Agenda item

Initiate Cuts Negotiations – Gwern ap Rhisiart, Head of Education

The item was presented by the Head of Department, drawing attention to the following main points:

Members were reminded of the need to develop savings and cuts plans across the Council as a result of the current financial situation. It was explained that the Council had made cuts that were equivalent to 3% over the last two years across its services but the need for more cuts in the future was emphasised.

It was detailed that the Council was looking to achieve cuts equivalent to a further 3% over the next three years (approximately £36million). It was emphasised that robust decisions had not been made to date and that the Head of Department would submit the Department's plans for savings and cuts to the Cabinet Members and Council Leader over the coming weeks, highlighting the cost of services and listing statutory services.

It was reiterated that it was considered that this would be a cut of £2.7million to schools over the next three years. It was emphasised that there was no decision on the size of the impact of these cuts on schools, and it was noted that they hoped that a proportion of the cuts could be achieved internally. It was considered that the cuts on schools would be divided as follows:

·       £1.3 million of cuts in the primary sector

·       £1.2 million of cuts in the secondary sector

·       £178,000 of cuts in the special sector.

The Forum was asked for their input on the best methods to go about trying to achieve these cuts and savings. The comments below were noted by the Forum members:

·       It was agreed that the size of the cuts for the future was alarming.

·       It was felt that it was important that schools received confirmation of the minimum service level that was acceptable during this difficult period, by clearly setting out the schools' specific requirements to the headteachers.

·       Reference was made to the fact that it was important that no cuts impacted those schools which were already being protected.

·       It was considered that medium sized schools often suffered during challenging periods of this type. It was explained that the cuts would likely lead to losing practical experiences because schools would not have sufficient staff numbers to supervise such activities.

·       The importance of updating the Education Strategy was emphasised.

·       It was considered that the education system was not efficient in Gwynedd at present due to the need to serve so many schools when pupil numbers were reducing.

·       A general feeling was shared that individuals accepted that closing the county's smallest schools was inevitable.

In response to the comments, it was confirmed that arrangements were in place to update the education strategy and it was expected that it would highlight service expectations and school pressures in the future.

It was reiterated that it was likely that more schools would be categorised as being protected as this period continued. Unfortunately, it was confirmed that it was likely that holding discussions about the possibility of closing schools would be inevitable due to the financial squeeze. It was explained if schools had to close, the financial savings from maintaining those schools would be transferred to reduce the financial savings expected from other schools in the county.

It was considered that the Department's delay to modernise education also contributed to the situation which schools faced in the next few years. Reassurance was given that the Department would communicate any decisions and changes with the schools with transparency when moving forward.