Perth and Kinross Council agrees to write off £57k school meal and breakfast club debts
dailyrecord.co.ukPerth and Kinross Council has agreed to write off outstanding school meal and breakfast club debts for 2022/23.The unanimous decision was taken by PKC's Finance and Resources Committee on Wednesday, June 7.It is hoped the move will support vulnerable families affected by the current cost of living crisis.A motion to write off debts and obsolete stock recommended councillors write off £44,022 of the outstanding school meal/breakfast club debt leaving a balance of £12,871.PKC's finance chief Stewart Mackenzie said: "As of March 31, 2023 we have £56,893 of outstanding debt relating to school meals and breakfast clubs so that's both categories of debts.
We have provided for £44,022 of that total which leaves a balance of outstanding school meals and breakfast club debts of £12,871."Perth City North councillor John Rebbeck tabled an amendment to write off the remaining £12,871 of school meal/breakfast club debt in response to the "extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in".Cllr Rebbeck's amendment said: "In recognition of the pressures facing vulnerable families across Perth and Kinross in this cost of living crisis, this amendment seeks to go further."On a one-off non-recurring basis and specifically in relation to school meal/breakfast club debt, this amendment proposes to write off the balance at 31 March 2023 of £12,871."Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett was happy to "readily" second the amendment and was "reassured" to hear PKC would not refuse a meal to a hungry primary school child.Council leader Grant Laing said: "I believe we as an organisation will not refuse a meal to a primary school child who presents for a meal so if they present for a meal and it's not prepaid, we'll still give them a meal."Libe
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