Councillors fight back in vegan meal row
Members are launching a local food fight back, after Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to switch to plant-based only menus has been called into question.
Councillor Eddie Reeves will ask members at a full meeting of the council in July to reinstate meat and dairy on to the menu and to support local producers following the decision to move to a plant-based offer earlier this year and the subsequent controversy surrounding the provenance of the vegan dishes.
Mr Reeves will tell colleagues: “Given the privileged position in which this Council finds itself and the potentially damaging effects of its motion dated 14 December, this Council resolves to offer locally produced menus at Council-catered events, including meat, dairy and vegan options, or to make alternative provisions for members, staff and attendees to facilitate personal choice.”
The vegan menu motionwas introduced last year by Green Party member for Kidlington Ian Middleton. He had proposed that all council events only serve plant-based food and that schools should devote two days a week to a vegan menu.
However, his ambition was, according to Conservative councillor David Batholomew, ‘wound back’ with the event menu limited to just seven annual full council meetings, while schools were asked to try and aim for one meat-free day per week.
Jane Thynne / Farmers Guardian
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