EDUCATION chiefs in Powys are looking again at budget savings agreed earlier this year in a move that could prevent the closure of one of the county's two pupil referral units.

A review into strategic and financial changes will be shared with Powys County Council's finance panel soon, but the council's cabinet heard on Tuesday that budgets were being 'realigned' after the negative response to the potential closure.

Merging the PRUs – used for children with behavioural or mental health issues who need additional support – was aimed at saving £600,000 as part of this year’s budget agreed in February.

It could have seen one of the two units – either in Brecon and Newtown – closed to make an estimated saving of £325,555 this year and £251,285 next year.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday July 30 senior councillors received a report on the progress of the current year's budget.

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The question on whether the idea of closing one of the units had been scrapped was raised at a finance panel meeting earlier this month, where councillors were first made aware of a £120,000 payment between council departments covering PRUs.

At that meeting director of corporate services Jane Thomas told councillors that that a new education service head had reviewed the budget position “from scratch”.

She said: “There has been some concern about the proposed changes, and budgets are being realigned as part of that review.”

She added that senior staff from the education department would be asked to “highlight further changes in that area” to the panel.

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Conservative Cllr Peter Lewington said: “A big reason behind my question on the change of mind on the PRUs is the impact this delay continues to have on the staff working at the PRUs and the uncertainty around their futures.”

The PRUs were brought up at the cabinet meeting as part of the discussion around quarterly budget position.

Conservative group leader and Finance Panel chairman Cllr Aled Davies said that it was “worrying” to see in the early part of the year that £1.7 million of expected savings for the year was effectively already written off which included the savings around the PRUs.

Cllr Davies said: “We were given reassurance after reassurance that this saving would be deliverable.

Powys County Council's director of education Dr Richard Jones.Powys County Council's director of education Dr Richard Jones.

“And within a few weeks money is being vired into that service. It does not set a good precedent for the rest of the year.”

Director of education Richard Jones said: “Our duty is to provide the overall strategic direction while allowing for headteachers and school leaders to make sure the curriculum offer in those schools and the wellbeing support, ensures all those children and young people can thrive.

“That virement can be accounted for, because we have recently commissioned an external review into our PRU provision and have received detailed feedback from a recent inspection.

“It would be remiss of us not to act on those external views in terms of our strategic thinking.”

Brecon's PRU. From Google Streetview.Brecon's PRU. From Google Streetview.

Dr Jones confirmed a briefing would be given to the Finance Panel on the changes.

The report explains that of the £12.9 million in cuts and savings needed this year, £2.5million had been delivered by the end of June.

A further £8.7 million is expected to be delivered by the end of March 2025, leaving £1.7 million of savings to be found.

Finance portfolio holder, Labour’s Cllr David Thomas said: “It’s just as well we have some flexibility in our budgets that we can remedy some of these things that might for whatever reason appear unachievable.”

Cabinet noted the report and agreed the virements.