Issue - meetings

Report ED12017

The Sub-Committee considered a report outlining the final outturn position for the 2011/12 financial year.  This showed an underspend of £751,000 against a budget of £31,549,000 for the controllable element of the Children and Young People budget, which represented a 2.4% variation.  After allowing for the net £120,000 carry forward request agreed by the Executive on 20^th June 2012, the final outturn position for 2011/12 was £631k.

In considering the final outturn position for 2011/12, the Chairman queried the overspend in SEN and Inclusion services which had been the result of pupil placements in both the Schools’ Budget and the non-Schools’ Budget.  The Head of Education and Care Services Finance confirmed that children with disabilities may require both an education and social care element to their placement which would impact both budgets.  A general moratorium had been introduced during the year on all non-essential running costs across these services, including recruitment to non-essential posts, which had realised savings of £300,000 to contribute towards the overspend.  The Head of Education and Care Services Finance confirmed that where appropriate vacant posts had been deleted to support cost reduction.  Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP outlined a recent SEN Transport Appeal which had been approved prior to the appeal being heard, and was concerned at the cost implications of any further appeals.

Another Member highlighted that the Total Non Controllable Budget for 2011/12 had increased from the original budget of £10,375,000 to £36,432,000 and queried the reason for this.  The Deputy Director of Finance confirmed that this increase was as a result of changes made to the accounting rules on capital charges and had no affect on the budget.  It was noted that the Executive were required to agree all budget variations.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The underspend of £751,000 on controllable expenditure at the end of 2011/12 be noted;

2)  The net carry forwards totalling £120,000 agreed by the Executive on 20^th June 2012 be noted; and,

3)  The Children and Young People Outturn Report 2011/12 be recommended to the Portfolio Holder for approval.