County Council to consider meat and dairy products motion

County Councillors are set to consider a motion on committing to serve good quality meat and dairy at official events and Powys schools.

At the next meeting of Powys County Council on the 8th December, county councillors are set to vote on a motion proposed by Cllr Iain McIntosh (Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew - Welsh Conservatives) on a proposal asking the Council to commit to serving good quality meat and dairy at official events, meetings and in Powys schools.

The motion comes on the back of Oxfordshire County Council, who is controlled by a Lib Dem, Labour and Green alliance, banning meat and dairy products being served at official events.

Cllr McIntosh says in his motion that:

"Following discussions with many farmers, businesses, and members of the public, there is considerable concern that as Powys County Council is under the control of Labour and the Liberal Democrats, a meat and dairy ban may be introduced here in Powys too."

In an accompanying financial comment on resourcing the motion, it states that Powys spent 2.2m on school meals last year and that the menu involves a balanced meal for pupils including meat and vegetarian alternatives. It also states that the menu was recently refined to have "two meat free days every three weeks at some schools".

It goes on to state that locally sourced food would require a significant amount of set up and procurement activity and initial discussion suggest this would cost more.

The motion is supported by Cllr Les George (Caersws - Welsh Conservatives).