The Education and Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to discuss proposed changes to school catering and corporate cleaning services, as well as reviewing their work programme and responses to previous scrutiny recommendations. They were also scheduled to note the progress of previous recommendations and actions.

School Catering Service

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report on proposed changes to the council's school catering service. The Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, Lorna Baxter, and the Director of Property and Assets, Vic Kurzeja, were invited to present the report.

The report noted that following the collapse of Carillion in 2018, the county council had to bring a number of service functions back in-house, including the provision of primary school meals to around 60 schools across the county. The report stated that the catering service has struggled to have a financial breakeven position since becoming an in-house delivery service.

The report stated that funding from the government for Free School Meals (FSM) and Universal Free School Meals (UIFSM) has remained largely static and has not kept pace with increases in the cost of providing the service. It also noted that the lack of ringfencing of funding has not guaranteed that all allocated funding has been shared with the catering provider.

The report outlined the impacts of the Covid pandemic, inflationary costs, Brexit and the war in Ukraine on the catering service. It also noted that the number of free school-eligible pupils has increased significantly, with an additional 6,000 pupils eligible for free school meals in Oxfordshire in January 2024 compared to January 2019, representing a 45% increase in eligibility.

The report stated that the school meal market within the county has become fragmented, with private caterers' primary focus being on the 'bottom line', which has negatively impacted smaller and more rural schools. It also noted a lack of effective monitoring mechanisms and little opportunity to enforce standards.

As an interim measure, the paid pupil meal price increased to £2.55 on 1 May 2024, with UIFSM and FSM prices remaining at £2.53 and £2:55 respectively. All school meal prices increased to £2.90 per meal from 1 April 2025. The report stated that further price increases would be necessary in the new financial year if the council is to achieve a breakeven position.

The committee was asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations it wished to make to the cabinet.

Corporate Cleaning Service

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report on proposals to outsource the council's cleaning service. Lorna Baxter and Vic Kurzeja were invited to present the report.

The report noted that the cleaning service was transferred to Oxfordshire County Council following the collapse of Carillion in 2018, with approximately 125 staff transferred back to the council covering all corporate buildings across the county. The report stated that the service has faced considerable challenges, both operational and financial, since this period, including ongoing challenges with sickness, absence and vacancies.

The council currently operates a hybrid model, directly employing around 73 staff and part funding the Operational Manager, for the delivery of cleaning services to the corporate estate and schools with an agreed Service Level Agreement. The remainder of the service is provided by Parker Contract Cleaning Limited, with approximately 45 staff. This is delivered via a three-year contract for cleaning services to all corporate buildings with a requirement of cleaning services equating to less than 25 hours per site per week.

The report proposed two operating models:

• Continue to operate an in-house cleaning service for large corporate sites alongside the outsourced provision of sites requiring less than 25 hours cleaning per week (outsourced in April 2024).
• Carry out a tender exercise in line with Oxfordshire County Council procurement rules to outsource the cleaning of corporate sites.

The committee was asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations it wished to make to the cabinet.

Committee Forward Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to agree its work programme for forthcoming meetings, taking into account the Cabinet Forward Plan and the Budget Management Monitoring Report.

The committee requested a data pack and invited officers to advise as it devises its plan.

The Cabinet Forward Plan and the most recent Budget Management Monitoring Report were available for review.

The committee was scheduled to discuss the school meals service and school cleaning service, and to consider the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children's Board Annual Report and the Oxfordshire Youth Justice Annual Plan. They were also scheduled to discuss a monitoring report on Section 19¹ and a review of the Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) policy.

Committee Action and Recommendation Tracker

The committee was scheduled to note the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings, having raised any questions on the contents.

Responses to Scrutiny Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to note the draft cabinet response to the Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee report on The Virtual School², expected to be approved at the 15 July 2025 cabinet meeting.