Issue - meetings

Report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, Ailsa Barr, Interim Corporate Director of Children and Education Services, and Lee Kimberley, Head of Sold Services to Schools, presented a report updating the Committee on progress made in delivery of the Children’s and Education Services 2024/25 budget savings programme, and the delivery of transformation within Children’s Services. The following points were raised:

a)  Both Children’s and Education Services needed to put forward savings towards achieving the Council’s 2024/25 budget, while continuing to deliver an ongoing major transformation programme. Nevertheless, ensuring that Nottingham is a Child-Friendly City remains a clear objective of the current Strategic Council Plan.

b)  Within Education, activity is taking place to ensure the delivery of ongoing efficiencies as part of managing the overall budget. The provision of School Catering services have been reviewed to ensure that best value is achieved, with a slight uplift in pricing coming into effect. Properties within the Education estate that are no longer required are being sold and, instead of being provided though general funds, the School Uniform Grant is now being supported through the specific Household Support Fund. Discretionary elements of the Education Partnership Service have been reduced, along with Education Psychology costs. Income from the Health and Safety in Schools service is being maximised. The Colwick Park Activity Centre has been closed, but work is underway to find an alternative provider for this outdoor activity resource.

c)  It has not been possible to secure additional national grant funding to support dedicated transport for pupils with special educational needs and disability, but alternative means of delivering the savings target have been identified. A full review of commissioned high-cost school transport routes is underway as part of the Council’s general fleet review, to seek to develop in-house provision wherever possible.

d)  Within Children’s Integrated Services, a restructure of staffing, roles and responsibilities has taken place within the Youth Justice Service, to ensure that it operates more efficiently. The closure and disposal of the Ridge Adventure Playground and the Bulwell Play and Youth Centre is moving forward, with youth services now being targeted directly to the young people in most need, wherever possible. The overall transformation work is on target in helping the Service operate more efficiently, and resources for administrative support work have been reduced.

e)  Steps are being taken to decrease care placement costs as much as possible. As part of this work, there is a substantial focus on the delivery of effective early support and prevention, to seek to lower the demand for high-cost intervention services – particularly the requirement to bring children into care. As much as possible is being done to address needs effectively in the shortest period of time, with Social Workers being deployed only to cases where they are required. The recruitment and retention of foster carers is being increased, with an outreach campaign taking place in partnership with other Local Authorities in the area.

The Committee raised the following points in discussion:

f)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17