Skip to content

Norfolk councillors walk out in row over free school meals

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Protesters to the scrapping of the scheme outside County Hall in NorwichShaun Whitmore/BBC
Opposition councillors said "families are worried sick about how to make ends meet" now the scheme has been scrapped

Councillors have walked out of a meeting over a Conservative-led authority's decision to end free school meal vouchers over the Easter holidays.

The Labour group at Norfolk County Council wanted the issue to be debated but its motion was rejected.

Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors all left the full council meeting to show their support for "families experiencing holiday hunger".

The council said people facing hardship could apply to its assistance scheme.

Opposition councillors presented a petition with 2,500 signatures at the start of the meeting.

They said 27,000 children would be left without support.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC The half empty council chamberShaun Whitmore/BBC
Opposition councillors left the council meeting to show their support to "families who are experiencing incredible holiday hunger"

The opposition's call for a debate was rejected by Penny Carpenter, who was chairing the meeting, following advice from council officers.

Mike Smith-Clare, Labour lead for children and young people, said by walking out of the meeting, it showed "we care about those families who are experiencing incredible holiday hunger".

Labour said it would "alleviate the burden" if the voucher scheme was reinstated despite Norfolk schools being midway through the Easter break.

Shuan Whitmore/BBC Protesters to the scrapping of the scheme outside County Hall in NorwichShuan Whitmore/BBC
Protesters gathered outside County Hall in Norwich ahead of the meeting
Shaun Whitmore/BBC A petition with 2,500 signatures being presented to the Conservative-run county councilShaun Whitmore/BBC
A petition with 2,500 signatures was presented to the Conservative-run county council

Brian Watkins, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said the issue was "as urgent as it gets".

He said: "Thousands of Norfolk families are worried sick about how to make ends meet - not just in the coming couple of weeks but in the grim months that lie ahead of us all."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Jamie Osborn, from the Green Party, outside County Hall in NorwichShaun Whitmore/BBC
Jamie Osborn, from the Green Party, said the council's alternative holiday and food scheme was "not suitable for a lot of children"

The county council has introduced a Big Norfolk Holiday Fun scheme which offers activities and free lunches for eligible children.

But Jamie Osborn, from the Green Party, said that was "not suitable for a lot of children".

He said parents in his ward were having to choose between feeding themselves or their children.

Ahead of the meeting, protesters gathered outside County Hall in Norwich.

Cedar, 10, who was there, said: "Some people don't have enough money to eat and it's not going to be a happy Easter."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Daniel Elmer, the council's Conservative deputy cabinet member for children's services, outside County Hall in NorwichShaun Whitmore/BBC
Daniel Elmer, the council's Conservative deputy cabinet member for children's services, said funding for the scheme had stopped

Norfolk County Council's decision to stop the scheme was in contrast to other authorities in the region.

Daniel Elmer, the council's Conservative deputy cabinet member for children's services, said funding for it had stopped.

He said he thought other councils would be in the "same situation come the next holiday".

Mr Elmer said a new £6.7m hardship scheme was more "targeted" and urged anyone facing hardship to contact the authority.

presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]