School meals in Wolverhampton will cost 10p more from September due to the spiralling cost of food and fuel, council chiefs said today.

But in better news for families, the increase is only half the 20p hike originally proposed by the former controlling Labour group. The new Tory-Liberal Democrat alliance has agreed on the 10p rise, which was described today as “one of the toughest decisions” it has had to make since taking control of the authority in May.

Schools chief Councillor Jill Fellows said today that to set no increase was simply out of the question. She added: “We would have preferred no increase all but we have had to face the rising cost of food and fuel, which affects the cost of delivering the service. An increase of some kind was sadly unavoidable but we saw no reason why parents should have to shoulder the whole effect.”

The price of a primary school meal in Wolverhampton will be pushed up to £1.60 while a secondary school dinner will cost £1.70.

Councillor Fellows said the authority was pleased to have saved parents 10p per meal and said there was “enough slack” in the budget to cope with changes.

“This will not affect staffing in schools as their budgets are now ring-fenced,” she added.

“I thought that the proposed 20p rise was just too expensive, particularly for families with more than one child at school.

“The current economic climate has led to the rise but it’s because of the current economic climate that we can’t ask parents to pay any more.

“We have been hit by inflation for food and fuel – this is not the council’s fault but rather because of social factors and the Government.

“This was one of the toughest decision we have had to make since we took control of the city council in May.”

The new prices will come into force when pupils return to school in September following their summer holidays.

Wolverhampton’s school dinners underwent an overhaul following the healthy revolution sparked by Jamie Oliver.

Pupils can now tuck into dishes including Quorn sausage risotto, mixed salad and vegetable casserole with sweetcorn dumplings.

Councillor Fellows added: “Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are in total agreement with this decision.

“We are glad to be holding down costs.”