Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Early Help.

Decision

That the request for up to £600k for pay restructuring costs be declined as there are alternative opportunities to access funding for the restructure that will not place pressure directly on the council budgets.

Reason for Decision

Option 1 would incur additional cost to the council and put pressure on the budget as this cost was not budgeted for in 2018/19. Option 2 would result in restructure costs being identified from elsewhere and could potentially impact the Interim Executive Board (IEB) restructure timetable.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Early Help on the academisation of Budmouth College which was due to be completed on 1 September 2019. As part of the academisation a request was received to ask Dorset Council to contribute to the restructuring of staff at the School in addition to the budget debt being inherited by the Council as part of the academisation. 

Cllr Andrew Parry introduced the report and explained the high risk profile of the request to fund restructuring at Budmouth College and explained that there was not enough detailed evidence to support the restructuring costs request as the financial picture was still emerging and more detail was needed.

Questions from Tara Moggeridge and Toby Webber were asked at the meeting in relation to the academisation of Budmouth College.  The questions and answers are attached to these minutes as an annexure.

Members shared concerns regarding the request to fund the restructuring at the College including Cllr Clare Sutton who expressed thanks for the cross-party involvement and briefing outside of the meeting on this important matter; Cllr Jean Dunseith, as the local member; and Cllr Tony Ferrari, as a member within the local area, and as the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Assets due to the poorly evidenced financial request.

Decision

That the request for up to £600k for pay restructuring costs be declined as there are alternative opportunities to access funding for the restructure that will not place pressure directly on the council budgets.

Reason for Decision

Option 1 would incur additional cost to the council and put pressure on the budget as this cost was not budgeted for in 2018/19. Option 2 would result in restructure costs being identified from elsewhere and could potentially impact the Interim Executive Board (IEB) restructure timetable.