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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Lock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his policy towards local education authorities seeking to impose full cost recovery or full commercial rate charges on out of school clubs operating out of premises owned by local education authorities for their use of the premises and associated facilities. [R] [88959] Mr. Charles Clarke: [holding answer 29 June 1999]: A School's budget may not be used to subsidise non-school activities. Sections 149-152 of the Education Act 1996 and, from 1 September 1999, Schedule 13 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, require that community use of school premises must be self-financing. Rates are not payable by out-of-school clubs. Paragraph 58 of the "Code of Practice on LEA-School Relations" states "there may be a natural tendency to maximise profits from letting to community users. But nothing in guidance from LEAs about the costs to be recouped, or in decisions taken by governing bodies + should promote the maximisation of profits at the expense of existing, or potential, benefits to the wider community." The department will be issuing further guidance on community use of school facilities later this year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

88959; 334 c221-2W

Session

1998-99

Registered interest declared

Yes

Subjects

Costs Fees and charges Local education authorities Schools After school clubs