Cymraeg

ModernGov Councillors and Meetings

cardiff.moderngov.co.uk

Agenda item

Draft Budget Proposals 2017/18 - Corporate Overview, Social Services & Education

Corporate Overview – 10.30 am

 

  1. Christine Salter (Section 151 officer) will provide a short verbal presentation giving a corporate overview of the 2017/18 budget proposals.

 

  1. Members’ Questions.

 

 

Social Services – 10.45 am

 

  1. Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Families, Children and Early Years and Deputy Leader) to make a statement on her portfolio’s element of the Corporate Plan, draft budget proposals and its linkages to the Corporate Plan.

 

  1. Tony Young (Director, Social Services) to make a presentation on the Children’s Services element of the draft budget and in particular the draft Cabinet Proposals and associated papers.

 

  1. Members’ Questions.

 

 

Education – 11.30 am

 

  1. Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member, Education) to make a statement on the Education element of the Corporate Plan draft budget proposals and its linkages to the Corporate Plan.

 

  1. Neil Hardee (Head of Performance Resources and Services for Education), to make a presentation on the Education draft budget and in particular the draft Cabinet Proposals, and associate papers.

 

  1. Andrew Gregory (Director, City Operations) to make a presentation on the School Transport draft budget proposals should be included in the savings proposals.

 

  1. Members’ Questions

 

Minutes:

Corporate Overview

 

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham Hinchey (Cabinet Member – Corporate Services and Performance), Christine Salter (Director, Corporate Resources and Section 151 Officer) and Alan Evans (OM, Accountancy) to the meeting.

 

Christine Salter provided Members with a presentation outlining the following topics:

 

  • Final Settlement
  • Consultation and Post Consultation updates
  • Draft Revenue Budget
  • Medium Term Outlook
  • Draft Capital Programme

 

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members:

 

  • Members asked whether the Medium Term Outlook has changed with a shift in Government nuances.  Officers advised that whilst the position slightly better this year care should be taken as it may not be as good in 2018/19.

 

  • Members queried whether the Financial Resilience Mechanism (FRM), which stood at £4 should be held back rather than used as described, but were advised that there is £4m for next year in the base.

 

  • Members expressed concern at the reduction of the level of contingency from £4m to £3m and were advised that since February 2016 efforts have been made to increase the robustness of savings.  Members were referred to the Planning Status information referred to in the Risk Assessment Summary of Savings proposals and the detailed plans for £15.8m.

 

  • Members referred to the use of the FRM and queried whether Property Condition would be schools, but were advised it was to be used for property condition surveys and the refurbishment of the roof at Cardiff Indoor Market.

 

Children’s Services

 

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member – Early years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader), Tony Young (Director, Social Services), Irfan Alam (Assistant Director, Children’s Services), Christine Salter (Director, Corporate Resources and Section 151 Officer and Alan Evans (OM, Accountancy) to the meeting.

 

The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Member to make a statement in which she outlined the positivity of this budget despite the savings that have had to be made. 

 

The Director, Social Services provided Members with a presentation in which he referred to the additional net budget allocation for Social Services of £9.2m, an additional 44 post in Children’s Services and Children’s Social Services savings of £2.839m.

 

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members:

 

  • Members queried the unachievable savings from last year in the sum of £872,000 in respect of the Lean Review and Out of County Placements and the saving this year for remodelling and sought clarification of the difference between the Lean Review and the remodelling.  Members were advised that Lean Review was a business support process which did not bring in savings; the remodelling relates to the Family Support Service and the stripping away of bureaucracy and the use of the Sign of Safety approach.

 

  • Members were advised that 44 of the new 59 additional posts are in Children’s Services within the Preventative Strategy and that if those staff deliver they will pay for themselves over the longer term, that will help mitigate the growth in overall expenditure.

 

  • Members expressed concern that recruitment of the additional staff could take some time and if young people are being returned from Out of County Placements, is there not the risk of a gap in staffing levels?  Officers advised that they are trying to ensure that the alignment between the employment of staff and savings is achieved.

 

  • Members sought clarification of the achievability of savings in the Adult Resource Centre.  Officers indicated that the teams have been established and work is ongoing.

 

  • With reference to the saving - Safer Families Initiative, Members queried how successful volunteers have been in the past.  Members were advised that the number of volunteers is steadily increasing; they are providing overnight stays and stays for longer periods of time which negates the need for the for Local Authority care being provided in those instances.

 

Education

 

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member, Education), Nick Batchelar (Direction, Education and Lifelong Learning), Neil Hardee (Head of Performance Resources and Services for Education), Christine Salter (Director, Corporate Resources), Alan Evans (OM, Accountancy) and Simon Williams (Passenger Transport) to the meeting.

 

Neil Hardee provided Members with a presentation.

 

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members:

 

  • Following a question, Members were advised that there would not be a dilution of community schools.  They are included in the design of new school buildings.

 

  • Members queried, as there are increased numbers coming into the City, whether the schools are in the right place, particularly bearing in mind the number of large developments underway.  Officers advised that a Stakeholders Group and Needs Analysis Group has been formed in relation to Band B which will touch on the LDP.  Education facilities will be required and there will be Section 106 monies available.  There will be active engagement with Headteachers; they know their local areas and know about the parental preference in those areas.

 

  • Members queried with Unicef Child Friendly City Status as an essential spend, and were advised that it was a Cabinet lead decision. The initiative will secure better value and alignment.

 

  • Members sought clarification as to where the 7 posts in Central Staffing will be lost and were advised that whilst it is hard to find savings, vacancies will be considered – away from front line services and there has also be a review of the Admissions Team.

 

  • Members asked which school will host the Pupil Referral Unit.  Officers indicated that once the budget has been finalised contact will be made with the schools asking for expressions of interest.

 

  • Members queried the wisdom of the £100,000 saving from the Central budget which equates to the loss of 3 full time posts in the Education Welfare Team and whether that capacity, with the experience and knowledge those officers have, they could be used to support NEETs.  Officers advised that these savings and the reduction in these posts was necessary.

 

  • Members referred to the Challenges presenting the Consortium, particularly in relation to secondary schools and expressed concerns  about the loss of funding for Challenge Cymru.  Officers advised that there is an extra one year funding of £200,000 for the transitional period.

 

  • Members were advised that the 30% cap will result in the savings of £1.5m having to be found by the schools themselves.

 

  • Members queried whether transport would be provided to the new Eastern High School as there is no bus route.  Officers advised that transport is provided if the young person lives more than 3 miles from the school, however, Cardiff Bus are being consulted as to whether a change in the bus route(s) could be accommodated.

 

AGREED – That the Chairperson on behalf of the Committee writes to relevant Cabinet Members, Directors and Officers thanking them for attending the meeting on 13 February and to convey the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.

 

Supporting documents:

 

To request a document in an accessible format please e-mail us.

© 2022 Cardiff Council
We use strictly necessary cookies to allow you to have the best experience on our website. These cookies do not track users.