Overview
- Council officers are asking the Governance and Business Committee on June 22 to replace the two-year-old vegan-only rule with a 'supporting the local economy' catering policy that would allow meat and dairy while keeping plant-based options.
- The recommended policy would require council-funded catering to be seasonal and nutritionally balanced, mandate clear ingredient and allergen labelling, and ensure plant-based choices are always available.
- The rule would apply only to catering paid for by the council—about ten events a year including the Mayor-making lunch—and would prioritise businesses based in Calderdale over large corporate caterers.
- The review follows a shift in the council’s political control after May’s local elections from Labour to Reform UK, and councillors can choose the officers’ recommendation, keep the existing vegan policy, or abandon a formal policy before the full council makes the final decision.
- The original 2024 vegan-only policy was framed as a climate leadership measure but drew complaints of poor uptake and food waste and prompted intervention from the NFU, so any change could shift demand back to local farmers and small caterers while re-opening debate about council leadership on climate and procurement.