* * * News for 10th January 2003 * * *
All of Medway: 10th January 2003
Minister Tackled over Education Cuts in Medway
Education Portfolio Holder tackles Minister over Government cuts.
Medway Council‘s Conservative Cabinet member for Education, Cllr Patricia Wozencroft, has lobbied Education Minister David Milliband MP over cuts in government spending on education in Medway for the next year.
Speaking at an education conference Cllr Mrs Wozencroft asked:
I have listened with interest to what you have had to say about investment in education and investment in children.
I appreciate and agree with the government's stated aim to put education at the top of your agenda.
Bearing this in mind, perhaps you could explain to the parents, teachers and Councillors of Medway why you are proposing the lowest increase per child in funding anywhere in the country and the ninth lowest cash increase.
Would you also accept this settlement will mean a cut in government spending on education in Medway and a direct hit to Medway‘s schools budgets?.
Responding to the question the Minister agreed to examine the settlement further.
Cllr Mrs Wozencroft said:
I am pleased that the Minister has agreed to look further at this issue, which is a kick in the teeth for local children. I hope that, after further thought, he will agree that the settlement is nothing short of an outrage and that we will see local schools getting a fair deal from the government
With the funding shortfall being effectively £120 per pupil, the present outlook is bleak indeed, and realistically the only way it is likely to be alleviated is by a specific rise in Council Tax, as was proposed at a special meeting of the Youth and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3rd January 2003.