Council to serve only vegan food at future events

A council has made what it has described as the "hugely symbolic" move to only serve vegan food at future meetings and catered events.

Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire said the plan was part of a larger food strategy policy for the borough.

The proposal, put forward by the council's Labour deputy leader Scott Patient, was approved by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, despite some opposition.

Steven Leigh MBE, leader of the Conservative Group, said he while agreed with the "general intention" of the move, its implementation was "dictatorial".

Mr Leigh added: "It's a unilateral decision to impose on people who attend the council some food that maybe isn't in keeping with what they want to eat or like to eat."

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillor Ashley Evans said: "I don't think the policy is necessary, I think it's making a statement."

Responding, Green councillor Elaine Hey said: "Although it's small, it's hugely symbolic and it's a significant act of climate leadership."

Calderdale Council has committed to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions as a local authority and a borough by 2038.

The authority adopted a climate change emergency policy in 2020, which included a commitment to using plant-based catering.

Mr Patient told the BBC the impact of the policy on the council's carbon footprint would be "hard to measure".

It was "more of a statement of intention and a show of leadership", he said.

"Another part of it is inclusivity, we have got a really diverse workforce," added Mr Patient, a Labour councillor for Luddenden Foot.

The former chef predicted the move, which would affect about six events a year, could also have financial benefits.

A vegan buffet organised in May for the new mayor had "saved a fairly significant amount of money", he said.

Mr Patient estimated the current spend on catering to be under £2,000 a year.

Labour-led Calderdale Council previously said it needed to save millions over the next three years and approved the maximum increase in council tax for 2024-25.

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