Agenda item

Report CEF23068

The report considered the Portfolio Holder’s draft 2024/25 budget which incorporated the future cost pressures and initial draft budget saving options reported to the Council’s Executive on 17 January 2024. Members were requested to consider the initial draft budget being proposed and to identify any further action that might be taken to reduce cost pressures facing the Council over the next four years with a view to the Council’s Executive making recommendations to Council on the 2024/25 Council Tax levels.  There were still outstanding issues and areas of uncertainty remaining and any further updates would be included in the 2024/25 Council Tax report to the meeting of the Council’s Executive on 7 February 2024.

In reviewing the draft budget, a Member observed that emergency foster placements remained a substantial cost pressure for the Portfolio and queried whether it would be feasible to establish a Local Authority-owned children’s home that offered better value for money than placements made via Independent Fostering Agencies.  The Director of Children, Education and Families confirmed that all options for future service delivery would be considered.  Moving forward, a significant emphasis would be placed on developing innovative and cost-effective service models that would help contain the cost pressures caused by increasing demand for statutory services and regular updates on the findings of this work would be reported to the Committee.  A Member suggested there may be scope for innovative practice within the youth service as some local charities and organisations were already working effectively with young people within local communities.  Another Member asked about transformation work already delivered within SEND Transport and was advised that two travel trainers were now in place and details of the number of children and young people benefitting from this service would be provided to the Committee following the meeting.

A Member underlined the need to continue to focus on recruitment and retention as permanent staff were more cost effective than those employed via an agency.  The Director of Children, Education and Families was pleased to report that the Local Authority’s overseas recruitment work continued to be very effective in securing high quality staff and it was anticipated that the ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted judgement would help attract the highest quality staff to join the Local Authority in a permanent role.  Another Member highlighted the Local Authority’s low settlement funding per head of population which was £123 per head of population for the 2024/25 financial year against a London average of £330 and stated that this disparity in funding levels needed to be resolved.  The Chairman queried whether recharges were made to the Adult, Care and Health Portfolio with respect to services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 18-25 years and the Head of Finance: Children, Education and Families confirmed that a funding mechanism was in place to ensure that costs were charged to the appropriate Portfolio.  It was expected that an additional social care grant would be provided to the Local Authority for the 2024/25 financial year to help offset some costs and this would also be apportioned between the adults’ and children’s services.

In considering how the draft budget was displayed to the Committee, a Member noted that the original 2023/24 budget was shown alongside the draft 2024/25 budget with further columns for increased costs and other changes.  The Member suggested that it could be helpful to include the projected end 2023/34 budget to enable Members to compare the actual costs for 2023/24 with the draft budget for 2024/25 and this request would be noted for future reporting. 

Councillor Rebecca Wiffen tabled an additional recommendation requesting the Committee:

2.2  Consider extending full council tax relief for care leavers, offering 100% discount on council tax for care leavers until the age of 25, provided the following criteria are met: 

You must be a London Borough of Bromley care leaver, having been/being looked after by the Borough, and have applied for other discounts such as single person discount/student discount. 

The Chairman stated that any such decision was in the remit of Full Council and moved that the recommendation be deferred to the meeting of Full Council on 26 February 2024 when the 2024/25 budget would be set.  This motion, proposed by the Chairman, was seconded by Councillor Alexa Michael, put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED: That:

·  The update on the financial forecast for 2024/25 to 2027/28 be noted;

·  The initial draft 2024/25 budget be noted as a basis for setting the 2024/25 budget; and,

·  The Council’s Executive be recommended to note the comments of the Children, Education and Families PDS Committee on the initial draft 2024/25 budget at its meeting on 7 February 2024.