Agenda item

To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform and the Corporate Director of Education and Young People’s Services that asks the committee to consider and endorse or make recommendations on the Plan prior to the final version being considered and approved by Cabinet on 25 January 2016

1.            The Cabinet Member, Mr Gough, introduced a report that provided the Cabinet Committee with the opportunity to comment on the Education Commissioning Plan 2016-2020 prior to final approval by Cabinet on 25 January 2016.

2.            Mr Gough highlighted that the number of Primary aged pupils in Kent mainstream schools was expected to continue to rise significantly until 2021-22.  The number of Secondary age pupils in Kent Mainstream schools was now rising and was expected to increase.  Much of the additional provision would be achieved by expanding existing schools.  This rise in pupils was also linked to new housing developments eg Dartford.   Mr Gough advised that the current cohort in Primary school would move up to Secondary school nearing 2018. Mr Gough referred to page 105 of the report that detailed the position on capital funding highlighting that the delivery of the additional school places would require an appropriate level of funding from central government and securing the maximum possible contribution from developers where appropriate.  It was estimated that there would be a funding gap of £100m across the period of 2016-19, therefore the financial pressures remain.   Representation had been made by the Leaders of the County Council Mr Carter and Mr Gough to challenge Kent’s allocation of Basic Need funding. KCC had received £167m in basic need and targeted basic need capital for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18.  Information on the allocation for 2018/19 was likely to be published from the DfE in January 2016.  Members noted that KCC would not be in a position to undertake any further borrowing to support new provision as this would place the Council in breach of one of its fiscal indicators that net debt should not exceed 15% of its net revenue expenditure.

3.            Mr Gough referred to the Special Educational Needs and those with Disabilities Strategy that was developed in response to the rising demands The Autistic Spectrum pressures continued and was greater than projected.  The delivery of the proposals in the Strategy was on target.  Progress would be reported in the Commissioning Plan to a future meeting.

4.            The Director of Planning and Access, Mr Abbott, advised that the pressure of the Primary and Secondary did not diminish and would peak from 2020-2022.  There would need to be particular attention given to the pressures for places in Dartford, Gravesham and the Isle of Sheppey.  The financial position would be made clearer in January 2016.

5.             Mr Gough, Mr Leeson and Mr Abbott noted comments and responded to questions as follows:

a)    Members welcomed the report and noted the continued pressures for Primary school places due to the increase in the birth rate and migration to Kent.

b)    Mr Gough considered that the developer contributions were not “heroic” and that with significant development an assumption was made that we put in a bid for a developer suitable contribution although this was not always smooth.

6.            Mr Gough advised that he could provide the data regarding the SEND Kent schools outside the meeting.  He advised that more work would be carried out on out of county placements.  He said that Kent had delivered what it said it would but the demand had risen.  Mr Leeson explained that more SEND provision was being established in Kent Schools than in the past.   The current proposals included 426 additional places and 430 special resources.  This came at a high cost and had to be provided with the existing Basic need allocation. He said that it was important for Kent to continue to be on top of the need for SEND, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder.

7.            The Cabinet Committee noted that an update on the SEND Strategy Review would be submitted to a future meeting of this Cabinet Committee in 2016.

8.            Mr Leeson thanked all Kent schools that had expanded their schools over the past years helping to deliver additional school places on time.  There were to be more challenges made of the Kent school estate.

9.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)  the responses to questions by Members be noted; and

(b)  the Cabinet Committee endorsed the Commissioning Plan prior to the final version being considered and approved by Cabinet on 25 January 2016.