Free school meals forced down Lib Dems throats?
Lib Dems’ free school meals go-ahead
Published: 12 february 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
THE Lib Dems have grudgingly agreed to extend free meals to all primary schools despite their own finance chief describing the move as “Robin Hood in reverse”.
Along with a council tax freeze and a £100 discount for pensioners, which have been included in this year’s budget, cabinet members at Tuesday’s Islington Town Hall executive meeting this week agreed to extend the controversial free school dinners scheme.
The Lib Dems were forced to adopt the proposal after Labour seized control of last year’s budget but so far have only introduced a pilot in six schools.
At the same time finance chief Councillor John Gilbert revealed details of the ruling party’s alternative plan – Fair School Meals – which he hopes to introduce if he gets the go-ahead from central government.
Cllr Gilbert said: “I’ve gone on record as saying universal free school meals is an attractive idea but not one that should be funded by Islington council tax payers. Many wealthy people live in Islington. For the poor to subsidise the rich is Robin Hood in reverse and not the way 21st-century councils should manage their finances.”
Fair School Meals, he said, would increase the qualifying threshold to all families with an income below £25,000 and include secondary schools.
But he said: “I’m afraid the Labour government has interfered with local government so much that we discovered late that secondary legislation would have to be passed. We’ve made inquiries with the Department for Children, Schools and Families but it appears it will take the best part of the year. I therefore slightly reluctantly recommend we continue free school meals for 2010-2011.”
Cllr Gilbert also responded to rebel Lib Dem Cllr Andrew Cornwell’s criticisms in last week’s Tribune that the budget was being presented by council officers and not the finance chief himself.
Cllr Gilbert said officers had shared next year’s budget proposals with Labour, Green councillor Katie Dawson and Cllr Cornwell at a meeting in January because the Lib Dems don’t command a clear majority.
He added: “The cross-party nature is why these proposals are in the name of the director of finance rather than in my name. However it’s for the executive to adopt these proposals for our own. They are distinctively Lib Dem proposals.”