Decision - Review of City Food Strategy

1.     That Sustainability Cabinet Committee note the review is being undertaken and encourage participation amongst council officers where relevant.

1.     The council put forward around 50 targets into the existing Strategy, many of which have been achieved. A review will highlight this success and offer opportunities for positive communications around these achievements.

2.     Brighton & Hove Food Partnership have a £500,000 bid to the Big Lottery for food work in the city and also deliver substantial work around health (commissioned by the PCT). A review of council work by the Food Partnership is likely to lead to further collaboration and joint working from which the council can benefit from support and resources from the Food Partnership.

3.     The food agenda is just as high in the public’s mind as it was when the food strategy was produced (simultaneous to the Jamie Oliver/school dinners agenda)– this time the issues are particularly around food price volatility, global food shortages and food security. A review will facilitate consolidation of council action around this agenda – in which the city is already a perceived national leader through the existing Food Strategy.

4.     New targets may simply reflect work already undertaken by the city council – raising its profile and providing strategic support.

1.     There are currently inadequate resources within the sustainability team in terms of officer time and capacity to undertake the work of the review internally, although the review by the Food Partnership will be managed by the Sustainability Team.