Purpose

This report requests the Executive Director Corporate
Services to allocate a budget of £700,000 a year for seven
years to support Camden’s Food Mission strategic initiative
to establish Camden Food Partnership (CFP). The intention is,
subject to all necessary decision making required under the
Council’s Constitution the budget will be dispensed through
grants made within the broad framework set out in the
report.
The Food Mission initiative aligns with the We Make Camden
and Missions approach, approved by the Cabinet in December 2021.
The We Make Camden Food Mission aims to tackle root causes of food
insecurity by developing a sustainable, resilient food system that
ensures affordable, nutritious food for all Camden residents by
2030.
 
The purpose of the allocated budget will be to enable CFP
to function as a collaborative, system-wide endeavour bringing
together community groups, businesses, and public sector entities
to drive transformative change. The funding is intended to support
the establishment of a dedicated CFP structure, capacity building
for key partner organisations, and the creation of innovative
programmes. It will lead on and manage initiatives under three
themes: "Money First," focusing on economic support to address food
insecurity; "Food Waste and Sustainability," reducing food waste
and promoting eco-friendly practices; and "Healthy Eating and
Nutrition," fostering healthier food choices.
 
This investment will provide stability as the partnership
grows and builds independent funding and operational
self-sufficiency, aiming to achieve full independence by
2031.
 
Through this investment, the CFP will strengthen local
infrastructure, drive policy advocacy, and set an example for
sustainable urban food systems across other cities and
boroughs.

Content

THAT the Executive Director, Corporate Services agrees to
allocate a budget of £700,000 a year for a period of 7 years
starting from 2024-2025 from corporate resources to support the
development of Camden Food Partnership.