Issue - meetings

PSB Sustainable Food Programme progress update

Meeting: 25/02/2021 - Public Services Board Scrutiny Committee (Item 8)

8 PSB Sustainable Food Programme progress update pdf icon PDF 418 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Executive Tai Calon.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive, Tai Calon.

 

An update on the progress regarding the PSB Sustainable Food Programme was provided and it was reported that the lead PSB sponsor for this programme was Tai Calon Community Housing.

 

The programme had been delayed due to Covid-19 as partners’ work was focussed on the pandemic, and although this work continued partners are now working together to progress the programme as a sustainable food partnership going forward.

 

It was noted that in January 2020 the PSB agreed that the sustainable food partnership group would oversee the £23,147 capital spend awarded to Blaenau Gwent Council via the Welsh Government’s EU Transition Fund Food Poverty Grant. The Food Poverty Grant capital funding would support organisations to access, store and distribute additional supplies of good quality food, including good food surplus, in particular, larger amounts of fresh food, boosting the capacity of organisations to provide good quality, nutritious food to their customers. It was further added that Tai Calon and partners had been awarded funding from NRW for a part-time sustainable food coordinator to be put in post to oversee the development of the Sustainable Food Programme in 2021.

 

It was continued that although work had been delayed a positive start had now been made. A good food partnership had been set up and an action plan had been developed.

 

A Member noted that the Council was the holder of the EUTF Food Poverty Grant for 2020/2021 which needed to be spent by 31st March 2021 and it was asked how much progress had been made on this spend.

 

It was reported that the NRW grant was separate to the Food Poverty Grant held by the Council. It was hoped that this funding would continue into the next financial year, however confirmation was awaited. The majority of the food grant had been spent and although the Council holds the grant community applications was considered by the Public Services Board.

 

The Service Manager Policy and Partnerships added that the Council had worked hard to ensure the community was aware of the grant available and it was unsure whether any surplus monies could be rolled over into next year. It was hoped that the monies would be committed by the 31st March, however if this was not the case the Council attempt to roll it over to the next financial year.

 

The Committee AGREED Option 1; namely that the Public Services Board Scrutiny Committee accepted the report and appendices as provided prior to it being submitted to the Public Services Board.