Agenda item

Report by Ms R Turner, Managing Director)

(Mr K Abbott and Mr G Ward were present for this item)

(1)               Mr Abbott introduced the report and highlighted the key issues in the report that included; the Directorate forecast that the budget would balance by the end of the year.  There were pressures of £1.711k which were being managed. This position was better than previous years.  One school was looking to a judicial review against the claw back decision, which it was hoped would soon to be resolved.  Work was being undertaken with 19 schools that were in deficit and 60 schools that were at risk of going into deficit during their 3 year financial plan are also being assisted.   Mr Abbott advised that the pressures continued around the asylum budget, due to cost that can not be claimed back under the Home Office grant rules, and KCC was due to meet with the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) and GOSE; on behalf of the DCSF, to discuss Kent gaining long term stability around funding.

(2)               Mr Tolputt sought clarification on how payments for asylum seekers under 18 years old and those who are 18-21 years old are they banned from working.  For under 18 there is a degree of funding, a contribution. The issue over the years has been that Kent cost are over the funding.  Mr Abbott said that he would report back outside the meeting on this as it was not his area of expertise.

(3)       Mr Sweetland referred to page 8 of the report and the pressures of £470k on SEN School Transport and sought advice on the reasons why there had been an increase.  Mr Sweetland proposed an Informal Member Group on SEN Transport. 

(4)       Mr Cooke advised that savings had already been made of £230k, due to work undertaken by Commercial Services in renegotiating the number of contracts.  He suggested that the IMG on SEN transport adopt a three stage approach; understand the requirements and the current position; carry out the review and develop recommendations to remain within the statutory duties but in a cost effective manner.

(5)       Mr Abbott added that there had been an increase in the cost of providing SEN Transport  due to; increased numbers and costs, in particular the cost of the single occupancy taxis. He suggested that this mixture would be the focus for the Informal Member Group. 

(6)       Members were invited to volunteer to serve on the IMG on SEN Transport; Mr Tolputt, Mr Sweetland, Miss Kemsley, volunteered.  Mr Chittenden and Mr Horne were nominated in their absence. 

(7)               The Chairman reminded the Committee Members that an IMG to discuss the Medium Term Plan, would be held in November with 2 Members from each of the 3 CFE POCs, Mrs Rook and Mr Brazier had been nominated by the Chairman from this Committee. 

(8)               RESOLVED that :-

(a)       approval be given to an IMG on SEN Transport and an IMG on the Medium Term Plan being established; and

(b)       the projected outturn figures for the directorate as at the first full quarterly monitoring report be noted.