Agenda item

Report to follow.

(Councillor Leadbetter attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(1) and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee.)

The Committee considered the Report of Director for Children and Young People’s Futures (CS/24/33), which set out the key budget issues for the service identifying risks and actions to mitigate.

The report stated that over the past 12 months, significant progress had been made in creating clear and realistic plans in key areas of financial risk across the service.  The two most prevalent risks in children’s social care services were (1) sufficiency and placement and (2) agency staff costs.  In addressing the former, the service had made progress to stabilise the number of children in care down from 906 a year ago to consistently around 850 and the introduction of the ‘Place Called Home Board’ in March 2024 had brought increased scrutiny and rigour to the understanding of the County’s use of placements.

The report discussed the Specific areas of Pressure: Children in Care and Care Experienced Young People; Market Sufficiency; Recruitment and Retention (Social Care); SEND, Dedicated Schools Grant and Safety Valve; School Transport; and Education – Core Services.

Members’ discussion and questions followed and included:

-       Detailed explanations were provided by Officers of the complexities involved and the ongoing efforts to manage SEND costs in response to Members’ concerns around the safety valve agreement and the difficulties in keeping within the budget.

-       The accelerated progress in reducing waiting lists for EHC plans had incurred additional costs, estimated at around £5 million, due to this faster action taken.

-       The recent national budget announcement was highlighted, which had included additional investment in SEND, the exact amount for Devon had yet to be clarified, but was expected to help manage the additional costs incurred.

-       Explained that the workstreams within the safety valve agreement included practice improvement, reducing waiting lists, and working with partners such as the NHS and schools to create a more inclusive approach.

-       Concern that the month 6 budget position had not been reflected in the report, due to the timing of this Committee and Cabinet; and concern over the timely receipt of Agenda papers, which would be raised at the Governance Working Group.

-       In response to concerns for private sector placements following the Government’s Budget to charge VAT on independent schools, it was explained that an initial assessment had been carried out and would be circulated to the Committee.

-       Noting the high cost of a single EHCP, Members requested a breakdown of the cost for an EHCP, which Officers undertook to provide, noting the process was complex and involved different stages and partners.

-       Proposal to use the revenue from second homes council tax to fund housing for key workers, aiming to resolve the ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining social workers.

-       Concerns were raised about the reliance on agency workers and the need to reduce this dependency. The introduction of a regional agreement to cap agency rates was mentioned as a positive step.

It was MOVED by Councillor Maskell, SECONDED by Councillor Aves and

RESOLVED that the Committee:

(a)  welcomes the improvement and progress made over the past 12 months to deliver services that improve the lives of Devon’s children and young people;

(b)  recommends to Cabinet that a report is presented to December Cabinet outlining the challenges, steps and progress in producing an agreed joint protocol with health colleagues to ensure that the Integrated Care Board and its partners make proportionate, appropriate and adequate financial contributions to care packages for children and young people supported by the service; and

(c) recognises the Inspection of Local Authorities Children Services (ILACS) has not yet fully concluded, and information remains unavailable for sharing.[CF1]