TEACHING jobs are set to be cut across Pembrokeshire in the face of impending budget cuts.

A recent scrutiny committee examining the education director’s budget agreed to advise Cabinet to keep cuts to the delegated schools budget to a minimum of around 1% - meaning the potential loss of 16 staff.

Pembrokeshire County Council is facing a squeeze on its budget across the board following cuts from Welsh Government.

Last week the Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed a report by Director for Children and Schools, Kate Evan-Hughes, which outlined where “efficiencies” could be made to the delegated and non-delegated areas of the directorate’s budget for 2018/19.

Delegated budgets – dealt with by schools themselves – could be cut by up to 5% which would result in a massive 80 job losses and a saving of £3.2million.

But at the initial examination of efficiencies by the committee it was recommended that the lowest potential cut be suggested to Cabinet.

Committee chairman Cllr John Davies said: “We wish it to be kept to a minimum but are mindful of our responsibility corporately, it has to be realistically minimum.”

Former teacher Cllr Stan Hudson proposed a 1% cut suggestion, adding: “Education is the best thing we can give our young people”.

Discussion focused on ensuring schools would be in a position to continue improving and protecting budgets as much as possible to allow this while attempting to limit the impact on other services that may be required to make up any budget shortfall.

Delegated saving suggestions include staff cuts as a review of statutory assessment services in admin support is carried out, reductions in sessional staff hours at Sport Pembrokeshire and the deletion of a currently vacant youth outreach team post.

Combining the speech and language advisory service with the Autistic Spectrum Service could save £30,000 according to the officer’s report while scrapping trainee opportunities for young people in the Children and Young People’s Rights Office could save £18,000.

Other efficiencies including no longer funding travelling theatre companies, although schools could budget for this themselves, saving £23,000 and stopping the replenishment of musical instrument stock.

A potential £450,000 saving could be made across Resources and governance, inclusion and performance and community and school improvement.

The meeting last Thursday (September 21) is the start of the process before recommendations are made to Cabinet and Full Council on any areas of concern.