A YORK councillor has spoken of his disappointment after an education funding plea was ignored in this week’s Autumn Statement.

Local councils’ body the LGA had urged Chancellor Phillip Hammond to use his announcements on Wednesday to stop planned cuts to the £600 million Education Services Grant (ESG).

The fund pays for school improvement services, as well as things like welfare services and help for special needs pupils, and in York next year would be worth £1.8 million.

It was scheduled to be phased out when the Government planned to force all schools to become academies - but although that policy was dropped, the cut was not cancelled, meaning councils will be legally required to run services like school improvement without any agreed funding in place from central government.

York Press:

York Lib Dem councillor Ashley Mason backed the LGA plea, and said he was hugely disappointed the Chancellor did not mention the fund, but did find money for the new grammar schools policy, on Wednesday.

York Press:

“The Chancellor’s silence on the issue threatens to leave the council in a position where we are delivering services such as school improvement, but with no funding to pay for them.

He added: “Liberal Democrats will continue to call for the planned cut to be reversed before next year as well as continue our campaign for a wider fair funding deal for our local schools.”