Issue - meetings

Report ED15099

The Sub-Committee considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio based on expenditure to the end of November 2014.  The Schools’ Budget, funded from the Dedicated Schools’ Grant and other specific grants was forecast to be in an underspend position of £606k, 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 other specific grants was forecast to be in an underspend position of £41k, assuming that £387k would be drawn from contingency at the end of the financial year to offset the expected reduction in Education Services Grant.

In considering the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio, the Chairman noted that there was currently a predicted overspend of £264k in the Bromley Adult Education College budget  This was a continuation of an overspend which had been projected through 2013/14, and work was being undertaken to identify how this could be addressed.  The Assistant Director: Education advised Members that Bromley Adult Education College would undertake negotiations with the Skills Funding Agency in early Spring 2015 for the provision of approved qualification courses for the 2015/16 academic year.  There had been an annual cut in grant funding for approved qualification courses since 2010/11 and it was expected that would be a further cut in grant funding for the 2015/16 academic year, which would be taken into consideration as part of the negotiations for future provision.

RESOLVED that the latest 2014/15 budget projection for the Education Portfolio as at the end of November 2014 be recommended to the Portfolio Holder for Education for approval.