1. For the latest financial year for which figures are available, how much did your authority spend centrally on music services? 

2016-17 £177,000

How much do you plan to spend in the next (2017-18) financial year?

2017-18 £135,000 tbc

2. Of the spending identified in question 1, is this spent directly by the authority or do you work through a consortium arrangement with other Local Authorities?

Torfaen CBC is part of the Gwent Music Service consortium arrangement

If you work through a consortium, which other local authorities are involved?

Newport CBC (host), Blaenau Gwent CBC, Monmouth CBC

3. How many staff do you currently employ directly in music services or how many posts do you support through consortiums?

Torfaen CBC do not employ any staff in music services directly. Newport, as host, can provide data on how many posts are supported through the Gwent Music Service

4. For the latest financial year for which figures are available, how much did your authority provide to schools for music services?

Historically, a sum was identified in the Delegated Schools Budget for music support. However, in 2010-11 the LA added that sum to the total funding allocation for school resources and capitation. Notionally (utilising the historic funding formula methodology, historic funding values and changes to available funding and pupil numbers over time), the sum included within this part of the delegated schools funding is in the region of £150,000

How much do you plan to provide to schools in the next (2017-18) financial year?

Funding continues to be provided to schools in the same way as in 2016-17. There has been no funding uplift to this area of the Schools Delegated Budget for 2017-18

5. Is any of the provision identified in question 4, ring fenced in any way or are schools free to spend their allocation on other services?

The funding is not ring-fenced and is included within each school’s delegated budget share

6. Does your authority plan to provide any funding for the regional and national ensembles in the next financial year?

Yes

If so, how much?

The element of the funding provided to the Gwent Music Service associated with events and regional and national ensembles has historically been around £90,000. However, the detail of the distribution of the funding over the various activities – school tuition, individual tuition, support through the hardship fund, music centre activities and events and regional and national ensembles – is yet to be determined for 2017-18. Additionally, the LA has made provision to continue to support the National Youth Arts Wales, through the WJEC, at a standstill funding level.