LUNCHTIME meals are to be restored at four sheltered housing schemes in York.

City of York Council scrapped a discretionary lunchtime meals service at Gale Farm Court, Barstow House, Glen Lodge and Marjorie Waite Court in the autumn, affecting about 70 residents.

It said it was bringing its lunchtime meals provision in line with the wider service delivered across the city, but the move met with protests that there had been a lack of consultation.

But now recently elected Liberal Democrat Westfield councillor Andrew Waller has said that the meals will be restarting in January, and this followed pressure from himself and residents.

“The new meals have been chosen by the residents, and they are pleased that the council no longer manages the contract," he said.

"Instead they are now in control and can take problems up directly with those running the meals system.

“It is sad that the council has treated the residents of Gale Farm Court and the other three sheltered homes so badly. I hope that lessons have been learned for the future. The council has admitted to me that the situation was badly handled.”

Labour's Cabinet Member for Heath and Community Engagement, Cllr Linsay Cunningham-Cross, said the authority had been working with and alongside residents to help them to choose the lunch options that were right for them.

"We have worked hard to provide taster sessions with at least four different providers at each scheme and held consultation sessions with residents to help them to make their own choices," she said.

" I don't believe this is an area where the council knows best but rather that residents should be supported and empowered to make their own choices.

"I am delighted that at all four of the schemes residents have chosen to sign up for meals from a provider sourced through our partner AgeUK, who have supported residents fantastically throughout this whole process."

Guy Van Dichele, Director of Adult Social Care, City of York Council, said: “Recognising that alternative meal provision was available that was both better quality and more cost effective, we made the decision to stop providing the meals service in our sheltered housing with extra care schemes earlier in the year.

“Since then we have worked closely with tenants, as well as their relatives and the voluntary sector to find high quality, cost effective lunch provision for those who wanted it.

“We have always been confident that a high quality service could be provided without the need for subsidy by the council, as in this case."