East Riding Councillors Vote In Favour Of Helping Families At Risk Of Food Poverty

East Riding councillors have backed efforts to reach more families in food poverty following a debate on free school meals funding at a meeting last week (Wednesday, November 18).

East Riding Council members from the ruling Conservatives and opposition Liberal Democrats backed a motion calling on officers to help families struggling with food poverty get support.

The motion, tabled by opposition Deputy Leader Denis Healy but passed with amendments from Conservative Ben Weeks, also encourages families to check if they are eligible for free school meals and apply.

The motion followed the council’s offer of £15 payments during October half term, offered after Parliament voted against a Labour motion calling for the government to fund them.

The government has since backtracked, saying it will fund councils to cover free school meals over Christmas and in holidays next year after a campaign from England footballer Marcus Rashford.

Cllr Healy said he wanted the council to go further by ensuring no child went hungry during school holidays, adding he was concerned that was removed from the amended motion.

But Cllr Weeks said the amended version provided “practical actions” by committing the council to going further still through empowering staff to help struggling families.

Cllr Healy said his original call to fund free school meals at Christmas had been “overtaken” by the government u-turn.

Cllr Healy previously said he would like the council to support families not qualifying for free school meals  but in receipt of Universal Credit or other benefits.

Cllr Healy said: “These are not normal times, the coronavirus pandemic has massively exacerbated food poverty.

“Both local and national government have a moral duty to look after people in need.

“On Monday, October 26 the council announced it would provide payments to families with children in receipt of free school meals.

“The council’s decision to step in and put on the payments was a last minute one, but welcome none the less.

“It’s decision and the prime minister’s change of heart after digging in his heels shows the power of pressure both locally and nationally.

“We should now be doing everything to do the right thing and make sure no child goes hungry this Christmas or in any holiday.

“I’m sure no one here believes any child should go hungry, but we should be shouting that from the rooftops.”

Opposition leader Cllr David Nolan said: “There are a lot of children in families who are just above the free school meals cut off.

“Our concern is the amendment doesn’t make any reference to no child going hungry.”

Cllr Weeks said his amendment “built on” the Liberal Democrat motion, adding it would empower council staff to act if they come across struggling families.

Cllr Weeks said: “We’re voting against the Liberal Democrat version for procedural reasons, we agree with them but believe ours goes further by suggesting a number of practical actions.

“The original motion didn’t go far enough, while it raised an important point ours empowers officers and encourages families to check if they’re eligible for free school meals.

“Coronavirus has taken its toll on families and children have paid the price.

“I would encourage any family who thinks they might be eligible to check, there may well be families entitled to free school meals who haven’t applied and there’s no shame or stigma attached to seeking help.

“Them making applications does more than just provide food, it’s well documented that the East Riding receives some of the lowest levels of funding for schools in the country.

“Our version also allows officers to identify vulnerable families and signpost them to where they can get help.

“We know parents will be concerned about the provision of free school meals during the holidays.

“It would have been very easy to accept the original motion, but we will be judged by the actions we take.”

Cllr Bernard Gateshill, who backed Cllr Weeks’ amendment, said the council had taken “decisive” action to offer payments to free school meal families during half term.

But he added food poverty was a much wider issue in the East Riding.

Cllr Gateshill said: “Food poverty is a problem everywhere and the pandemic has made it worse.

“This council recognises the problem and the difficulty of identifying and assessing children, but it has also supported several food banks throughout the pandemic through the East Riding Food Poverty Alliance.”

Cllr Paul Nickerson, one of three councillors who pushed for the East Riding to help free school meal families during half term, said he supported the council’s current efforts.

But he added he was concerned some children attending East Riding schools but living elsewhere may not get support because the council’s system requires families to live in the county.

Cllr Nickerson said: “It’s worth remembering the incredible efforts that have been made to support families in food poverty.

“But we need to make sure this helps all families, it’s unfair and unjust that children in East Riding schools but living elsewhere are left out and I hope that will be looked at.”

Council leader Richard Burton said council efforts going forward, including through financial support for the East Riding to recover from coronavirus, should take food poverty into account.

Cllr Burton said: “This is really important and it’s absolutely right that we  empower our staff to deal with this.

“We’ve made a commitment to support our children in need of free school meals.

“I support our version because the original potentially had a narrow focus.”