Powys has a £600,000 education black hole

PRUs provide short-term education for students who are unable to attend a mainstream school.

At a joint meeting of the Learning and Skill and Heath and Care scrutiny committee’s on Wednesday, November 13 councillors and lay members were told of the plan to split the PRUs to run separately as they looked at the draft Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and Inclusion Strategic Plan.

From January the council would look to de-register the PRU which is run over two sites in Brecon and Newtown.

They would then both be registered individually as PRUs.

Budget proposals to close a unit to save just over £600,000 over two years were part of the budget that was agreed last February by councillors.

Remodelling the PRUs which are based in Brecon and Newtown was estimated to save the council £352,555 this year and £251,285 next year.

Councillor Gareth E Jones of the Powys Independents group asked why there had been a “change in focus” on the PRUs over the last eight months and what would happen to the savings that had been proposed. 

Head of school improvement and learning, Anwen Orrells explained that the changes had been made when a new team took over the senior leadership roles in the education department.

Ms Orrells said: “In reality when we think about the geography of Powys, from Pennant to Ystradgynlais, Crickhowell to Machynlleth, one site is not sufficient.”

Director of education Richard Jones said: “There was a strategy and now this is a different strategy.“ We’ve had Estyn feedback which has informed our thinking, it is different but it’s because we have new information.”

Committee chairman Conservative Gwynfor Thomas said: “I fully understand and welcome the change of direction.

“But where we as a scrutiny are frustrated is that we went through that budget round and said that this was undeliverable and would not benefit any children in Powys.”

Councillor Thomas explained that he and other councillors were not getting “any answers” for several months when they asked about the PRU's future.

They were also being contacted by families with children at the PRU and staff there who were worried about the situation and job security.

Councillor Thomas said: “The anxiety they had to go through was unacceptable.”

He added that he was “unclear” what would happen to the £600,000 that was supposed to be a saving.

He added: “It was presented in the budget, so they (savings) have to come forward.”

Schools finance officer Nancy Owen explained how the £600,000 would be found.

She said that the department had received funding from other council budgets in a virement worth £120,000 which would be used against the £352,555 target for this year.

This leaves a balance of £233,000 that still needs to be found this year and Ms Owen said the education service is “working very hard” to find that money.

Ms Owen said that £189,000 worth of savings would be part of next year’s budget with the remaining £58,000 rolling over to 2026/2027.

“Work will remain ongoing,” said Ms Owen.

Finance portfolio holder, Labour’s David Thomas said: “The savings will be reflected in the budget that will be presented to council in February.”