£500,000 bus row school broke EU rules
A high school that spent £500,000 bussing in pupils from outside its catchment area has broken EU rules and council policy, it has been revealed.
Llanfyllin High School failed to tender the bus service for the 149 students from Shropshire and 38 from Powys given transport – a breach of European procurement rules.
The school also went against a Powys County Council policy by using its budget to provide a service already offered by the authority.
School leaders have been told they must abide by the rules by September.
An attempt by one of the school's governors to ask for a stay of execution was refused by members of the council's cabinet at a meeting yesterday.
The school's governing body includes several prominent county councillors – including the leader of the Conservative group Aled Davies and cabinet member Darren Mayor.
It comes after the Wales Audit Office found that the school spent the money on subsidising the transport costs of pupils from outside its catchment.
School governor and county councillor Gwynfor Thomas said council officers were aware of the situation and chief executive Jeremy Patterson said an investigation had been launched and it would be completed as quickly as possible.
Peter Lewis, county councillor for Llanfyllin and a governor at the school, asked them to consider the impact of their actions on the pupils, the school and the community.
But the cabinet confirmed its existing policy, the school must comply with it by the start of the 2016/2017 academic year, and the school must advise the council of how they intend to comply with EU Procurement rules.
A report on the options open to the cabinet to recover the funds, about £510,000, will also be produced.
