Issue - meetings

Background:

This report outlined the plans to recover the Council’s budget deficit in relation to the High Needs Block (HNB). These plans, which were developed with support and challenge from the Department for Education (DfE) and advisors from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA), had been submitted to the Secretary of State, subject to Cabinet’s approval. The plans requested £17.7m investment as part of the Safety Valve Intervention Programme (SVIP), to support the delivery of these plans.

The report had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 29 November 2022 and its comments were set out at section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

Reasons:

The HNB budget remains under significant financial pressure and at the end of the financial year 21-22 had a cumulative deficit of £20.8m. If the plan is approved by the DfE, Medway Council will receive £17.7m investment as part of the Safety Valve Intervention Programme (SVIP), to support the delivery of a substantial plan for reform to its high needs systems.