URGENT BUSINESS

 

CHILDREN’S SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE – 7 DECEMBER 2004

 

EDUCATION FINANCE 2005-06 – ‘SCHOOLS BUDGET & PASSPORTING’

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

 

 

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

 

 As part of the Authority’s budget setting process for 2005-06 the Select Committee is asked to make recommendations on the intent of the Authority to fully passport its School Budget for 2005-06.  It should be noted that Local Authorities are required by law to undertake the following:

 

  1. Notify the Secretary of State by the 31st December 2004 of the Authority’s intent to passport in full (or otherwise) the Schools Budget for 2005-06.

 

  1. Initiate discussions with the Authority’s School Forum on the budget implications of ‘passporting’ the schools budget and the resultant budget-setting process in order for it to express a fully considered view on the Authority’s overall plans for school funding.

 

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

 

1.         To note the expectation of the Secretary of State that the Schools Budget for 2005-06 will be passported in full.

 

2.         To inform the meeting of the Schools Forum to be held on the 16th December 2004 that it is the recommendation of the Select Committee to agree ‘in principle’ to the full passporting of the Schools Budget for 2005-06.

 

3.         To recommend to the Council’s Executive meeting scheduled for the 16th December 2004 that it is the intent of the Authority to passport in full the Schools Budget for 2005-06.

 

4.         That subsequent to the meeting of the Council’s Executive Committee the Director of Children’s Services be authorised to inform the Secretary of State by the statutory deadline of the 31st December 2004 that it is the intent of the Authority to passport in full the schools Budget for 2005-06.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The ‘provisional’ local government finance settlement for 2005-06 is to be announced on Thursday 2nd December 2004.  This will include the Schools Formula Spending Share (SFSS) allocation for each local authority.  It should be noted that the announcement date on this occasion is later than in previous years and this is acknowledged by the Department for Education and Skills.

 

A separate notification setting out the size of the 2005-06 Schools Budget will be sent to Local Authorities after the provisional settlement has been announced.  It is anticipated that in common with previous years, the School Budget total will be greater than the School Formula Spending share.

 

It is the expectation of the Secretary of State that the Schools Budget will be fully ‘passported’ to schools.  This aspiration is reiterated in the letter from Stephen Crowne, Director School Resources at the Department for Education and Skills dated the 25 November 2004 outlining ‘passporting’ considerations. 

 

CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

Detailed budget papers are to be discussed by the Education Forum at their meeting of the 16th December 2004 with recommendations to a subsequent meeting to the Children Service’s Select Committee.

 

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME, AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

 

Recommendations outlined above are part of the Authority’s integral Budget making process for 2005-06.  It should be noted that such recommendations make clear the intent of the Authority to fully passport the 2005-06 Schools Budget.  The final overall sum will not however be known until the local government settlement is confirmed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and 2005-06 budget negotiations are complete.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

 

Department of Education and Skills communiqués of the 21st October 2004 and 25 November 2004.

 

Reports on the 2005-06 Budget previously submitted to the Authority’s Executive Committee.

 

 

Contact Point:             Kim Johnson – Head of Planning & Resources ( 823410

                                    e-mail  [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCILLOR JILL WAREHAM

Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services