Implementation and Monitoring Working Party meeting 3 October 2007

Members
Maureen Howell
Gaynor Denny
Lindsey Kearton
Richard Edwards
Gaynor Bussell
David Smith
Teresa Owen
Ruth Fairchild – until lunch

FSA Wales
Phil Morgan (Chair)
Sarah Rowles
Jay Berry
Kerys James-Palmer

Phil opened the meeting by welcoming all the members. Apologies had been received from Rob Pickard, Jeremy Corson, Nia Rees Williams and Anne Bull.

David requested his apologies be added, and the draft minutes from the April 2007 meeting was endorsed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

Quality of Food Update
Maureen gave an update on the Quality of Food consultation which has been widened to the Welsh Food Debate, and is aimed at engaging with the population more fully, giving them a chance to help shape the way food is produced, supplied, marketed and consumed in Wales. The Quality of Food Task and Finish Group has reviewed the current situation and highlighted gaps and challenges which need to be addressed to improve the quality of food in Wales, and produced a report which has been published on the WAG website for comment. The debate will be used to prioritise key areas for future work and the consultation closes at the end of December. Analysis of the responses has been put out to tender and will inform an implementation plan in Spring 2008.

Phil told the group that the final report was still outstanding. Recent delays have been due to personal circumstances affecting Liz Dowler but the report is expected shortly. Comments were made by the group about some of the concerns previously raised such as it not being sufficiently comprehensive e.g. didn’t engage with the voluntary sector, and regarding the accuracy of the report, in particular some of the quotations. FSA Wales have given Warwick feedback on numerous occasions regarding these points but accept that ultimately the report reflects the views and opinions of the research team, and will be published as such.

Food and Well Being Action Plan Review
Phil and Sarah then introduced the next phase of the meeting to review the progress and achievements against the Food and Well Being recommendations and actions.

The Group worked through the actions in the FWB strategy and reviewed which had been completed, where mechanisms were in place and work was ongoing, where work was now being taken forward by more recent strategies and, where no work has been carried out to date. Jay advised that she would update the information based on the Group’s discussions and produce a simplified list of actions for future focus for dissemination to Working Party members.

The Group felt unable to highlight where it considered there were gaps in Food and Well Being and where future effort should be focussed at this stage as it was felt that this was not possible until the outcomes of Quality of Food consultation were available in the Spring. This was needed to see where the two strategies may sit together and would likely inform the future emphasis of Food and Well Being.

The Group discussed the need for a streamlining of current policies and action plans and highlighted a need for other ways then just surveys of measuring impact and success that could be linked to community networks.

The Working Party agreed there was a need to review the function and membership of the IMWP. However, this will not be possible until the future focus of Food and Well Being has been determind.

Maureen notified the Group of a number of Conferences and asked for members to attend wherever possible.

Jay advised that the 2007-08 AFAL scheme is being launched on 5 October and that she would be canvassing for volunteers for the judging panel shortly.

David expressed concerns that funding of 'Food Aware' was being diminished or removed.

The group discussed whether there was a need to meet again or use an electronic exchange to form a collective response to the Quality of Food consultation. The Chair suggested that a further half day meeting could be held if required and members agreed to report back to confirm their availability for week commencing 26 November.