By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire council has paused its plans to increase the price of school meals by 40p after facing backlash.
Nottinghamshire County Council said the cost of a council-supplied meal would increase from £2.55 to £2.95.
The price hike was planned to come into force from October 16.
The Conservative-run council said its hand had been forced due to rising food, energy and staff costs, but said it would be up to schools if they passed the cost on to parents.
The Independent Alliance opposition and Labour Groups at County Hall called the decision in for further scrutiny, meaning the planned price increase will no longer come into force this month.
A spokeswoman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: “The proposed school meal price increase is currently being considered under the county council’s call-in process.
“Therefore we are not in a position to put the planned price rise in place from October 16, and have this week written to those schools that use our catering services to let them know about this latest update.
“We’ll be in touch with schools again once the call in process is completed.”
According to the Independent Alliance there had been uproar from parents and the decision was ‘called-in’.
When a cabinet makes a decision that causes concern for councillors to such an extent they believe the decision should be changed, the Local Government Act requires authorities to have a mechanism in place which allows for decisions which are yet to be implemented to be ‘called in’ for further consideration and scrutiny.
It is intended to be used in exceptional circumstances and acts as a pausing or delaying mechanism.
Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan, an Independent councillor who called the decision in for further scrutiny, said: “We welcome the fact that this shameless decision by the Tories has been paused.
“We are meeting Tory and county bosses on Monday when the Independent Alliance will be repeating their call for them to axe these cruel, callous plans.
“Planning to increase the cost of school dinners by 15 per cent in the middle of a cost of living crisis shows how out of touch the Tories are.”
