Conservative county counciillors have come under fire after voting against children in Hertfordshire receiving free meals throughout school holidays.

Labour members put forward a motion last week that would have seen children most in need having access to free meals during every school holiday.

However, the Tory member for education, councillor Terry Douris, said it was rejected due to a lack of central government funding.

Labour Councillor Asif Khan said: “I am disappointed with the outcome.

“The policy would have prevented ad hoc meetings like we have now every time there is a school holiday.

“We are one of the richest countries in the world and when children go hungry it's repugnant.”

Cllr Khan said he feared children could become malnourished if they do not receive food over the school holidays.

He said the proposed policy was also to ensure that children who may not fall into the category for free school meals will also be supported.  

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Cllr Khan said: “We are finding that families are now living on a much tighter budget and they don’t all fall into the threshold of free school meals, but they are struggling.”

Liberal Democrats called for immediate action for children to have access to free meals during the summer of 2022.

The party's shadow spokesperson for resources and performance Sally Symington said the outcome is incomprehensible.

“We all know the cost-of-living crisis… is hitting the most vulnerable hardest," she added.

“We all know having children go hungry in the holidays impacts their physical and mental wellbeing.

“It adversely affects their cognitive development and ability to progress well at school.”

The Conservatives’ executive member for education, councillor Terry Douris, said: “We said no to Labour’s call because it would be entirely dependent on having funding from central government.”   

Cllr Douris added that this summer, Hertfordshire County Council is running a camp for children who are in receipt of benefit-related free school meals.

The camps will provide free meals and activities throughout the summer.

He added that the Conservatives have committed to provided £3 a day for 20 days to eligible children.

However, Liberal Democrats had called for this to be £3 a day for 28 days.

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