Issue - meetings

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Notes:

The Chair will allow 40 minutes for this agenda item.

As background to the item and to assist the Committee, some further information about the DMP was circulated on 5 March 2024.

The Committee received a presentation on the refreshed DSG Deficit Management Plan (DMP)., outlining the actions to mitigate overspending and the DMP. The DMP has the following new elements – tackling design issues, devolving decision-making, universality, building consensus. The presentation also outlined the key risks and opportunities and next steps.

At the end of the discussion, The Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills suggested that a member training session on the DSG and Deficit Management Plan could be arranged, and the Chair thanked her and asked members to consider this.

The Committee noted the ongoing work and the DMP.

The Committee received a presentation from Jo Currie, Service Manager Schools Finance and Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills on the High Needs Block & SEND Deficit Management Plan.

The Committee heard that the Designated Schools Grant (DSG) Deficit Management Plan (DMP) has four new elements to mitigate overspending, and the presentation sets out the rationale behind the proposed changes in approach to tackling overspending on DSG blocks, which is a national issue, and the mitigations in place before the statutory override ends on 31^st March 2026.

The Committee were advised that the DMP will take a huge amount of work, and the next steps include stakeholder workshops to look at rethinking and redesigning structures, funding, processes and governance.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows: 

·         The Chair asked about how the DSG ‘sits’ in relation to EHCP plans. The Service Director explained the funding arrangements and how the money is dispersed to schools.

·         A Cllr felt that EHCP's are not always the only solution.

·         A Cllr asked about how confident are we that such reforms will not impact the service in a negative way?

·         Members requested more information on supported internships and the Service Director advised that the service would be able to facilitate a briefing session for members.

·         A Cllr asked about what guidance and support can the Council seek when developing the DSG DMP? It was explained that there is guidance and support provided by the DfE and also the plan has gone to CIPFA for advice and feedback.

At the end of the discussion, Amelia Walker, Service Director Education, Partnerships and Skills said that she is happy to arrange a member training session on the Designated Schools Grant Deficit Management Plan.

The Chair thanked officers for the informative presentation and the supporting documentation that had been shared with members and the committee noted the ongoing work of the DSG Deficit Management Plan.