Unnecessary school cuts challenged

Cuts to Aberdeenshire schools were challenged as 'unnecessary and
wrong' at last week's meeting of Aberdeenshire Council's Education,
Learning and Leisure Committee (24 March).

Democratic Independent councillor and Green Party MSP candidate Martin
Ford opposed cuts being made to teacher numbers, the number of depute
heads in some academies and the provision of fruit for primary pupils,
and the extension of charging for musical instrument tuition.

Several papers at the Education, Learning and Leisure Committee dealt
with proposed policy changes intended to give effect to budget cuts
voted through the Council in November and February.

Cllr Ford and his colleagues in the Democratic Independent group
opposed these cuts at the full council meeting in November 2010 when
the Council voted for budget reductions totalling almost £27 million
in 2011/12.

Martin Ford said: "The Council should not be making these cuts.
Firstly, it should not have been put in the position it has been by
the Scottish Government, having both its grant cut and a Council Tax
freeze imposed on it.

"Effectively, allowing for inflation, the Council Tax is being cut
year after year. That's not financially sustainable and public
services are suffering as a result.

"Had the Council been allowed to decide on the level of Council Tax
next year, some of the cuts to services could have been avoided.
Aberdeenshire's Band D Council Tax is £1141. A one penny in the pound
increase, £11.41 per year or 22 pence per week, would bring in
around £1.2 million to help pay for public services.

"All the cuts included on the Education, Learning and Leisure
Committee's agenda last Thursday and more could have been avoided had
the Council been allowed to increase the Council Tax by just a penny
in the pound.

"Secondly, the Council could have chosen different priorities for
spending. It is still wasting money on preparatory work for the
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, a project that is now simply
unaffordable. Schools should come first, not grandiose and
unaffordable road schemes."

Paper 4 at last Thursday's Education, Learning and Leisure Committee
meeting proposed reductions in secondary school staff numbers (Note
1). Cllr Ford proposed that the formula for allocating teacher numbers
and depute heads to secondary schools be left unchanged. The
reductions were approved by the Committee with the support of Liberal
Democrat, Conservative and SNP councillors.

Paper 6 on charging for musical instrument tuition (Note 2) asked the
Committee to:
a) endorse the removal of exemptions from music tuition charges for
pupils taking SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) music courses,
phased in starting in August 2012; and
b) endorse the removal of sibling discounts from music tuition charges
with effect from August 2011.

Cllr Ford proposed that these additional charges were not made but the
new charges were voted through by eight votes to six by Liberal
Democrat and Conservative councillors.

Paper 7 proposed ending the provision of free fruit to primary 1 and 2
children as part of reducing spending on school catering (Note 3).
Cllr Ford opposed this service being cut but was the only member of
the Committee to do so.

Cllr Ford said: "We know we have a considerable problem of poor diet,
such as too much fat and salt, and associated health issues. Learning
about food and healthy eating is an important part of education.
Getting young children accustomed to healthy food is crucial as part
of setting a pattern for later life. There have been great
improvements over recent years in getting healthy meals into schools
and we need to maintain that progress."

It is expected that further papers with proposals for putting into
effect other budget reductions will be coming before the Education,
Learning and Leisure Committee over the coming months.

ENDS

Contact: Martin Ford 01224 790052

Notes:

1. Paper 4 on secondary school staffing cuts:
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/files_meta/802572870061668E80257854004701F0/(04)%20Secondary%20Schools%20Teacher%20Staffing.pdf

2. Paper 6 on musical instrument tuition charges:
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/files_meta/802572870061668E802578550055DA6F/(06)%20Instrumental%20Music%20Tuition%20Fees.pdf

3. Paper 7 on savings on school catering:
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/files_meta/802572870061668E802578550055F583/(07)%20Savings%20within%20School%20Catering%20Service.pdf