South Wales Evening Post - 22 August 2006
Class sizes in Swansea primary schools could swell to more than 30 pupils unless head teachers can find more money, education chiefs have warned. The Assembly has said that there should be no more than 30 pupils per teacher in the five to 11 age range.
But Swansea Council has admitted schools will miss those targets in four years' time unless they can find savings elsewhere in their budgets.
The figures are based on the projected amount of cash head teachers will receive from Swansea Council in the next four years.
Brian Roles, the council's head of service for education resources and planning, who has compiled the information, said: "It was improving, but now it is getting worse in terms of funding.
"We have got to a position over time where we are reaching the 30 limit.
"Whereas in the past we can say we provided sufficient funds to allow key stage one and two classes to be covered, I'm worried that that will not be the case in the future."
The figures are an indication of how much cash will be available to schools if present funding trends continue.
The figures show how the ratios are likely to change, although each school would decide exactly how to spend the cash it was allocated.
Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru, said yesterday schools were already feeling the pinch.
"There are lot of budget pressures on primary schools at the moment," she added."We do know that our members are feeling a great deal of financial pressure.
"The money filters down to schools from the Assembly and schools have certain things they have to do. When that money is gone it is gone."
Swansea Labour group's education spokesman John Miles said the situation showed a worrying trend.
"The reason why the pupil/teacher ratio is going up is because the funding from the local authority is insufficient to meet the number of teachers that are needed," said Councillor Miles.
"It shows that education is not a priority.
"What has to happen is that schools need to get the money.
"The authority has to show that education is important."
Cabinet member for education Mike Day admitted that the council would have to ensure funding was available to schools.
He said: "The starting point is that the council is already funding education above Assembly recommendations.
"It is right that these projections have been highlighted, but it shows the need for extra funding from the Assembly
."As a council we need to face up to the challenges, so that we do not end up in this position.
"It has to be remembered that these are projections and we are hoping funding will be made available.
"We have no intention of allowing schools to go over the 30 pupils per teacher guidelines."
COUNCIL'S REPORT ON BUILDING COST £40K
South Wales Evening Postt - 22 August 2006
Swansea Council is refusing to reveal details of a £40,000 report it compiled on a building it does not own. The authority splashed out the cash on the Elysium building in High Street earlier this year.
The money was used to produce a feasibility study for the once-popular venue and was expected to suggest a number of potential uses.
The building was once the Labour party headquarters, a bingo hall and, before that, a cinema.It has been empty for years and has deteriorated into a rundown state.
Even though the council did not possess the building, which is owned by Townhill-based Tony Williams Ltd, it still earmarked the £40,000 to carry out the study.
But a request by the Post for a copy of the study has been turned down.
The Post had requested the document under Freedom of Information legislationIn its response, the council argued that releasing the information would jeopardise the commercial interests of the site owner.
A spokesman added: "While the issue is under consideration, it is not considered to be in the public interest to release the detail of its internal discussion."
Swansea Council is refusing to reveal details of a £40,000 report it compiled on a building it does not own. The authority splashed out the cash on the Elysium building in High Street earlier this year.
The money was used to produce a feasibility study for the once-popular venue and was expected to suggest a number of potential uses.
The building was once the Labour party headquarters, a bingo hall and, before that, a cinema.It has been empty for years and has deteriorated into a rundown state.
Even though the council did not possess the building, which is owned by Townhill-based Tony Williams Ltd, it still earmarked the £40,000 to carry out the study.
But a request by the Post for a copy of the study has been turned down.
The Post had requested the document under Freedom of Information legislationIn its response, the council argued that releasing the information would jeopardise the commercial interests of the site owner.
A spokesman added: "While the issue is under consideration, it is not considered to be in the public interest to release the detail of its internal discussion."
GARAGES BANNED AS LIVING SPACE
South Wales Evening Post - 2 August 2006
Five people in Gower have this year been banned from using their garage as living accommodation, it has emerged. The news comes just days after former Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood was told he could keep his garage, which includes a first- floor living room and bedroom.
One councillor now fears residents in Gower will question whether Mr Thorogood has been given preferential treatment.
Swansea Council has granted permission for at least five similar garages in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the past 12 months.
But in each case the owners have been told they cannot use the garages as living space.
Veronica Webster and her husband were granted permission for a garage at their home in Bishopston in March.
She said: "I would be very impressed if anyone was able to live in ours.
"We have got a garage with the front half for the car and the rear part as a workshop for my husband. It is much too small for anything else.
"However, Mr Thorogood has been reassured he will be able to use his six-metre highl garage for living accommodation, provided it cannot be used as a self-contained flat.
As part of the deal to persuade planners to back changes, a kitchen that had been fitted in the garage has been removed.
Pennard ward councillor Margaret Smith, who voted against allowing Mr Thorogood to keep the unauthorised changes, said: "I find it an irony that the planners did not choose to put this condition on Mr Thorogood's garage in the first place.
"I hate to be thought of as a suspicious person, but I think we need to pre-empt what people might do.
"It looks as if the planners have done it for five of these cases, but not in this one.
"People are going to ask what the difference is and I think they are perfectly entitled to ask that question."
Five people in Gower have this year been banned from using their garage as living accommodation, it has emerged. The news comes just days after former Swansea Council boss Tim Thorogood was told he could keep his garage, which includes a first- floor living room and bedroom.
One councillor now fears residents in Gower will question whether Mr Thorogood has been given preferential treatment.
Swansea Council has granted permission for at least five similar garages in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during the past 12 months.
But in each case the owners have been told they cannot use the garages as living space.
Veronica Webster and her husband were granted permission for a garage at their home in Bishopston in March.
She said: "I would be very impressed if anyone was able to live in ours.
"We have got a garage with the front half for the car and the rear part as a workshop for my husband. It is much too small for anything else.
"However, Mr Thorogood has been reassured he will be able to use his six-metre highl garage for living accommodation, provided it cannot be used as a self-contained flat.
As part of the deal to persuade planners to back changes, a kitchen that had been fitted in the garage has been removed.
Pennard ward councillor Margaret Smith, who voted against allowing Mr Thorogood to keep the unauthorised changes, said: "I find it an irony that the planners did not choose to put this condition on Mr Thorogood's garage in the first place.
"I hate to be thought of as a suspicious person, but I think we need to pre-empt what people might do.
"It looks as if the planners have done it for five of these cases, but not in this one.
"People are going to ask what the difference is and I think they are perfectly entitled to ask that question."
