Issue - meetings

Report CEF21025

The report provided the Children, Education and Families Portfolio provisional outturn position for 2020/21.

The Forum noted that of 31^st March 2021 there was an overall deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and as a result of this it was likely that there would now be increased challenge from the DfE with the aim of rectifying the deficit as far as possible.  It was however recognised that there were significant pressures, especially in High Needs, and these would need to be contained as far as possible as the view of Officers was that current government funding was not reflective of the pressures that existed.

The Forum noted that there were still a number of Education, Care and Health Plans (ECHPs) coming through the system and ultimately this would result in expenditure.  There was evidence of increases in demand across London which demonstrated that Bromley was not in a unique situation and a number of London Boroughs were already subject to a deficit recovery plan.

The Director of Education suggested that the pressures were affecting Bromley later than may have been anticipated due to the effective financial management that had been in place over a number of years.  The Local Authority had also worked in partnership with schools and alternative provisions to try to keep costs at an appropriate level whilst also meeting the needs of children.  There had however been significant pressures in the system over the last few years and there would continue to be significant pressures in the future.  There was currently insufficient funding from government to mitigate these pressures.  These challenges would result in the need for difficult decisions being taken in the coming year if government funding was not forthcoming to resolve the issues.  Consequently, there were a number of reviews underway to ensure that appropriate services could be provided in the funding envelope available.

The Forum noted that the Local Authority would almost certainly require a DSG deficit recovery plan and this was being reviewed now, ahead of being asked to do so by the DfE.

RESOLVED: That

1. the projected position of the Children, Education and Families Portfolio be noted and;
2. the funding pressures for the forthcoming year evidence by the report be noted.