Agenda item

(1)       The Committee received the monitoring report for the third quarter on the forecast outturn against the budget for the Children, Families and Education Directorate for 2008/09.  Mr Abbott highlighted the key areas within the report. 

(2)       Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments which included the following:-

(3)       In response to a question by Mr Vye, Mr Abbott agreed to review the impact of the vacancies across the Directorate and include the information known on vacancies to date in the report. 

(4)       In response to a question by Mr Simmonds on the overspend on SEN Transport to schools, Mr Abbott advised that the overspend was due to an increase in SEN pupils as well as the increase in prices and the nature of single occupancy taxi arrangements in place for some pupils.  A detailed piece of analysis work was being undertaken with Mr Kevin Harlock, Commercial Services Director, on Volume Contracts and the outcome of Member transport appeals.  The conclusions of this work would be reported to a future meeting of this Committee.  Mr Dance added that a small group would be set up to look at the disparities regarding SEN transport in the interim.

(5)       In response to a request, Mr Dance advised that parents would be consulted at a later stage and there would be opportunity for cross party discussion. 

(6)       In response to concerns by Mr Newman on the Capital (£2.590m) overspend, Mr Abbott advised that this was partly due to a timing issue which would be addressed in the 2009/10 Budget.  The Monitoring returns from schools had been received by the local authority.  The returns from schools indicated a large drawn down of reserves, with a prediction of £8m. 

(7)       In response to a question regarding the overspend on the service since the case of “Baby P”, Mr Abbott explained that the overspend forecast had been included in the Budget and reflected a 40% increase in the number of referrals not a 40% increase in the number of children taken into care as has been suggested.

(8)       In response to a question on schools, Mr Abbott advised that the first projections for 2009/10 would be within the 3 year plans, which schools were now producing and were due to be received in May.  The new arrangements enabled schools to plan with more certainty about the affects/impact of decisions on future years. 

(9)       In response to a question by Mr Newman on whether the LEA had a deficit policy for schools, Mr Abbott explained that the general policy was not to allow deficits but in some circumstances schools did move into deficit and for those there were agreed individual school plans.  These could mean that a school required a “cashflow” loan - but the school would be responsible for the costs of that including interest and this would be built into the recovery plan. 

(10)     RESOLVED that the projected outturn figures for the Directorate as at the third quarter and the Members’ comments be noted.