'Man in a van' school dinner plans under fire

When the Gazette called to enquire and posed as a Ford Transit van driver who routinely transports building waste around the borough, recruiters at the Birmingham-based firm Sheridan Myers immediately sent out a job application form.

One manager stressed that the van would have to be very clean, as 'very occasionally' a council worker might turn up and 'stick their head in the back of the van'.

The company, which already runs a similar scheme for 25 other local authorities around the country, is offering up to £48 a day to people to pick up hot food in sealed containers from one school to deliver to others which have no kitchens, then return the empty containers.

At the moment food is delivered to nine schools without their own kitchens by council staff in council vehicles, but private firm Eden Foodservice is due to take over production of school meals in November.

A spokesman for Sheridan Myers insisted that it carries out criminal record checks on all employees, conducts interviews and inspects all vehicles to make sure they are spotlessly clean.

But Steve Cowan, leader of the council's Labour opposition, claims he was told when he answered the advert that it would be no problem for him to use his car to deliver Christmas trees at the same time.

He said the move would make him reconsider whether his own two children should be given school meals.

Mr Cowan said: "It is completely unbelievable that even the Conservatives would stoop this low and take such a shoddy approach to our children's food, with seemingly very few checks and balances. It will make people question whether they're fit to be in charge of our schools."

A spokesman for Eden Foodservice said: "All of our food is delivered in sealed hotboxes, to ensure it arrives at the correct temperature and in the right condition.

"We are totally committed to ensuring that our service meets health and safety and food quality requirements and will conduct a full investigation in light of the concerns raised.

"As an interim measure, Hammersmith and Fulham Council will provide all transport requirements for the delivery of school meals, and we will be assessing alternatives prior to the start of this contract in November."