
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Thats all very well and good giving them a free breakfast P1-P3 but what about when they reach P4? I have a child in senior school and a little one due to start in August so one will qualify and one wont - doesnt seem fair to me.

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Arthur McK
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Feb 11, 14:47
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That's a great idea giving them a free breakfast, but it should be open to all primary school kids. And I'm not really sure about the council opting for the free breakfast instead of the free lunch. Seems some parents can't be bothered to even get up to give their kid a bowl of cereal - so are they really going to bother to make them a lunch, or give them money to spen in the canteen? Why can't the kids register at the start of the year for which one they'd prefer and the council can budget accordingly?

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David Lang
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Feb 12, 10:40
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So, the council cant afford to keep its own satff in jobs but it's going to be able to provide free breakfasts for school kids? I like the idea, but I dont believe that they will keep to this and, if they do, I shudder to think what this breakfast will be!

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Jennifer P
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Feb 12, 10:57
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This is definitely the kind of thing I want to see the council doing. My kids have to travel a fair distance to their school and if they are running late (which happens a lot!) its good to know that they will be able to eat something before they start lessons.

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but it seems you can have a free breakfast in Barrhead schools! Im delighted.

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Niall
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Feb 12, 11:23
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Can the council give any indication of what kind of breakfast will be on offer to kids? I admit that the school meals have improved a lot from the slop I used to be served up, but I wouldnt my kids to be eating rubbish for their first meal of the day, free or not.

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Mary
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Feb 12, 11:32
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I think this decision is a step in the right direction. Although its not exactly comprehensive, being available only to younger kids, I think its at least a start down the right path. School services have been ignored since around the time Thatcher stopped the free milk. Its good to see leaders in Barrhead recognising the importance of catering for our youngsters.

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