Failure is not an option.

That’s the warning given to provider Chartwells as hot school meals are set to resume in schools across Dorset on Monday after a problematic start.

And while the council is con-fident the service will be trouble-free, there are contingency plans in place.

In September, head teachers were forced to order takeaway pizza and buy sandwiches when Chartwells failed to deliver promised hot school meals to infants across the conurbation.

Chartwells blamed a fire next door to their Ferndown kitchens in June for the problems.

But now, with a new kitchen hub up and running in Poole, cabinet member for education and communications, Cllr Toni Coombs said she has “every confidence” the new arrangements will work.

“All three authorities including myself have been in regular meetings at the new facility.

“We have seen the building developing, the inputting of all equipment and we have every confidence they will be ready and the kitchen will be able to cope.”

Describing the situation at the start of term as a “debacle” she said trial runs with individual schools recently had gone well.

“I am confident but I cannot give absolute guarantees; it is up to them to be able to provide this service,” she told the Daily Echo.

“The staff changes and supplier changes they have made and the fact that this new kitchen is up and running – I have every confidence.”

Daily contact has been maintained between the county council and Chartwells, and Cllr Coombs said the provider has been told “in no uncertain terms” that they must meet the requirements.

“Failure is not an option”, she said.

She added: “They have made a lot of changes – new staff, new vehicles and obviously they have got the new kitchen up and running.

“They have got 10 industrial ovens and special preparation areas for special diets.

“It really is a military oper-ation.”

Food ‘will be provided’

CLLR Toni Coombs said any contingency plans would depend on the nature of the ‘failure’ but previous suppliers Cygnet were available if it became necessary.

“We will ensure that if there is a failure, schools will get delivery of food,” she said.

When asked if she retained confidence in Chartwells following the problems, Cllr Coombs said: “I would not say retain; when it all went wrong I had serious concerns.

“The work that has gone on in the past six weeks to recover the situation and the work that has gone on over the summer – in four months they have managed to secure new premises, sort them and do the trial runs to be operational on Monday – has given me renewed confidence.”