Agenda item

Report of Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

The Leader of the Council introduced the Integrated Performance Report for Quarter 2 2022/23 which summarised the Councils performance and financial position against the Strategic and Delivery Plans.

The report detailed the main challenges facing each of the four service areas, notably the cost of living crisis, the situation with the global economy and the impact this was having on Council Budgets; and the transformation of Children’s services which had not achieved expected savings during the quarter.  It was also reported that there was a forecast overspend of £10.908m (1.9%), prior to additional funding for inflationary pressures being taken into account.

The main issues discussed by members were:

·       The number of children in care which was continuing to increase.  It was reported that the portfolio of the Director had now been split in order to allow a more focused approach.  Robust monitoring of the transformation programme was continuing and being reviewed.

·       The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) issued within (20 day target) had seen some improvement but the demand for Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) support had continued to rise.  It was reported that there was a Special Cabinet event to focus on this issue and revise targets and budgets.  The result of this event would be fed into the MTFS programme which was reported to this Committee.  It was suggested that a special meeting to look at the MTFS and the revised Transformation Programme could be arranged to enable detailed scrutiny.

·       A member suggested that some parents felt that a EHCP was the only way to get funding for the school to support their child.

·       A question was asked on the number of Child Protection Plans (CPP) which showed that one fifth were subject to a CPP more than once and why was this happening.  The Leader didn’t have the information at the meeting and would provide the Committee with it after the meeting.

·       A discussion on the funding challenges for category 3 highway defects took place and the need to maintain gullies and drains to help prevent potholes through the programme of works.

·       Recovery of historical debt was continuing, and systems had been revised to ensure that in future people were able to pay for services at time of delivery rather than debt occurring.

Resolved:

a)   That the Quarter 2 2022/23 Integrated Performance Report be noted.

b)  That the Committee be provided with information on why 1/5 of Children with a Child Protection Plans had received more than one plan.

c)   That a special meeting to look at the MTFS and the revised Transformation Programme be arranged.