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Report ED14045

The Sub-Committee considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio based on expenditure to the end of May 2014.  The Schools’ Budget, funded from the Dedicated Schools’ Grant and specific grants was forecast to be in an underspend position of £1,285,000, which would be carried forward into the next financial year.  The controllable part of the Non-Schools’ Budget, funded from Council Tax, Revenue Support and specific grants was forecast to be in an overspend position of £320,000, assuming that £422,000 would be drawn from contingency to offset the shortfall in Education Services Grant.

Members were advised that on 10^th June 2014, the Council’s Executive had been requested to approve a number of carry forward requests for funding to be transferred into contingency for 2014/15.  This included a carry forward request of £297k from the 2013/14 Bromley Children’s Project underspend towards the cost of essential repairs to Castlecombe and Mottingham children’s centres for which the Portfolio Holder for Education’s approval was requested. 

The Head of Education, Care and Health Services Finance confirmed that the £320,000 overspend in the controllable part of the Non-Schools’ Budget was primarily caused by a reduction in Government grant and decline in tuition fee income for the Bromley Adult Education College.  The total Skills Funding Agency Grant for the 2014/15 financial year was approximately £40k less than in 2013/14.  In addition, Jobcentre Plus continued to refer jobseekers to courses at the Kentwood Centre which aimed to support people back into employment, and the cost of providing these courses was included as part of the Skills Funding Agency grant for 2014/15. 

There had also been a £90k overspend in the controllable part of the Non-Schools’ Budget by the Youth Service.  To address the overspend, a reorganisation of the Youth Service had been undertaken which would come into effect in July 2014.  Work was also being undertaken to review how the Duke of Edinburgh Award might best be delivered across the Borough in future.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The latest 2013/14 budget projection for the Education Portfolio be noted;

2)  The Portfolio Holder for Education be recommended to:

i)  Approve the drawdown from central contingency of £297,000 as a carry forward request; and,

ii)  Approve the Education Portfolio Budget Monitoring Report 2014/15