**Council’s Funding Under Fire: Schools and Roads Suffering!**
Concerns are brewing in the Vale of Glamorgan as one councillor calls attention to what he describes as a “catastrophic failure” in school funding. Christopher Franks, a Plaid Cymru member, argues that the current financial support is failing our schools, making it difficult to deliver a robust curriculum. But that’s not all—Franks didn’t spare the roads either, highlighting their dire state: “Our roads are falling to bits, small potholes become craters and whole sections of road are collapsing into disrepair.”
The heated discussion took place during a scrutiny committee meeting where initial budget plans were being examined. Franks expressed his lack of confidence in the proposed budget, fearing a rinse-and-repeat of previous failures.
In response, Rob Thomas, the chief executive of the council, acknowledged the challenges: “We have to make difficult choices.” He noted that while some schools manage their budgets well, others exceed limits, pointing out the broader challenge of funding distribution across the county.
“A massive discrepancy exists,” said Thomas, adding that despite the desire to allocate more funds, the budget remains tight and difficult choices must be made.
For the 2026/27 budget, there’s hope the plans are balanced, but the path forward is expected to be riddled with challenges. Thomas noted, “It will be challenging, but we’ll continue working with schools to set realistic recovery plans.”
With a full council meeting set for March 9, all eyes are on the decision-makers and whether they will address these pressing issues. Keep the conversation going: How do you think the budget should be prioritised?