Scottish Councils commended for sustainability

The Highland Council is one of eight Scottish Councils, which has been highly commended for its work with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) on sustainability in sourcing policies.

Together with Angus, East Ayrshire, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Fife and Tayside Contracts (covering Perth and Kinross), Highland has received the award for full traceability audits of each region, which showed all the red meat served in public facilities was sourced locally.

Norma Murray, the Council’s Catering and Cleaning Manager with Education Culture and Sport Service, said: “I am delighted with our success at the public procurement awards, being highly commended for sustainability, while working with QMS (Quality Meat Scotland) .

“All Highland beef, pork and  lamb, is sourced in Highland communities. We ensure our young people and their families are fed top quality, locally-reared red meat and  support our local farmers.“

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: “This award is a credit to the Service’s ongoing work in sustainable procurement.”
 
John  Munro of Dingwall  is the current supplier for all the Council’s butcher meat requirements.

Donald Biggar, Chairman of QMS, said: “This commendation is credit to these councils’ work to ensure local residents are fed top quality, locallyreared red meat. In turn, this supports local farmers and provides a key market for the industry.

“More Scots are looking locally for their food and drink, and there is no reason that people shouldn’t get the high quality, local food from their local authority.

“I’m pleased to say that all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities are now putting sustainability at the heart of their supply policies but there is still much work to be done with other public bodies throughout the country.”

For more information about QMS work in public procurement, visit www.qmscotland.co.uk/marketing/public-procurement.html