AEF

Aggregate External Finance isthe financial support provided by the Welsh Assembly Government for revenue expenditure on services that impact on the council tax.   AEF comprises revenue support grant and redistributed national non-domestic rates (NNDR). It is supplemented by various specific grants.

ALN

Additional Learning Needs (previously referred to as SEN or Special Educational Needs) – pupils requiring additional support including talented and gifted pupils.

CTax

Council Tax is the main source of local taxation to local authorities.   The Council as billing authority levies council tax on households within the area and the proceeds are paid into the General Fund.  Some council tax is collected on behalf of Precepting Authorities (e.g. town and community councils and the police).

DSG

Distribution Sub-Group – The DSG is a working group under the Partnership Councils Consultative Forum on Finance (CFF) whose members include officials Welsh Assembly Government and representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association.  Each year the DSG follows a remit and work programme as agreed by CFF, looking at issues related to the distribution of RSG.

FRs

Financial Regulations – a written code of procedures approved by the Council, intended to provide a framework for proper financial management.   Financial regulations set out rules on accounting, audit, administrative procedures and budgeting systems.

IBA

Indicator Based Assessment –Service IBAs are derived from data and formulae for each service.  Data usually includes client numbers such as pupil numbers The formula seeks to model spending and is set by WAG on the basis of advice from the DSG.   IBAs are used to build up an authority’ SSA and are not intended for use in determining individual authorities budgeted expenditure on particular services.  

ISB

Individual Schools Budget – the amount the Council allocates to schools via the schools funding formula as shown in the Section 52 Budget Statement

RA

Revenue Account (RA) Return – statistical report to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) on total planned (budgeted) spend on Council services including Education and schools.

RE

Revenue Expenditure – annual day-to-day expenditure on running costs. Basically, they are items not defined as capital expenditure and include such items as salaries & wages and supplies & services.

RO

Revenue Outturn (RO) Return – statistical report to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) on total actual spend Council services including Education and schools in the year in question.

RSG

Revenue Support Grant – the main grant paid by the Welsh Assembly Government to aid local authority services in general, as opposed to specific grants, which often may usually only be used for a defined purpose.  

SSA

Standard Spending Assessment – the Welsh Assembly Government’s assessment of a council’s relative need to spend to provide a standard level of service for a given year.   SSA is built up from a series of indicator based assessments for each service.   The SSA is used to distribute RSG. It is not a spending target and authorities are able to set their own spending priorities

S52 Budget Statement

The Section 52 Budget Statement is prepared in accordance with Section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Education (Budget Statements)(Wales) Regulations and accompanying guidance and illustrates how each school’s formula budget is calculated.

S52 Outturn Statement

Lists for each school the Formula funding, in year adjustments, balance brought forward from the previous year and balance carried forward to the following year.