The Legal Obligations of Local Authorities in Relation to Regional Education Consortia

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 28 November 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 2:25, 28 November 2018

I'm grateful for that answer. You will no doubt be aware that the leader of Neath Port Talbot council, Councillor Rob Jones, has stated that he has taken the decision to withhold paying £40,000 into the Education through Regional Working regional education consortia because he doesn't believe that his council is gaining value for money from the regional service. Now, I'm not going to enter into the merits of that point, but clearly ERW has faced some challenges over the past year or so. Legally, what is your view in terms of Councillor Jones's seemingly unilateral decision to withhold the funding? Is there a legal basis for that? Is it acceptable for council leaders to refuse to contribute to regional bodies? And isn't there a risk here to the Welsh Government's regional agenda, unless frameworks are clear in these types of situations?