Agenda item

7.1

The Committee noted information, in the form of a presentation, on progress made towards refreshing the current Sheffield Food Plan, and containing details of the new Sheffield Food Strategy.

7.2

Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene, reported on the need to refresh the Sheffield Food Plan, referring to the varying levels of food poverty across the City and  the need to assist those people living in areas where there were high levels of food poverty, by offering help and advice on all aspects of food.  Councillor Scott made specific reference to the high number of visits made to food banks across the City, with the highest being in  the “S3.7” area.  He reported on the reasons why people in some areas were lower down the food hierarchy than others, which included consequences of welfare reform, increases in food prices and lack of food skills, and stated that the aim of the Strategy was to educate such people in order that they could improve their eating habits.

7.3

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                     The Council was aware that in some areas of the City, there was a higher concentration of takeaways, which had a negative impact as the food was often more expensive and not always healthy.  The Council was looking at how steps could be taken to limit the number of takeaways to ensure that there was not a heavy concentration in any specific area.  The aim of the Strategy would be to reduce the demand for such take-aways by helping people to choose healthier alternatives.

·                     Food waste was an important part of the Strategy and biomass had a role to play.

·                     The Council offered support to local businesses and traders in connection with assisting them in providing healthier options in terms of food.  It was accepted, however, that the food they provided was often more expensive than what could be brought in supermarkets, which was a problem for some people.

·                     It was acknowledged that there was a need to educate people from a young age, particularly those families on lower incomes, and young mothers, in terms of cooking their own meals using fresh ingredients, and making healthy choices in terms of the food they eat.  

·                     Efforts to tackle problems of food waste, which was viewed as a major issue in the City, as highlighted in the presentation, would be dealt with as part of the new Strategy.  The Council would look at its waste management contract with Veolia in order to look at what improvements could be made in terms of food waste disposal.

·                     In terms funding in connection with delivering the Strategy, it was hoped that the Council would be able to use resources from the Council’s Fairness Commission Fund to kickstart the Strategy.

·                     It was accepted that there was a need for improvement in the quality of cookery classes in schools.

7.4

RESOLVED: That this Committee:-

(a)       notes the information set out in the presentation, together with the additional information reported by Councillor Jack Scott, and the responses to the questions raised;

(b)       expresses its thanks to Councillor Jack Scott and Jill Lancaster and Dawn Lockley, Place Public Health Team, for attending the meeting;

(c)        agrees to include the new Sheffield Food Strategy on its Work Plan for 2013/14; and

(d)       requests Members of the Committee to forward any further examples of good practice, which could inform the Food Strategy, to Councillor Jack Scott or Jill Lancaster.