Even this level of funding is not enough for schools to be able fully to meet all of the increase in demand. The Council has no choice but to pay the levies and has decided to protect the services which it is responsible for providing. The Council has written to the government requesting that such costs should in future not fall on councils. Rural areas like the East Riding get a poor deal from the Standard Spending Assessment formula and we have lobbied hard to get the system changed. However, until this happens the Council is in the unenviable position of having to increase council tax significantly simply to offer a measure of protection to front line services and prevent serious budget reductions.
Capital expenditure creates or improves assets such as buildings and roads.
The Council has again successfully competed for government resources which, coupled with the Council's own resources, enables major schemes to go ahead. The continued growth in pupil numbers and the need to improve the condition of school buildings remains a high priority for the Council.