Issue - meetings

Report ED15120

The Sub-Committee considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio based on the projected outturn position for 2015/16.  The Schools’ Budget, funded from Dedicated Schools’ Grant and specific grants was projected to be in an underspend position of £75k, which would be added to the £9.9m Dedicated Schools Grant carried forward from previous years, much of which would be spent during 2015/16 with £3m agreed for the refurbishment of Beacon House, £3.5m as a one-off distribution to schools and £2m to contain growth for two years.  The controllable part of the Non-Schools’ Budget, funded from Council Tax, Revenue Support and specific grants was projected to be in an overspend position of £529k, which included a significant overspend in the Adult Education Service.

Members were advised that despite a restructure of the Adult Education Service in 2012/13 and several other measures to contain a reduction in grant received from the Skills Funding Agency in recent years, the current projection was for a 382k overspend in the Adult Education Service for 2015/16, for which the Council’s Executive was requested to approve a supplementary estimate of £382k with any surplus to be returned to the Central Contingency.  Consultation was underway on a proposed restructure of the Adult Education Service to reduce any future overspend, however further grant reductions from the Skills Funding Agency were expected for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 academic years.

In considering the report, the Chairman underlined the need to ensure that the level of recharges attributed to the Adult Education Service was reduced in line with any future restructure of the Adult Education Service.  Another Member requested that information regarding the level of recharges to the Adult Education Service be included in future reports setting out the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The latest 2015/16 budget project for the Education Portfolio be noted; and,

2)  The Portfolio Holder for Education be recommended to:

i)  Endorse the 2015/16 budget projection for the Education Portfolio.

ii)  Request the Council’s Executive approve a supplementary estimate of £382k from the Central Contingency relating to the projected overspend in the Adult Education Service for 2015/16.