Budget Proposals - February 2011

Our Proposed Amendments

Protecting our Youth Service

Reverse the proposed new cuts of £0.225m across the Youth Service.

The work undertaken by our Youth Service helps reduce the levels of perceived and actual anti-social behaviour by young people in our communities.

The cost benefits of this are obvious and this improves the opportunities for our young people in these difficult times. This will particularly benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the county.

Improving Learning and Teaching in our Schools

Reduce the savage proposed cuts in spending on School Improvement through a reduction in spending of £0.192m.

In line with national policy, including the Pupil premium, evidence shows focusing investment on the early years creates savings in the future.

This funding allows for extra school advisers, further teacher training, facilitating enhanced learning experiences for young people in the context of total budget reductions.

Protecting our most Vulnerable Children

Whilst there are opportunities for considerable savings on previous expenditure on Children’s Social Care, we feel that the level of cuts proposed will result in a reduced service for the most vulnerable of our young people in care and therefore would reduce these cuts by £0.254m. Investing properly in their futures at an early stage can save considerable amounts in the future.