Consultation on the Future of the Meals Direct Service

Caerphilly county borough council, like many other local authorities across Wales, is facing a huge financial challenge over the next few years and difficult decisions will need to be made in order to balance the budget.

The council must deliver savings in the region of £45million over the next two financial years and this is on top of the £20million of permanent savings that have already been identified.

Cllr Sean Morgan, Leader of Council said, “We can’t continue to run our services in the way we always have. We need to explore all options and consider ways of doing things differently.”

“I want to be honest with the community, because it is clear that the scale of savings means we need to make some very difficult decisions over the coming months.”

Meals Direct Service

The council is proposing to cease delivering its home meals service from the end of November 2024 and would support current users to access alternative provision. The authority would also close its staff catering facilities within its HQ at Penallta House.

The service currently employs 22 members of staff and currently the cost to the council of delivering the service each year is around £444,000. Should any proposal be agreed following consideration of the public consultation feedback, colleagues employed by the service would be supported through existing council HR policies.