THE prices of meals in most Newport council schools is to increase by a penny following a decision by cabinet member for education Cllr Debbie Wilcox.

Contractor Chartwells has decided to raise the price of school meals by a penny to £2.27.

Newport council does not subsidise the meals and Cllr Wilcox has raised the price in line with the increase.

Adult school meals were also increased, going up by 5p to £3.15.

The rise will increase the costs of providing free school meals to the council.

Based upon 2013/14 meal numbers, this cost will rise by around £2,591 per year.

According to a council report the contract price for school meals is reviewed annually and rises in

line with inflation.

Currently six secondary schools have opted in to the single catering contract with Chartwells.

Two, Newport High School and Caerleon, have opted out of this contract.

They have entered into their own independent catering contract and fix the price of their own school meals.

All Primary Schools and Special Schools within the city use Chartwells.