Agenda item

(Item B1 - Mr K Abbott, Director, Finance and Corporate Services and Mr G Ward, Director, Resources were present for this item)

(1)       Mr Abbott and Mr Ward answered questions from Members on the CFE Budget Monitoring report. 

 (2)      Issues covered by Members included the following:-

·        Page B1:5 – SEN Transport – in response to a question on how the survey of all users was undertaken, the Cabinet Member confirmed that all parents of SEN children had been written to directly explaining the options.

·        In relation to the target in the budget of £870k for SEN transport an assurance was sought that access to schools for this vulnerable group would remain a high priority.  The Cabinet Members confirmed that it was important to build in to the system as much flexibility as possible balanced with the needs of this vulnerable.

·        In relation to the overspend of £104.6k for the out-of-hours service, Mr Abbott undertook to supply a written response to Mrs Angell.

·        In response to a question on the Asylum Service and forecasted funding shortfall, Mr Abbott stated that there had been a seasonal variance in referrals.  There were normally approximately 20 per month but in October this had increased to 70 a month and in January the figure was 67.  This had created a pressure which looked like resulting in a £7m shortfall.  Attempts were being made to secure government funding for this by working with other local authorities in a similar situation.

·        Page B1:15 – Dartford Campus – in response to a question, Mr Ward stated that part of the challenge was that the scheme was the first of its type in Kent and had become more expensive than was first envisaged.

·        Page B1:5 – In-house Residential Care overspend – Mr Abbott explained that part of the pressure related to secure accommodation and that 3 or 4 people in secure accommodation has stayed there all year which had led to this pressure.

·        Regarding payments to BVI Providers for the free entitlement to 3 and 4 year olds funded from the DSG and the unallocated underspend, Mr Abbott confirmed that this would go back to the Schools Funding Forum and they would decide how it was to be redistributed.

·        Page B1:3 – in relation to a question on Headship and ensuring that we had the best targeted approach, Mr Badman expressed concern regarding advertising costs in using the Times Education Supplement, of example this could result in a small primary school paying £5 to £10,000 for advertisements for Headteachers, other options were being considered.  He emphasised the importance of ensuring that we had the best process for recruiting headteachers as leadership was key and was open to suggestions on how these processes might be improved.

·        Page B1:18 – in response to a question on the delay in timescale for the processes to establish the Minster School (Academy), Mr Badman gave an explanation of the background to this slippage.

·        In response to a question Mr Badman undertook to provide a written reply for Mrs Angell regarding the length of time that the Social Workers from Atlanta were required to stay. 

·        In response to a question on Looked after Children, Mr Badman confirmed that it was the ambition of the local authority to reduce the number of young people in its care and that the authority had been awarded a top rating for its adoption services. 

(3)       RESOLVED that Members of the Policy Overview Committee note the projected out-turn figures for the Directorate as at the second quarter.