Decision
(a) That
the short term/immediate need for action to address the High Needs Block
overspend, taking into account the impact on children and schools as set out at
Section 4.1 of the report of 10 December 2019 be approved;
(b) That the strategic aims and priorities be
approved.
(c) That officers be instructed to undertake
further forensic examination of opportunities to meet the strategic aims
including:-
·
breakdown of spending and projected savings;
·
more
detailed modelling of impact on individual & groups of children and Schools
As set out in
Sections 1.4, 1.5 , 1.6 and Section 4.2 of the report of 10 December 2019;
(d) That in the light of the detrimental
effect on individual school budgets, Members agreed not to pursue a block
transfer of funds from the schools block to the high needs block for the next 3
years.
These
relate to the financial years of 21/22, 22/23, 23/24. (as set out in Section
4.2 of the report of 10 December 2019)
Reason
for the Decision
Given
the value of annual and accumulated deficit failure to address these will
result in a significant future pressure. In the meantime, the deficit remains
on the council balance sheet, subject to DfE funding
rules.
It is
essential to balance the provision for children with SEND with the cumulative
demand for school budgets to balance.
In the
particular case of a block funding transfer from school budgets to the high
needs block; this lessens the ability of schools to operate inclusively and presents
additional challenges to their budgets which are already amongst the lowest
funded in the country. An inclusive mainstream provision for children is
required as a condition necessary to achieve high needs overspend reduction. To
reduce funding to mainstream schools prevents them from being able to deliver
this element of the overall strategy.