Issue - meetings

Report ED15031

The Sub-Committee considered a report setting out the draft Education Portfolio Budget 2015/16, which incorporated future cost pressures and initial budget saving options to be reported to the Executive on 14^th January 2015.  Members were requested to consider the initial budget saving options proposed and identify any further action to be taken to reduce the cost pressures facing the Local Authority over the next four years.

The Head of Education, Care and Health Services Finance advised Members that approximately £900k savings had been identified across the Education Portfolio for 2015/16.  This included savings in essential car users’ allowances, the redesign or reorganisation of some services, including the Youth Service and Schools and Early Years Commissioning and Quality Assurance Service, the reorganisation of contracts related to some services, and increased income generation targets for Children and Family Centres.

In considering the draft Education Portfolio Budget 2015/16, The Portfolio Holder for Education noted that no additional growth pressures had been identified in the Education Portfolio for 2015/16, but that there had been an additional allocation of funding relating to the full year effect of the reduction in the Education Services Grant and the closure of the outreach service.  There would be further significant reductions in the Education Services Grant provided to the Local Authority as more Local Authority maintained schools converted to academy status, although the pace of transfer had now slowed.  It was expected that the Local Authority would lose £6m per annum between 2013/14 and 2016/17 as a result of the conversion of Local Authority maintained schools to academy status. 

RESOLVED that:

1)  The financial forecast for 2016/17 to 2018/19 be noted;

2)  Members’ comments on the initial draft saving options proposed by the Council’s Executive for 2015/16 be noted; and,

3)  Members’ comments on the initial draft 2015/16 Education Portfolio budget be provided to the meeting of the Council’s Executive on 11^th February 2015.