Agenda item

(1)       The Committee received the third report on the forecast outturn against budget for the Children Families and Education (CFE) Directorate for 2008/09.  It also included a further update on the movement in schools’ reserves based on their half yearly monitoring returns.

(2)       Mr Abbott answered questions from Members which included the following:-

• In relation to the reduction in spending on mainstream schools Mr Abbott confirmed that this was partly a result of a reduction in the number of pupils but also there were savings from the Freedom Pass which were reflected in the Medium Term Plan.
• Mrs Dean requested a briefing on the net savings/costs of the Freedom Pass when it has been rolled out across the county.
• It was explained that the different categories for Asylum seekers was based on the categories of grant funding.
• Mr Abbott set out the work that was being done to lobby at national level regarding the shortfall in funding for Asylum Seekers in Kent. 
• In relation to the overspend on the Dartford Campus, Mr Ward explained the complexities of the scheme which had led to this situation.
•  In response to question on what could be done to mitigate the length of time that a school was vacant prior to being demolished or sold on, Mr Ward stated that a balanced judgement was taken on the cost of demolition verses the cost of maintenance of the site if it was not possible for a local community use to be found.
• Regarding the £1.4m overspend for SEN travel, there had been an increase in numbers, but part of the overspend was also due to fuel costs.  It had not been possible to deliver the full saving as some parents did not want to take up alternative arrangements.  Work was being carried out with commercial services to put this service on a sound footing in the coming year.
• Mr Abbott explained that the underspend on early years education shown on page 35 related to the voluntary/independent sector.  There was requirement that any underspend from this Discretionary Schools Funding would be rolled forward to the Funding Forum for them to make a recommendation to Cabinet on how this should be spent to benefit schools.
• Mrs Angell requested further information regarding the drop in quarter 3 in the number of client weeks of foster care (p38 in papers)
• Page 25  - in relation to the extra cost for Independent sector residential care it was explained that £1.5m had been put into next years budget.  One of the issues with this budget was the increase in the number of secure placements which was driven by the courts and therefore outside this authorities control.
• Mrs Green requested further info in relation to the legal costs of children's social services (court fees etc) and the historical budget shortfall that surrounded this. 
• It had been reported in the local press that Kent’s foster service payments were amongst the lowest in the Country.  Mr Abbot explained that the press were referring to the 2007/08 figures which were out of date.  The payments for foster services in 2009/10 would exceed the national minimum.  This had been built into the budget for 2009/10 and therefore would not be a pressure.

·        Mr Simmonds would be supplied with details of the funding KCC  received for Looked after Children and the funding that London Authorities receive per child.

RESOLVED   That the projected outturn figures for the directorate and the position on schools be noted.