Soaring school lunch debt in Highland Council area revealed in report amid pledges children won't be allowed to go hungry
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A ROSS-SHIRE councillor and former secondary rector has reiterated the local authority's stance that no child should go hungry at school – despite a "significant level of historic debt" for school meal payment.
It's understood that around £200,000 is owed for school lunches with some outstanding debts dating back more than seven years.
A report considered at the Highland Council audit and scrutiny committee on school meals income reported that there was a significant level of historic debt regarding payment for school meals "and that given the age of the debt further management action is required in order to reduce or write off the outstanding amounts due".
However, it said the amounts due reflect the council’s proactive approach in ensuring that no child goes hungry at school, it said.
The local authority's policy is that no primary school pupil should be refused a meal due to insufficient funds being available or no other arrangement being in place for a lunchtime meal.
The council said it understands that there will be occasions where payment is not made in advance and a process exists to support pupils and subsequently collect what is due.
Highland Council currently provides around 18,000 lunches per day at 173 primary schools and 29 secondary schools. School meals for P1-3 are free, P4-7 cost £2.30 and in secondary school the charge is £2.55.
Once tallied, the income generated for the year 2018/19 – the timespan of the audit – amounted to around £3.7 million.
An online payments system is now being introduced for all schools after auditors discovered several methods of payment were being made.
Councillor Graham MacKenzie, who chairs the audit & scrutiny committee said: “While further work is needed to reduce still high level of debt owed for unpaid school meals the council’s policy to ensure that no child goes hungry is an essential component of the council’s social role.
“Our Revenues & Business Support Section play a pivotal role in ensuring all entitlement including free school meals are promoted and claimed. As part of the debt recovery process they are reviewing entitlement to free school meals to provide support and maximise family incomes.”
Despite a reminder, letter, invoice and contact from the sheriff officer, there is still a high level of debt owed to the council for unpaid school meals.”
The current system to tackle unpaid meals utilises reminders for balances of up to £20, letters are issued to parents by the council’s catering HQ for balances of between £20 and £40 and an invoice would be issued plus a £15 surcharge for balances of more than £40.
Secondary school pupils are advised that they must have money in their school meals account to be able to use the school meals service, and debt is not permitted in the same way as a primary school would.
Council officers have agreed to undertake a review of the unpaid school meal debt to establish the reasons for it and consider whether or not a different approach should be taken in order to maximise collection.
