Issue - meetings

A REPORT FROM THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE AND HOUSING, COUNCILLOR O’BRIEN IS ATTACHED.

Councillor O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Finance & Housing attended the meeting to present this item, however, it was assumed that all members of the committee had read the report and the following questions and comments were made:

Councillor Walker asked what was meant by ‘high needs’.

Steve Goodwin explained the Dedicated Schools Grant was split between three different categories of needs in 2015.  The high needs block relates to children that cost the most to educate, although the reasons for this could be quite varied.  We have a five year plan to get a more sustainable and longer term plan to cover accumulated debts.  This is required to be achieved in five years by the Department of Education, otherwise they will introduce their recovery plan.  Steve Goodwin stated he is confident we will not need to use this.

Karen Dolton confirmed this is the cost to the authority, not the school.  A report is to be brought to a future meeting to show if we are getting value for money

It was agreed:

The report be noted.