East Ayrshire Council will look to write off around £30,000 in school meal debt.
Labour councillor Maureen McKay called for the move, which has been mooted by a number of councillors, at cabinet on Wednesday.
At the same time, she warned that community groups vital to getting help to residents are facing burnout from their Covid pandemic efforts.
She said: “As a starting position, could we add additional funding to write off school meal debt?
“That has the potential to reach families who, up until now, were managing well.
“The fact that they no longer put funds into their child’s account indicates there is a growing problem.”
Depute chief executive Katie Kelly responded that the matter had been discussed for some time and that a number of councillors across the parties had suggested a write-off.
She said: “It is something we think is on the table. We need to look at the impact it would have. We have done some analysis and it is something we can move fairly quickly on.”
She said that it was important to ensure the move would have long-term benefits and suggested linking it with the rollout of free school meals.
Chief executive Eddie Fraser added: “We always say that no child is going to get turned away from getting their meal at any East Ayrshire school.
“That’s the baseline for us here.”
Mr Fraser said that it was important to look at the the prevention of future debt, rather than simply writing off one debt then see it build up again.
A similar proposal by Labour in North Ayrshire was voted down the same day.
Cllr Mackay also raised her concerns about the pressure placed on community groups and the importance of councillors in identifying issues in their own wards.
She said: “The reality in this awful situation is that we [councillors] have to take our roles and responsibilities and very much accept we really have to be the eyes and ears of our communities.
“I do sincerely believe this stage we don’t fully know the groups [affected by the crisis]. The groups may not know themselves the services they need. I expect those to largely be people who have managed their lives exceedingly well without support.
“I understand the role of community groups, but I have to say it have some concerns that community groups are at an exhaustion point. It is not a lack of desire.”
Council leader Douglas Reid acknowledged the stress on community groups and said, where they can, the council would offered any support they needed.
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