Decision details

That the latest projected overspend of £627k forecast on the controllable budget, based on information as at May 2017 be noted.

That the full year effect of cost pressures of £1,130k for the Education Portfolio budget for 2017/18 be noted.

That the release of carry forward amounts held in contingency relating to Early Years Grant – Supporting Early Education of Disadvantaged Children, LA Conversion Academies Sponsor Support, High Needs Strategic Planning Fund, SEN Reform Grant and SEN Pathfinder Grant be agreed.

That the Council’s Executive be requested to agree the release of £800k from an earmarked reserve provided by the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group to contribute towards the health costs of children’s social care placements which would be utilised towards the provision of Children’s Social Care for 2017/18.

That the Council’s Executive be requested to agree the release of £115k from the Central Contingency for 2017/18 to fund additional staffing to meet statutory obligations in relation to transferring all existing statements of special educational needs to the new Education, Care and Health Plans by 31^st March 2018.

That the Education Portfolio Budget Monitoring Report 2017/18 be approved.

The latest budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio indicates an overspend of the Non-Schools budget of £627k for 2017/18 with a projected full year cost pressure effect of £1,130k, for which further management action will need to be taken throughout the year.  This is largely due to a predicted overspend of £491k for the Children’s Social Care Service as a result of an increase in placements for children, expenditure related to leaving care and staffing pressures.  The Schools Budget which is funded by the Dedicated Schools Grant is forecast to be in an underspend position of £705k during 2017/18, which will be added to £1.6m funding carried forward into 2017/18. 

At its meeting on 20^th June 2016, the Council’s Executive approved a number of carry forward requests for funding to be transferred into contingency for 2017/18.  These carry forward requests which total £218k relate to either unspent grant income or delays in expenditure where cost pressures will follow through into 2017/18. 

An earmarked reserve has been funded by the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group to contribute towards the health costs of children’s social care placements for 2017/18 and forthcoming years.  The need to fund additional staffing during 2017/18 to meet statutory obligations in relation to transferring all existing statements of special educational needs to the new Education, Care and Health Plans by 31^st March 2018 has also been identified for which funding has been requested from the Central Contingency.