Issue - meetings

(i)            to instruct the Executive Director – Corporate Services, in conjunction with the Executive Director –  Families and Communities,  to provide a Service Update on the costs and potential benefits of providing free school meals to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils;

(ii)          to note the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen Action Plan attached as Appendix 1 of the report; and

(iii)         to note the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen - Action Plan Update attached as Appendix 2 of the report.

The Committee had before it the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen Action Plan 2024 prepared by the External Advisers and Locality Manager.

The Chair of the Outcome Improvement Group introduced the Chief Executive of CFINE who spoke to the report. The Chief Executives of Instant Neighbour and CFINE responded to questions from members in respect of partnership working and the many organisations involved, food income versus food requirements and the impact of free school meals.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)         note the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen Action Plan attached at Appendix 1 of the report; and

(b)         note the Food Poverty Action Aberdeen - Action Plan Update attached at Appendix 2 of the report.

The Convener moved, seconded by Councillor Mennie:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:- that the Committee:

(1)          agree the recommendations;

(2)          note CFINE has been mentioned 30 times within the reports and agree the SNP seem obsessed with CFINE as the only show in town, therefore instruct the Executive Director – Corporate Services to bring forward a food poverty action plan from at least one other source to compare and contrast the proposed actions contained within the report;

(3)          agree the Scottish Government's Annual Progress Report on Child Poverty is nothing short of a national scandal noting that time after time the SNP voted against Labour’s right to food bill and the consequences of the SNP’s actions are highlighted within Appendix 2; and

(4)          request the Corporate Strategy and Community Planning Manager to present an annual report to the committee on progress being made. 

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener, and Councillors Davidson, Henrickson, Hutchison and Mennie; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson; declined to vote (2) – Councillors Brooks and Kusznir.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to instruct the Executive Director – Corporate Services, in conjunction with the Executive Director –  Families and Communities,  to provide a Service Update on the costs and potential benefits of providing free school meals to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils; and

(ii)          to otherwise adopt the motion.

(i)             to note the report with information provided by Aberdeen Cyrenians;

(ii)            to thank all those at Aberdeen Cyrenians, including the many staff and volunteers, who welcomed the Committee and provided an informative and interesting visit; and

(iii)          to instruct the Executive Director - Corporate Services, to formally write to Aberdeen Cyrenians expressing the Committee’s thanks for the visit.

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the Locality Inclusion Manager providing an update on the Committee visit to Aberdeen Cyrenians on 31 January 2024.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          note the report with information provided by Aberdeen Cyrenians; and

(b)          thank all those at Aberdeen Cyrenians, including the many staff and volunteers, who welcomed the Committee and provided an informative and interesting visit.

The Vice Convener in the Chair moved, seconded by the Councillor Radley:- that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Tissera, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee:

(1)          Note the contents of the report; and

(2)          Agree the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee should recommend to the Finance and Resources Committee to provide Aberdeen Cyrenians with £250,000 out of the £1m budget allocated from the 2024/25 Budget for Anti Poverty Measuresto help them and VSA deliver a fuel poverty scheme for citizens in Aberdeen who are suffering with Fuel poverty based on the Fuel Poverty Foundation principles.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Vice Convener in the Chair; and Councillors Allard, Brooks, Davidson, Hutchison, Kusznir and Radley; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Tissera and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to instruct the Executive Director - Corporate Services, to formally write to Aberdeen Cyrenians expressing the Committee’s thanks for the visit; and

(ii)          to otherwise adopt the motion.

- COUNCILLOR DESMOND BOUSE, Vice Convener.