Schools in Monmouthshire County Council Accumulate £7.5m Budget Deficit, Described as “Isolated” by Councillor

SCHOOLS in one part of Gwent are more than £7 million in the red, but a top councillor has described the issue as “isolated”.
The combined £7.5m budget deficit is shared by 19 of Monmouthshire County Council’s 35 schools and its pupil referral unit for those unable to attend mainstream schools.
The figure was highlighted at the council’s June 10 cabinet meeting when the strategic risk assessment, that identifies and monitor issues that could adversely impact the council’s financial position or ability to deliver services, was presented.
Conservative opposition group leader Councillor Richard John asked what the Labour/Green Party administration is doing to address the combined £7.5m deficit ran up by schools that have spent more than they have received in funding.
Councillor Ben Callard, the Labour cabinet member responsible for finance, said there are around 500 schools in Wales in a deficit position, and said: “We’ve got 19 in Monmouthshire, and the greatest number is focused on a just a few schools. Really the problem is quite isolated within those schools.” 
He said the council is helping them to get their budgets “under control” and said: “For me it’s about trajectory, we want to see those deficits falling rather than growing and to try to get those schools to a balance or surplus as it does sit on our balance sheet and does represent a risk to this authority.” 
The Llanfoist and Govilon councillor added the council had also increased funding for schools by more than inflation for the past two years while he said it had also moved “much further up the table” of council funding for schools “having previously been one of the lowest in Wales.” 
Cllr John, who represents Mitchell Troy and Trellech replied: “I’m not sure 19 of 35 is isolated but thank you.”  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​