The Council have been putting out that they get very little money from the government. I will set out again just how many grants and how much money they do get, as they seem forgetful of the various sources of government cash and just how much they receive.
Wokingham in 2023-4 is receiving £192.75 in capital and revenue grants for education. This comprises
Dedicated Schools grant £168m
Pupil Premium £4.3m
PE and Sports £1.06m
Covid recovery grant £0.42m
Universal infant free meals £1.46 m
National tutoring programme £0.22m
Pensions grant ££0.41m
Mainstream schools Additional grant £4.55m
Teacher pay grant £1.48m
School conditions capital £2.17m
Basic needs capital £0.72m
High Needs capital £7.6m
Childcare expansion £0.30m
The main schools grant is up by £11.5m with an additional grant of £4.55m for mainstream schools or over 10% this year on last.
January 18, 2024
Dear Sir John
It is a pity this counter view is not progressed with such vim in the public domain to offset all these assertions. The quality of debate and coverage from the other parties is weak.
Kind regards
January 18, 2024
Why are there “universal” as opposed to means tested free meals for infants? It allows parents to abdicate responsibility for their kids and spend the money saved on luxuries.
January 18, 2024
‘Free school milk’ used to be universal. Sometimes a cost is low and ‘free’ might help the parents on prep time and be simpler for teachers to deal with. Means testing is a laborious process, expensive in itself and prone to changing. It might even distinguish some pupils as ‘poor’. Nevertheless, in a civilised country, all parents should take responsibility for the children they create.
January 18, 2024
Adequate and generous budget allowances are welcome. Efficient use adds even more.
January 19, 2024
A considerable amount of money. Any funding is never enough for Lib Dem or Labour councils, always wanting more, hence the bankruptcy of their controlled councils.
I would add that our precept payment from the government should be reviewed, being among the lowest in the UK! Time for your constituents to have relief from ever-rising council tax.
Kind regards
Phillip Lawrence
January 20, 2024
I Guarantee that this will not feature in the next edition of the LibDem Focus news sheet.
January 22, 2024
Capital grants are one offs. They should be presented separately to revenue grants. (Unless, of course, you would be happy for the absence of the capital grant next year to be presented as a massive funding cut.)
How does the revenue grant compare with the other unitary authorities in Berkshire.
Reply The revenue grant is the bulk of the cash and compares well with others.
January 23, 2024
I note that you have chosen not to give actual numbers in your reply. An unwillingness to do so always leads one to ask “why?”.
Reply I have set out the numbers in my blogs. Lots of different grants and sources of money