The Motion, as printed in the Agenda, was proposed by Councillor J. Kent and seconded by Councillor Okunade. The Motion read as follows:

“Thurrock Council is concerned at reports that government is considering scrapping Universal Free School Meals for infant school children.

We believe that such a move would be damaging to both the education and health outcomes of our young people so resolve to write to the Treasury and Department for Education to show our support for the continuation of Universal Free School Meals as well as to our two members of parliament to make them aware of our concerns.”

Councillor J. Kent introduced the motion, and in doing so explained that he had been concerned by reports that funding for Free School Meals for infant school children could be axed in the Chancellors Autumn Statement and therefore felt that Thurrock should write to its two Members of Parliament (MPs) at an early stage in order to express Thurrock’s objection should this happen.

Councillor Okunade agreed that Free School Meals were vital as some parents struggled to make ends meet financially and an alarming number of children lived in poverty in Thurrock, which included Tilbury where rates of Child Poverty where higher than the national average.

Councillor Halden explained that whilst he supported the principle of the motion he would abstain from the vote as he felt the debate provoked scaremongering and fear along residents because it was based upon a hypothetical situation and not factual information. He informed Members that the Conservative manifesto supported Free School Meals, which was also backed up by the Prime Ministers recent announcements and a statement released from the Department for Education (DfE).

Councillor Halden further expressed that that Members time should be spent debating existent issues such as child poverty and childcare sufficiency, which he had circulated reports on through the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, rather than debating a hypothetical situation.

Councillor Wheeler felt that as Child Poverty was a real issue in Thurrock free school meals should be supported in order to assist families.

Councillor G. Rice commended the fact that free school meals had been supported but expressed a view that rumours did often turn out to be true, which was why he was supporting the motion.

At this point in the meeting there were a number of outbursts in the Council Chamber during which Members argued that the motion was based on factual inaccuracies.

Councillor Jones observed that as one of the richest countries in the World, every child should have the opportunity to have a free school meal.

Councillor B. Rice expressed her support for the motion as she felt that children should learn to eat in a social context and school meals helped them in their education through improved memory and concentration.

During the lengthy debate a number of members explained that there was a danger of confusing the two issues of free school meals with the hypothetical situation of funding being cut and therefore that they would be abstaining from the vote, as Members were in effect debating a matter which had already been ruled out.

Councillor Holloway highlighted that in the past Members had voted on motions based upon issues that had yet to be formally announced, such as a motion regarding asylum.

In response Councillor Ojetola explained that the government had already made announcements on those matters, which was not the case in this instance, and felt that free school meals was an emotive issue which nobody wanted to take away. He remarked that it was also important to provide free meals outside of term time which some community groups did enable in Thurrock.

Councillor Speight supported the principles of the motion and stated that he did not share the faith of his Conservative colleagues that funding for free school meals would not be cut.

Councillor Hamilton felt that the motion had good intentions and that it only served to highlight Thurrock’s concerns to the local MP’s, to which Councillor Coxshall objected as the motion was based on unsubstantiated information.

Following an extensive debate on the subject, Councillor J. Kent summed up the reasons why he had proposed the motion. He recognised that everyone supported the principles of the motion and remarked that whilst the motion was based upon speculation, in his experience such reports did sometimes turn out to be true and he just wanted to put Thurrock’s thoughts on record.

Upon being put to the vote, 24 Members voted in favour of the Motion, 1 Member voted against and 17 abstained, whereupon the Mayor declared the motion to be carried.

RESOLVED:

Thurrock Council is concerned at reports that government is considering scrapping Universal Free School Meals for infant school children.

We believe that such a move would be damaging to both the education and health outcomes of our young people so resolve to write to the Treasury and Department for Education to show our support for the continuation of Universal Free School Meals as well as to our two members of parliament to make them aware of our concerns.

Councillor Stone left the meeting before the consideration of the next item.