Warrington Council to Cut School Meals Subsidy by £500,000

Warrington Borough Council has announced plans to discontinue its subsidy for school meals, aiming to save £500,000. The council will cease providing this service starting September 2027, requiring schools to establish their own catering arrangements.

As part of a broader effort to address financial challenges, the council indicated that up to seven management and support staff might face redundancy, although there are currently no immediate job threats for the remaining 242 school meals workers. The council's cabinet member for children and education, Matt Smith, noted that the service has been operating at a loss of approximately £500,000 annually.

Smith explained that maintaining the service without the subsidy would necessitate raising meal prices significantly, potentially exceeding £4 in future years. The council is committed to collaborating with schools to ensure the provision of quality and affordable meals, with options for schools to either manage meals themselves or partner with external catering companies.