Parents and children join protest over breakfast club plans

PARENTS and children have held a protest against planned cuts to school breakfast clubs.

They gathered outside Merthyr Tydfil council offices along with the GMB, Unison and Unite trade unions to oppose proposals to reduce breakfast club hours.

These would see a reduction from the current time of between 45 minutes and an hour, down to the Welsh Government recommendation of 30 minutes.

Unions have raised concerns about the impact on low-income families who rely on the service to get to work, and those who work in the service who are among the lowest-paid staff in the authority.

Councillor Chris Barry, leader of the Labour group, has suggested moving £150,000 of the £200,000 allocated for street cleaning and grass cutting to the schools budget to protect the clubs.

Working parent John Scriven said his shift patterns would have to change as a result of the cut and that if he didn’t have such an understanding employer he might lose his job.

He said: “Give parents a break. Give us something. It seems we get penalised for everything these days.

“They (the councillors) work for us at the end of the day. Things can be trimmed without attacking these services.”

Another parent said it was “absolutely disgusting” as the service helps the lowest-paid families get to work.

Gareth Morgan, regional organiser for GMB, pointed out the changes were first proposed 18 months ago under the Labour administration who decided to scrap it after staff overwhelmingly said they couldn’t afford a reduction in hours.

He said the impact of the change would be “phenomenal”.

He added: “A lot of our members rely on them (the breakfast clubs) to go to work.

“This is one of the most deprived areas in the country.”

Cllr Barry called for a full report to come back to the next available council meeting so councillors can make an informed decision.

Lisa Mytton, the council cabinet member for learning, said: “Breakfast clubs are vitally important. I completely want the best for children in Merthyr Tydfil.”

She said the suggestion had come from the schools forum and it was her duty to take this on, adding that the proposal was still under consultation.

Cllr Mytton, an Independent councillor, claimed there was a lot of “scaremongering” on the issue, and added: “They (Labour) were aware of this proposal 18 months ago. Why didn’t they use earmarked reserves then?

“Breakfast clubs aren’t going anywhere. They are staying.”

Kevin O’Neill, leader of the Independent-run council, which has to find £4.9m of savings, reiterated the point that breakfast clubs will continue.

A full report will now come before council at the end of July.