Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has expressed her condemnation at Conwy Council’s proposed educational cuts last week.
The news comes as Conwy Council is reporting a £25m black hole in its finances with further hikes expected to council tax by as much as 11% to address this. However, wide ranging cuts are still set to be implemented, with senior councillors already indicating they will make cuts of 6% minimum – with 10% also suggested. These cuts are expected to affect vulnerable children the most, including those from less fortunate backgrounds and with special educational needs.
This news has come as a huge shock to many, especially to those working in the sector. Every headteacher in Conwy county has signed a letter condemning the council’s proposal. “We as Conwy headteachers and governing bodies are particularly worried this year as we are being asked to accept savings of between 6% and 10% by Conwy Local Authority for this next financial year,” the letter reads.
They explained that “[t]his is a significant cut, and we are still waiting on a final decision regarding this. It is fair to say that any cut being proposed on schools is going to make setting a balanced budget an extremely challenging situation for headteachers and governing bodies.”
The extensive nature of the cuts, which already comes on top of a 5% cut last year, is expected to result in staff reductions and redundancies.
Commenting on the news Janet said:
“It is a great shame to hear that Conwy Council are going to inflict more cuts on the community. The news that educational budgets are being slashed is particularly concerning, especially since the council cut their budget by 5% last year.
“School budgets are already at breaking point and at a time when our children are still recovering from the disruption caused by COVID we should be paying special attention to their needs and managing school finances accordingly.
“Sadly this represents a common theme for Conwy Council who are having to slash budgets to address the £25m gap in their finances. While they appear to be laying blame at the feet of the Welsh Government, blame lies with both.
“I am working hard to ensure that Conwy Council listens to those concerned about the consequences of such dramatic cuts and I am extremely grateful to those who have already voiced their concerns to me and others.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy wedi beirniadu toriadau addysgol arfaethedig Cyngor Conwy a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf.
Daw’r newyddion wrth i Gyngor Conwy adrodd am £25m o fwlch ariannol yn ei sefyllfa ariannol gyda chynyddiadau disgwyliedig pellach o hyd at 11% yn y dreth gyngor i fynd i’r afael â hyn. Fodd bynnag, mae’r Cyngor yn dal i fwriadu cyflwyno toriadau eang, gydag uwch gynghorwyr eisoes yn awgrymu y byddant yn gwneud 6% o doriadau o leiaf – gyda ffigur o 10% wedi’i awgrymu hefyd. Disgwylir i’r toriadau hyn effeithio’n bennaf ar y plant mwyaf bregus, yn cynnwys y rhai o gefndiroedd llai ffodus a’r rhai ag anghenion addysgol arbennig.
Mae’r newyddion hwn wedi dod fel sioc fawr i lawer, yn enwedig i’r rhai sy’n gweithio yn y sector. Mae pob pennaeth yn sir Conwy wedi llofnodi llythyr yn beirniadu bwriad y cyngor. “Rydyn ni fel penaethiaid a chyrff llywodraethu Conwy yn poeni’n fawr eleni, gan fod gofyn i ni wneud arbedion o rhwng 6% a 10% gan Awdurdod Lleol Conwy ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf”, medd y llythyr.
“Mae hwn yn doriad sylweddol, ac rydyn ni’n dal i aros am y penderfyniad terfynol. Teg yw dweud y bydd y toriad arfaethedig i ysgolion yn ei gwneud hi’n anodd iawn i benaethiaid a chyrff llywodraethu osod cyllideb gytbwys.”
Mae disgwyl i natur eang y toriadau, a ddaw ar ben toriad o 5% y llynedd, arwain at lai o staff a diswyddiadau.
Wrth roi sylwadau ar y newyddion, meddai Janet:
“Mae’n resyn o beth clywed bod Cyngor Conwy’n mynd i orfodi mwy o doriadau ar y gymuned. Mae’r newyddion fod cyllidebau addysgol yn cael eu torri yn bryderus iawn, yn enwedig gan fod y cyngor wedi torri eu cyllideb 5% y llynedd.
“Mae cyllidebau ysgolion eisoes yn gwegian ac ar adeg pan fo plant yn dal i adfer ar ôl y tarfu a achoswyd gan COVID dylem fod yn rhoi sylw arbennig i’w hanghenion a rheoli cyllid ysgolion yn unol â hynny.
“Yn anffodus, mae hon yn thema gyffredin gan Gyngor Conwy sy’n gorfod torri cyllidebau i fynd i’r afael â’r bwlch o £25m yn ei gyllideb. Mae’n ymddangos fel petaen nhw’n taflu’r bai i gyd ar Lywodraeth Cymru, ond mae yna fai ar y Llywodraeth a’r Cyngor.
“Rwy’n gweithio’n galed i sicrhau bod Cyngor Conwy’n gwrando ar y rhai sy’n poeni am y toriadau sylweddol ac rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i’r rhai sydd eisoes wedi mynegi eu pryderon wrthyf i ac eraill.”
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
