Councillors’ dismay at lack of detail on schools funding plan

COUNCILLORS who met at a scrutiny committee in Llandrindod Wells to discuss the future schools funding formula in Powys, found that it is still being formulated.

They were hoping to discuss facts and figures and find out which schools would be the winners and losers under a new system, but were told that the meeting was to discuss the principles.

From 2019-20 schools in the county will be funded using the new formula, which has been seen by many in recent months as a tonic to the chronic budget problems facing most schools in Powys.

Only in June it was revealed that school budgets in Powys are in crisis, with schools already hundreds of thousands of pounds in the red.

At the meeting, several councillors pointed out that they had expected to see the funding formula in the documents on the subject, as well as tables so that they can compare how it affects schools in their areas.

They queried how they could scrutinise “what the end product is” without a formula.

Councillor Jeremy Pugh said: “You can’t have a pre-game without an end-game. How will this be delivered in the future? Will it be applicable in five or 10 years time?”

Councillor John Morris said: “The reason we were concerned about the previous formula, is seeing the secondary schools going into deficit and primary schools going in to reserves.

“We want the formula to be equipped to get them out and stop them getting into deficit. Do you have the confidence this will?”

Finance director Jane Thomas replied: “Yes. That’s what we want and need and are prepared to back.

“The minimum provision will be established and can be compared with other schools.”

“Raising expectation on how much funding does that relate to, was never the intention of the review.

“There is not a magic pot of money that we can increase school funding”.