A SIX figure sum is set to be invested in the delivery of a new regional food plan for Dumfries and Galloway over the next couple of years.
The progression of a local plan to ensure people locally have access to nutritious food was approved by councillors in March this year.
This ties in with the Scottish Government’s ‘Good Food Nation’ bill, which was passed in June, and is now encouraging councils to get to work on formulating their regional food plans.
At Dumfries and Galloway Council’s finance committee next week, councillors will be asked to rubberstamp forking out £125,000 on the creation of a lead officer post – along with another £20,000 in spending money.
A report produced for the meeting proposes that a regional food plan economic development officer post is created, with a wage of around £62,500 for two years.
The council report states: “It is proposed that a two-year fixed term post be created to oversee and lead on the creation of the regional food plan, along with additional resources to facilitate the engagement and development work with a range of stakeholders.
“In order to ensure that the regional food plan is strategic and aligns with the legislation, it is proposed that a new economic development officer post is created for the duration of the project with an additional annual budget of £10,000 to support the wider engagement consultation and development work associated with the creation of the regional food plan.”
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon described The Good Food Nation Bill as a “commitment to ensuring that everyone in Scotland has access to healthy, nutritious fare and that businesses and public kitchens commit to producing, selling and serving good food.”
