In the opinion of the few students interviewed at the start of the week, the meals are good even if some portions are a little small.
What about now that of the elected?
This Wednesday evening, the Montreuil municipal council debated the change of service provider which provides 8,500 meals to the city's students every day, since the beginning of January.
Until then, the municipality had signed a contract with Sogeres, a subsidiary of the Sodexo group, but had been studying the return to a public collective catering service since 2019. It was ultimately a membership of the intercommunal union Tables communes (ex-Siresco) which was selected and announced.
Officially, it will not take place before the summer, if other member cities agree.
In fact, Common Tables began supplying Montreuil since the beginning of January, which the two opposition elected officials Choukri Yonis (DVG) and Pierre Serne (DVG) did not fail to note.
“This evening again, we see how the democratic health of our city is not in its best form,” mocked the first, stressing that this was recorded “by a decision of the mayor signed on December 20, on a contract concluded in all haste without competitive bidding.”
“This file was handled in a hurry, sloppy, poorly prepared”
Mayor Patrice Bessac (PCF) explained that the call for tenders launched to provide interim work before joining the intercommunal union “had not received a response”.
“Should I close the canteens or should I make a decision that will allow us to deal with this mess?
», he pretended to wonder, “assuming” that his signature as mayor “was committed”.
“This file was managed in a hurry, sloppy, poorly prepared,” judged Pierre Serne, recalling that “a third of the towns have left Siresco in recent years following pressure from parents, sometimes with the support from environmental associations, which pointed out the poor quality and the still very industrial side of the meals.
» “And what's more, it's more expensive,” he considered.
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Which made the deputy responsible for children and education react.
“Yes, there is an increase of 25% but Sogeres announced to us that it intended to increase its prices by 15% in 2023 and 30% in 2024,” assured Dominique Attia.
The elected official also defended the union, criticized for its use of plastic containers.
“Siresco is particularly committed to this subject and is carrying out multiple experiments,” she underlined.
Implementation will be effective in 2005 (
sic
), including training of agents.
»
During an interview at the end of last week, the president of Tables communes, also mayor of Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), told us that “considerable efforts were being made” and that the union would go well with stainless steel containers.
“A launderette is being installed in Clichy-la-Garenne,” indicated Philippe Bouyssou (PCF), who assured to be ready for “early 2025”, the date set for municipalities with more than 2,000 inhabitants to start in compliance with the Egalim law.
This prohibits any plastic food containers for cooking, reheating or serving in school canteens.