Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Charlotte Davies 01639 763745 Email: c.l.davies2@npt.gov.uk
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Consultation on Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget and Draft Savings 2020/21 PDF 119 KB Report
of the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Additional documents: Minutes: An
overview was received on the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget
and Draft Savings 2020/2021, as detailed in the circulated report. It
was explained that the budget before members today was a positive budget compared
to previous years, but that the council still had to make savings of £2.148
million to ensure there was a balanced budget for 2020/2021. Members
raised the following points: ·
Budget Line ELLL 1003 – Cleaning Services (Schools) Members were concerned at the impact on school
budgets if this cost was to transfer to schools and the impact this might have
on the current excellent standard of cleanliness within schools, if schools had
to save money to meet this additional budget pressure. Officers explained that savings still had to
be made and that it would be an extra pressure on school budgets but that it
could be absorbed by schools. The
current cleaning service had received many compliments for the standard of
cleanliness and schools understood the need of this standard to continue. Members asked that officers consider phasing the
transfer of cleaning
costs to schools over a 3 years period. ·
Budget Line ELLL1004 – School Transport – Out of County Members asked how officers could forecast that
there would be a reduction in the need for transportation to special schools
out of county. Officers explained that
the forecast was based on the current numbers of children in out of county
placements who would reach the age of 19 in July 2020 whose placements would
end. ·
Budget Line ELLL 1001 – Leisure Trust Members queried was this saving achievable. Officers confirmed that discussions were
currently taking place with the provider to maximise their income which would
result in a reduction of the subsidy. ·
Budget Line ELLL 707 – Pontardawe Arts Centre Members asked whether the projected income from the
Cinema project at the centre was feasible to result in a reduction in
subsidy. Officers confirmed that the
increased income from establishing the cinema which was scheduled to open in
January 2021 would be able to allow the subsidy to reduce. In addition, a capital investment had been
agreed by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, with a further investment
being sought from the Arts Council for Wales and the Friends of Pontardawe Arts Centre to support the development. Members asked that officers consider reducing the
subsidy to the Arts Centre over a 3 year period rather than 2 years as detailed
in the circulated report. The
committee was pleased that the work previously undertaken to strengthen the
Library Service had resulted in a sustainable service going forward. Members
asked that the officers ensure that the points raised today be included in the
consultation on the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget and Draft
Savings 2020/2021. |