Agenda item

This report presents the 2008/09 budget proposals for Children’s Services.  It includes:

·         The revenue budget for 2007/08 (Annex 1) to show the original budgets.

·         The base budget for 2008/09 including the 2007/08 budget rolled forward and adjusted.

·         The provisional allocation of pay and price increases for the portfolio.

·         Budget service pressure costs and savings proposals for the portfolio area (Annexes 2 and 3).

·         Fees and Charges proposals (Annex 4).

·         Other revenue budget options for consultation (Annex 5).

·         The existing approved capital programme (Annex 6).

·         Proposals for new capital schemes (Annex 7).

·         Residential Homes, Foster Carers, Sharing Care, Adoption and Residence Order Weekly Allowances (Annex 8).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Consider whether the budget proposals are in line with the Council’s priorities.

·        Note the comments made on the budget proposals for savings and growth which have been prepared by Officers and are contained in the report and are intended to form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Note the comments made on the areas for consultation for the revenue budget contained in this report, which may form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Note the comments made on the capital proposals which have been prepared by Officers and are contained in this report which are intended to form part of the Council’s budget to be considered on 12 February 2008.

·        Note the budget proposals for consultation for Children’s Services for 2008/09 contained in the report.

·        Note and welcome additional areas of Government funding in relation to the personal learning agenda and tackling pockets of deprivation.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation on the Children’s Services budget for 2008/09.

Members considered a report that presented them with the budget proposals for Children’s Services. It included:

·        The revenue budget for 2007/08 to show the original budgets.

·        The base budget for 2008/09 including the 2007/08 budget rolled forward and adjusted.

·        The provisional allocation of pay and price increases in the portfolio.

·        Budget service pressure costs and savings proposals for the portfolio area.

·        Fees and Charges proposals.

·        Other revenue budget options for consultation.

·        The existing approved capital programme.

·        Proposals for new capital schemes.

·        Residential homes, Foster carers, Sharing Care, Adoption and Residence Order Weekly Allowances.

The Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services responded to the Unison representative and stated that in relation to the reconfiguration of the Family Support Service there may be an opportunity to maintain the service through a grant funding scheme.

Mr M Thomas stated that the representatives of the Teacher’s Panel vigorously opposed the suggestion that there should be a 5% reduction in the Panel’s budget. The budget provided by the Local Authority was used to provide facilities time for three teacher unions and two head teacher unions. It also provided a part-time secretary for the Teacher’s Panel. Mr Thomas said that they were facing an ever increasing workload but the possibility of a reduced budget to deal with it.

The Labour Group and the Green Group reserved their positions on the budget proposals.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the budget proposals.

·        Note and welcome additional areas of Government funding in relation to the personal learning agenda and tackling pockets of deprivation.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation on the Children’s Services budget for 2008/09.