WEST Berkshire Council will not be providing children with free school meals this half term, but insists that it will continue to help struggling families.
There are calls for the council to step in after MPs rejected a motion in Parliament to offer free school meal vouchers during school holidays until Easter 2021.
Businesses, charities and councils around the country have agreed to feed schoolchildren during the one-week break, following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.
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The Conservative-run West Berkshire Council will not be providing free meals or vouchers, but it has promised to support low-income families.
Cllr Lynne Doherty, leader of the council, said the council offers “a wrap-around package of support” to make sure families can get help with food, council tax, budgeting and other issues.
She is urging anyone who needs help to contact the council’s Community Support Hub, which can offer direct support and refer people to foodbanks and other agencies.
She added: “My focus, here locally, is to make sure families realise support is there if they need it. There is no need for any child to go hungry.
“Because each families situation is different, if they come into the hub, we will talk to them and find out exactly what they need and how we can support them.”
Councillor Lee Dillon, leader of the opposition, is now urging the council to provide children with the vouchers during the two-week Christmas break.
In an open letter, the Liberal Democrat councillor said “we are required to stand up and protect those that the government will not”.
The letter adds: “This issue is of major concern to thousands of our residents. By acting now and securing the ability for families to feed themselves over Christmas your administration can make a huge difference.”
Cllr Dillon said it will cost the council around £50,000 to feed more than 2,900 West Berkshire children who are entitled to free school meals.
He added: “This does not need to be party political at all.
“My letter was asking Lynne to step up and fill that void. Her administration has the opportunity to do that.”
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Cllr Doherty said the council “will be looking at the best mechanism” to “make sure families get the support they need” during the Christmas break.
She added: “There are issues with free school meals as well, because it doesn’t take into account people with pre-school aged children.
“If you’re sat at home with a one-year-old and a three-year-old, a free school meal voucher isn’t the best mechanism.
“We want to make sure no child goes hungry and I don’t think anyone wants to see children go hungry.
“This has become very politicised and emotive topic.”
The government, which is facing mounting pressure to reverse the decision on free school meals, says it is providing additional support to help low-income families through the welfare system.
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