A plan to address food poverty and improve residents’ health has taken an important step forward.
Published: Tuesday, 5th March 2024
On Monday, 4 March, Cherwell District Council’s executive approved the Food Action Plan, developed by Good Food Oxfordshire and Cherwell-based organisations, including the district council.
The initiative commits the council and its partners to growing the local food economy, shortening supply chains, and making catering healthier at organisations such as schools, nurseries and care homes. It also supports environmentally friendly farming and community-led efforts to grow and share food.
The council is one of Good Food Oxfordshire’s main partners involved in the production of the plan and is partly responsible for its delivery. To support the plan, £25,000 of grant monies will be made available to food network partners across Cherwell, funded by Oxfordshire County Council.
Councillor Phil Chapman, Portfolio Holder for Healthy and Safe Communities, said: “The cost of living crisis has had an impact on many of our residents’ food shops, and this important food action plan is a real sign of our commitment to help.
“The plan looks at the food system as a whole in Cherwell district and aims to make it more environmentally friendly, more locally driven, and more able to meet future challenges.
“A great deal of work has gone into bringing together partners from across the local food system to develop this action plan. I welcome its approval by the executive as an important step to supporting the health and resilience of the communities of north Oxfordshire.”
The action plan was developed through partnership working, consultation events led by Good Food Oxfordshire, and a workshop involving key stakeholders from across the district.
The action plan builds on a strategy approved by the council in May 2021 and will be delivered over the next three years. Progress will be reported through the council’s food insecurity working group to the overview and scrutiny committee.