Issue - meetings

1.         The Committee considered the Children, Families and Education Directorate’s Draft Budget proposals set out in the Draft Budget 2008-09 and the Draft Medium Term Plan 2008-2011 and also a report circulated with the agenda which specifically related to the key areas of these documents for Children, Families and Education Directorate. 

2.         Mr Carter, Mr Dance, Mr Wells, Mr Badman, Mr Abbott and Mr Ward answered questions from Members which included the following issues:-

(a)       Income 2008-09

3.         In a response to a question from Mr Law on why the income for the two portfolios had not grown in comparison with the gross figure for funding, Mr Abbott briefly explained that one of the key issues with the Dedicated Schools Grant was that the creation of academies reduced this figure.  Mr Abbott undertook to supply a detailed response to this.

(b)       Council Tax

5.         In response to a question from Mr Law, Mr Abbott explained that the majority of funding for education came from the Dedicated School’s Grant and therefore there was no top up from the Council Tax.

(c)        Dedicated Schools Grant

6.         In response to questions from Mr Vye, Mr Abbott confirmed that in relation to the Dedicated Schools Grant for the next three years, officers had been advising schools for over a year that this round of funding would be challenging.  He stated that the teachers pay award would probably mean a 3%-4% increase on the pay bill which may vary locally.  Mr Abbott went on to explain that the Ministerial Priorities money would be directed to schools in line with DCSF aims.  He expressed the view that the funding for schools would be tighter in 2009/10 than during 2008/09 and he anticipated the need to work with schools to make sure that they did not go into deficit in the second year.

7.         Mr Dance stated that the Schools Funding Forum was still considering how funds were to be divided and he undertook to let Members have the information from the Forum when it was available.  In relation to Ministerial Priorities, he stated that these were more flexible this year which was helpful.

8.         Mr Badman expressed disappointment that the Ministerial Priorities funding was not hypothecated as it was an important tool to drive change. 

(d)       Strategic Management and Managing Directors Office and Democratic Services

9.         In response to a question from Mr Hart, in relation to the figures for Strategic Management for 2008-09 of £1.8m on page 6 of the Budget Book and Managing Director’s Office and Democratic Services of £1.949m on page 13 of the Budget Book, Mr Abbott explained that the Senior Management Team figure in the budget for Cabinet Members support, Occupational Health recharge to support schools.  As part of the Revenue Budget Medium Term Plan process, officers were always looking for options for savings and as part of the normal monitoring process, these back office areas were particularly kept under review.

10.       Mr Wells stated that Members had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86