THE Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet has decided to consider replacing the current Meals on Wheels service.

During full cabinet meeting on Monday, November 29, cabinet members agreed to consider alternatives to the meal service.

A report, presented to cabinet, revealed that the number of people using the service had declined - from approximately 560 customers on weekdays in 2012 to 375 in 2015 and 225 in 2016.

It was also reported that the current scheme did not cover the whole of the Vale of Glamorgan, as the service for the western area of the Vale had ceased several years ago.

Councillor Bronwen Brooks, cabinet member for housing and social care and health, said that the report had set out alternatives for those eligible for the meal service.

She said: "The amount of people using the service has declined over the years.

"Currently 45 meals are delivered on weekdays and 23 on each weekend day.

"I also think that the service should be for the whole of the Vale of Glamorgan.

"The current system is not meeting the needs because of this."

A range of alternatives were proposed, including the continuing of the current service, increasing revenue to meet the costs of running the service and increasing the demand for the service to generate enough revenue to cover costs.

It was recommended for the current service - which provides meals to those people who cannot prepare meals - be replaced with meal deliveries and social enterprises.

Social enterprises such as The Food Shed, which has developed a partnership with Parc Prison, produces freshly prepared meals at a cost of £4.75 was named as a viable alternative.

Cabinet agreed to refer the recommendation for consideration to the healthy living and social care scrutiny committee.