Decision details

Approval of grant extension.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Communities is asked to:

a)     Agree to the extension of the current investment in the Food for Life programme from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023at a cost of £0.075m via the extension of an existing grant agreement for a period of one yearto The Soil Association;

b)     Note that the extension will be funded from the Public Health Grant; and

c)     Note that the extension will provide time to review the system and to market test and develop a commissioned approach for the future.

Extending the current investment will ensure that the work continues as part of the childhood obesity system wide approach as identified as part of the action plan in the Childhood Obesity Strategy and will give sufficient time for the whole systems approach to childhood obesity to gain enough momentum to inform future service provision.

Do nothing. If the extension of funding was not approved the Catering Service may decide not to provide ‘Food for Life Served Here’ silver and bronze standard meals which would have an impact on the nutritious quality of food, the local economy and potentially the environment. 

There would be a loss of a key partner in the childhood obesity systems work across the county, resulting in lack of input from FFL in the pilot localities working on the whole systems approach.

Go out to market for a commissioned service without continuing with the current grant.  The lack of service would leave a gap in provision and not give sufficient time for the whole systems approach to childhood obesity to gain enough momentum to inform future service provision.