Freedom of information response
Section 251 Budget Lines
I am making a Freedom of Information Request to Thurrock Council with regards to its Section 251 Budget declaration to the Department for Education.
This is in reference to lines 3.5.1 – 3.5.3 of the budget, in particular on Services for young people.
In 2020/21, Thurrock Council spent £1907610 on Services for young people (split £427627 on 3.5.1 Universal services and £1479983 on 3.5.2 Targeted services).
In the latest financial year 2021/22, the Council spent £746196 on Services for young people (split £450631 on 3.5.1 Universal services and £295565 on Targeted services).
This is an overall decrease of -61% year-on-year.
As this is a notable decrease, and an area of funding which typically has fallen at almost all local authorities over the past decade, I am requesting to find out why this budget was cut so substantially.
Accordingly, if it is possible, I am requesting a breakdown of Thurrock Council’s expenditure for sections 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 for 2020/21 and 2021/22. Please also can this include details of how these projects were funded – ie, through local authority funding, central government, other funders etc.
If a detailed breakdown on a project-by-project basis for each financial year is not possible within the limits of a FOI request, please could you detail whether the decreased expenditure in 2021/22 was due to a reduction in central government funding or local authority-based funding, that would be greatly appreciated.
Please see appendix A attached
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