2 May 2010

Plymouth's Tory Council takes money from poor to give to the most well-off

Cabinet member for schools fails to turn up to protect a new school that he has on his election leaflet, from cuts

Plymouth school governors are reeling with anger at the news that school funding from September will be cut in schools in deprived areas to keep schools in well-off areas protected from budget cuts.

Members of the Council's Schools Forum comprising governors, head teachers and councillors were given an ultimatum late last week that they had to agree a new way of distributing funds immediately, or face a funding hiatus that would run into the next school year.

Many heads are unhappy with the decision, as the immediate effect is to take cash from schools which are sited in deprived areas, coping with higher demands like literacy levels, special educational needs and truancy, and effectively transferring cash to schools with less challenging problems so they can avoid making cuts.

For the second time in a month the Schools Forum was asked to endorse a council report circulated later than usual. The Forum was told that any changes they made would affect funding for the next academic year.

Cllr Nicky Wildy was the only councillor present, and voted against the proposals. "Neither of the conservative members of the committee turned up. It's a disgrace. They are acting like Robin Hood in reverse. Taking from the poor and protecting the well-off."

"The Conservatives will say it's a matter for the Forum, but seven council officials turned up. That's quite unusual. I felt a lot of pressure on me to bend to the council will."

The paper was brought because the council is facing an overspend in children's services because of a number of factors, including more children taken into care. Yet these cuts will affect the very schools that early detection of family problems can deliver prevention and financial savings further down the line.

Cllr Wildy said "Cllr Grant Monahan is standing for election in Budshead. His election leaflet is festooned with pictures of him opening the new schools, yet he is now cutting funds to those very schools. He had the time to get in the picture, but couldn't spare the time to stop the cuts to schools in his own area."