PARENTS and guardians of children at Monmouthshire primary schools owe the council more than £8,000 from unpaid bills for in-school meals.

Councillors called for “sensitivity” in the authority’s approach to the debt when members of the children and young people select committee met yesterday (17th May).

The committee agreed that the outstanding balance of £8,335 had to be managed appropriately.

A report revealed that the level of debt ranged from £12 at one school to more than £1,000 at another.

But Conservative councillor Maureen Powell warned against withdrawing school meals from a child if their parents’ or guardians’ debt remains unpaid.

“I think that the worst thing that we could ever do is give them something different, that poor child would be isolated,” said Cllr Powell on Thursday.

“For many children in some areas that’s the only cooked meal that they ever get because their parents either haven’t had time or don’t really know how to cook.

“The best thing that could be done is to actually speak to the parents, rather than letters, to find out the reason why [they can’t repay their debt].”

Roger Hoggins, the council’s head of operations, said such a withdrawal “would be seen as draconian” but asserted that procedures had to be put in place to prevent escalating debt.

Mr Hoggins also said that the main issue was not the value of debt, which represents less than one per cent of the £953,000 generated annually by the service.

But Labour councillor Tudor Thomas said families could be “struggling” after the Conservative council’s decision to raise the cost of school meals from £2.10 to £2.45.

“I think for lots of families, the ones who are not within the free school meals range, are probably struggling,” he said.

“If you have three children, that’s £36.75 a week, and £147 a month.

“I know you’re not going to adopt a ‘bread and water’ routine, I would certainly not support that as we’d be going back to the days of Oliver Twist.”