Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Communities and Housing, Tai Calon Community Housing. The Blaenau Gwent Sustainable Food Co-ordinator, Tai Calon gave a comprehensive update on the Sustainable Food Partnership Programme.

A Member asked if foodbanks/groups promoted healthy eating and had fast food outlets been challenged to change their options on offer.

The Co-ordinator advised that healthy eating was a ‘hot topic’ at the moment and referred to the changes made in sugary drinks. It was hoped that these changes would be applied in the food industry. The food debate was on the agenda for consideration at by the Welsh Assembly and the Co-ordinator felt that it would be interesting to see the outcome of these discussions.

The Member appreciated that tackling the fast food outlets was a major change nationally, however the Member felt that it was important that we attempt to tackle the issues more locally. It was informed that some groups provided an education around healthy eating and there was a lot of work being undertaken to obtain more fresh fruit and vegetables in foodbanks. However, it was also important to ensure individuals had access to cookers and were taught how to follow recipes to place fruit and vegetables in their everyday diets. These are key areas in changing lifestyles which would also be reliant on a family’s income, therefore it was a need for good local economies.

The Co-ordinator added that one of promising spaces to tackle these issues were in with schools and there were lots of exciting projects being taken through schools, however it was stated that we could not force families or individuals to eat the right foods.

The Committee AGREED that the report be accepted and notedthe report and appendices as provided (Option 1).