Dorchester Town Council could be going meat-free
Members are being asked for their views on making the change
Dorchester Town Council could become the latest to become meat-free.
Councillors are being asked to adopt the alternative foods for its functions.
Cllr Poppy Farmer brought along sample of meat-free finger food to help persuade her colleagues that the move would not only help the council’s carbon footprint – but was also tasty and healthier.
Dorchester Town Council has already pledged to use only Fairtrade products.
Cllr Farmer displayed charts and diagrams to show how meat uses up far more resources in production than non-meat substitutes, although the town’s Mayor Cllr Robin Potter, a former maths teacher, later said some of the calculations appeared ‘suspect’.
Cllr Palmer said the best option would be to find local producers to buy from, but even if meat-free food had to be bought in from further away, covered in plastic, it would still be better that using meat-based products.
She said dozens of councils had already gone meat-free, some even choosing the vegan route.
The idea is currently being proposed at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, but was rejected under the previous Conservative administration at Dorset Council before the May elections.
A full report on the idea will now be drawn up for consideration at Dorchester Town Council’s policy committee.
Cllr Molly Rennie suggested a meat-free buffet might be considered, as an experiment, for the council’s next community lunch.
Cllr Sue Biles said in principle she would support the idea, with some reservations, pointing out that not all meat-free products were environmentally friendly.