HC Deb 30 June 1999 vol 334 cc221-2W
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.

Mr. Lock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities concerning the proper basis upon which out of school clubs operating out of premises owned by local education authorities should be charged for their use of the premises and associated facilities. [R] [88960]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 29 June 1999]The Department's advice is currently set out in paragraph 58 of the "Code of Practice on LEA-School Relations". This states that

there may be a natural tendency to maximise profits from lettings to community users. But noting 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.

Legislation requires that community use is self-financing. A school may not subsidise non-school activities with its own budget. The Department will be issuing further guidance on community use of school facilities later this year.