Agenda item

Report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/02) attached.

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/19/02).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of

6 March 2019.

The report (DEF/19/02) covered:-

-2018/19 Budget Monitoring Month 10 – Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), section 1 of the report; and

-2018/19 Advanced notice of planned carry forwards, section 2 of the report.

Member comments and point clarified included:-

-in section 1, concerns as discussed at SFG at the High Needs Block (HNB) overall increase of £418,000 due to a reduction in the contribution for Adult joint funded along with increases in other placements.  The Head of Education & Learning would be meeting with the Head of Adult Care to resolve the issue of contributions as soon as possible; 

-table 2 in section 1, could indicate independent school fees more clearly;

-that the deficit budget carry forward (table 3) was £2.4m HNB to be met from management actions believed to be achievable in 2019/20 and was not anticipated to increase before year end;

-that in relation to table 4 in section 2, of the £112k, approval was sought for the traded income balance for 2018/19 of £15k (as £97k was surplus income c/fwd prior to 2018/19);

-that in relation to table 5 in section 2, the use of underspend in a strategic way/invest to save to maximise improved outcomes for pupils;

-how the FE sector could expand its HNB offer as an alternative to the independent sector.

DECISION:

(a) that month 10 DSG monitoring position as set out in section 1 of report (DEF/19/02) be noted;

(b) that with regard to the allocation of the current known estimated deficit and surplus carry forward from 2018/19 as set out in section 2 of report (DEF/19/02):-

(i) the deficit budgets carry forwards to 2019/20 as set out in Table 3 for Growth Fund and High Needs Block be approved;

-Table 3: Deficit budgets carry forward requests

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI members)

(ii) the surplus budget carry forwards to 2019/20 as set out in Table 4 for De-delegated and

High Needs budgets be noted;

       (iii) the surplus budget carry forwards to 2019/20 as set out in Table 4 for Phase Associations be approved;         

-Table 4: Surplus budget carry forward requests

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI members)

(iv) that the surplus budget carry forward 2019/20 in Table 5 to use for HNB projects (such as invest to save) be approved, subject to the Schools Finance Group working with the Head of Education & Learning to manage the £68,000 budget underspends.

-Table 5: Surplus budget no carry forward identified

(Vote: Schools, Academies and PVI members)

ACTION: 

County Treasurer (Adrian Fox)